AGAMEMMON FROST AND THE HOLLOW SHIPS is the second of the Agamemnon Frost trilogy (my review of the first, THE HOUSE OF DEATH, is here) and takes off where the last left off. For that reason, I recommend readers get THE HOUSE OF DEATH first, as THE HOLLOW SHIPS doesn’t really stand alone.

Again, Knox’s descriptions of Liverpool pull you into the story, and there’s that great mix of historic and futurist that underlined the first story. But… there seems to be something missing. I’m not sure what, but I didn’t devour THE HOLLOW SHIPS as eagerly as I did THE HOUSE OF DEATH.

The relationship between Mason and Frost still takes second fiddle to the war against the Martians, though the sexual tension is finally resolved. Sort of. The scene is remote, as if seen through a gauzy curtain, and it took a second read for me to confirm that yes, that actually happened. In my opinion, that pay off needed to be stronger.

Mason is a fascinating hero, though. His struggle with his new self really gets you on his side and want him to succeed. Especially when he puts his own feelings for Frost to one side in order to save the man’s fiancee, Theodora.

Despite not being quite so won over by THE HOLLOW SHIPS, I’m still waiting for the third and final story – THE CROWN OF TOWERS – out in October.

Edgar Mason is ready to embark upon his new life at Agamemnon Frost’s side. But all is not perfect. His Martian overlord, Pandarus, has implanted a dark voice in his mind, a voice that urges betrayal. And though Mason can keep close to Frost, there’s little room for romance under the watchful gaze of the engineers from Station X.

That changes when Mason and Frost reopen their investigation into their old enemy’s whereabouts. Posing as double agents and investigating cryptic rumors of “hollow ships,” they find him impersonating a London banker and worm their way into his confidence.

But their success brings them trouble in spades. Pandarus takes them into the belly of his ships, where he plans to transfigure them into mindless automata. And with Earth on the brink of invasion, Frost’s old flame Theodora reappearing and Pandarus’s brainwashing growing more effective, Mason and Frost will find their bond tested as never before.

Length: Novella

Release Date: 16 SEPTEMBER 2013

Genre: Historical Science Fiction Romance (m/m)

Primary Book Format: e-format

Publisher/Imprint:

Smart Girls Rating: 3 stars

Available at: Amazon | Carina Press | B&N