Dakiti (Ziva Payvan Book 1) by E.J. Fisch
The distant world of Haphez is located on the edge of populated space. The planet’s native superhuman race is feared and respected by neighboring civilizations. Their military and police forces are unmatched.
Lieutenant Aroska Tarbic is an agent with the revered Haphezian Special Police. He’s lost a lot in a short period of time; the other members of his squad were killed in a tragic accident, and his younger brother was wrongfully convicted and executed for a crime he didn’t commit. Just when Aroska thinks he’s starting to piece his life back together, he’s assigned to a joint task force with a special operations team. It seems like a unique opportunity, at least until he learns that his new commander is none other than Ziva Payvan, HSP’s finest operative… and the assassin who killed his brother.
Ziva is good at her job, a business that requires her to ignore her feelings and carry out her missions without question. She’s confident in her own abilities to complete the assignment, but Aroska is a wildcard. When their team stumbles across a young human during a routine investigation, they soon realize that the situation isn’t what it seems. The boy has unwittingly uncovered an age-old plot, one that could put the entire Haphezian race in jeopardy.
Now the lines between friend and foe have become blurred, and no one can be trusted. United by the imminent threat, Ziva and Aroska must set their differences aside in order to save their people… and maybe even each other.
All roads lead to… DAKITI
Rating: 5 stars
Review:
*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review*
Dakiti is a fantastic science fiction novel.
E.J. Fisch’s universe is brilliant and filled with memorable and interesting characters. The two main characters, Ziva Payvan and Aroska Tarbic, are at odds with each other throughout most of the novel and yet must find a way to work through this together for the greater good. Aroska I had a lot of sympathy for and really felt the pain of loss and anger that very much drives him.
Ziva is calm, detached, strong and always coming out on top. E.J. Fisch has done a wonderful job creating a likeable tough-girl with a difficult past and secret that form a character of many layers that we can all find empathy with.
The story itself incorporates many new worlds, words and races that are cleverly woven into the novel in a way that guides readers through the universe. The plot is very gripping and perfectly paced.
I absolutely loved reading Dakiti and very much look forward to reading more in the series.
Shari Sakurai 