Reunited by S.J. Pajonas Series: The Nogiku Series #3
Also in this series: Removed
Published by Onigiri Press on 8/14/14
Genres: Dystopian, New Adult, Science Fiction
Pages: 312
Source: The Author
My content rating: 18+
My rating:
Yūsei has surprises for Sanaa Itami. The long trip across the stars ends with Mark Sakai delivering bad news from orbit over their new home, and there’s no turning back or moving on. Despite all their misgivings, this is where they will have to stay.
Sanaa, Jiro, and the rest of Earth’s settlers move into a coastal town and stick to their plans to live the colonization life they dreamed of. But Sanaa’s existence won’t be kept secret from her enemies for long. Kazuo promised he would see her in another life, on another world, and he aims to keep his word. Now she will face those who want their revenge and make new enemies while dispensing with old ones on her journey across the fascinating and unfamiliar landscape of Yūsei.
REUNITED, Book THREE of the Nogiku Series, is the third book in a captivating post-apocalyptic romance series that harnesses the cultures and traditions of Japan and sweeps them into the future between Earth and a faraway land.
***NOTE: This review is for the third book in a series and may contain spoilers for the first two books. Click here to read my review of Removed and here to read my review of Released.***
Reunited is the third book in Pajonas’s unique dystopian Nojiku series, and it is, without a doubt, the best installment so far!
This book is a complete game changer for the series – Sanaa and the others have finally reached Yusei, but it’s nothing like they imagined it to be! Yusei is already inhabited, and the more Sanaa learns about the culture of the planet’s residents, the less she wants to simply integrate with them. Not only that, but Sanaa’s very life is in even more danger on Yusei because she is the rightful empress, and the ruler of the new planet would do anything to prevent her from coming to power. Sanaa starts to doubt that she will survive long enough to make any sort of life for herself on Yusei at all.
What I loved:
- Culture shock. When Sanaa and company arrive on Yusei, they discover that the current government has gone back to the rigid rules and customs of ancient Japan. Women are oppressed in many ways, and the more that Sanaa learns about the culture of Yusei, the less she wants to be a part of it. Once again, Pajonas managed to weave an incredible amount of Japanese culture into her series, giving us a rich and lavish setting for the story. I love this aspect of the series!!
- Treachery. Not everyone who comes to Yusei with Sanaa is on her side. In fact, there are several earth refugees who would be happy to sell Sanaa out to the current leader of Yusei in order to gain favor with him. Sanaa can’t be sure who to trust, and it becomes apparent that she is racing against time – she has to decide her next move before all of her options are taken from her. This book is full of treachery (and sometimes surprising loyalty)! The result is a heart-pounding race toward the final book in the series!
- Fun surpises. There are a few fun surprises in this book that mean even bigger changes for Sanaa. I really don’t want to say more than that because I don’t want to spoil anything, but these surprises sure make things interesting!
The negatives:
- Not much. Actually, I’m having trouble coming up with negatives for this one. My issues with the first two books (a slight lack of connection in the first book and a slight lack of action in the second) aren’t issues at all in this third book. There were a few nit-picky things – the fact that the language issues were so easily overcome and that I saw one or two smaller twists coming – but these were really minor. The only reason that I’m not giving it the full five stars is because I’m trying to reserve that rating for books that will stand out in my mind as all-time favorites, and this, as a middle book in a series, will have a hard time doing that. But if the series continues in this same vein, I can see the final book gaining that status!
Reunited is game changing for this series, with heart-pounding action and lots of twists and turns. I can’t wait to see how Pajonas concludes the series in Reclaimed. I give this book 4.5/5 stars.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
About the Author
Stephanie (S. J.) is a writer, knitter, amateur astrologer, Capricorn, and Japanophile. She loves foxes, owls, sushi, yoga pants, Evernote, and black tea. When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing or spending time outside, unless it’s winter. She hates winter. Someday she’ll own a house in both hemispheres so she can avoid the season entirely. She’s a mom to two great kids and lives with her husband and family outside NYC. They have no pets. Yet. When it comes to her work, expect the unexpected. She doesn’t write anything typical.
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4 responses to “Reunited by S.J. Pajonas – Review”
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I love that this series is mixed blend of genres, it sounds fascinating! Sl happy you loved this installment. 🙂
Thank you for taking the time to read and review! I hope you enjoy the last book in the series! 🙂
Great review! I loved the move to Yusei and how it felt like the series really took a different direction from this book onwards, which is pretty unique to do in the midle of a series. There certainly were some fun surprises in this book and I liked that not everyone is on Sanaa’s side as that makes it more realistic I think. Can’t wait to read the last book in this series!
Yes! I’m going to be reading that last book VERY soon! Totally agree with you that this book took a total turn (for the better!).