"A wonderful expansion into the Trek Mi Q'an universe; Jaid Black at her finest."

NO MERCY is the second book in Jaid Black's lusty futuristic series Trek Mi Q'an, which began with THE EMPRESS' NEW CLOTHES. Our setting is, therefore, the same -- a multi-dimensional universe ruled by huge, handsome warriors who love sex -- and cherish their mates. In this volume it is King Rem Q'an Tal who searches for his Sacred Mate. (Readers of the previous volume will remember that the woman Rem had made his mate, though she was not his Sacred Mate, had died.) Now, freed and quickly nearing devolution, a state where the Trystonni male de-evolves into something more beast than man, King Rem must find his Sacred Mate or become a beast forever.

With such an auspicious premise, and Black's trademark HOT sex, our story begins. It is the seventeenth Yessat year (1 Yessat year is equal to 10 Earth years) of his search, and Rem is getting a bit discouraged. He ventures into Earth's star system and finds Giselle McKenzie, the woman who is his Sacred Mate -- while she is in the middle of propositioning her dinner partner! He claims her, and then, on their way back to Rem's homeworld, their transport is struck and crashes, leaving them stranded on a more-or-less primitive planet. From there we travel through worlds and cultures, seeing bizarrare customs (always related to sex, or gender, behavior) in each new village. Eventually, of course, they reach home and happiness on Rem's planet Sypar.

This book really does NOT stand on it's own, nor does Black intend it to, from her disclaimers. There are many references to the previous volume in the series, and a lot of the "old" characters have roles in the subplots. The Trystonni process of claiming a Sacred Mate is never really spelled out for the uninitiated, either. Instead, the plot (and discussions of Trystonni ways) builds off of what groundwork was laid in the first book of the series. Black does use the opportunity to introduce the concept of devolution for the first time.

The story itself is fun. Black portrays her characters realistically and believably, and it is nice to see Zor, Kil, Kyra, Cam and the others again. The centerpiece of the story, though, is Rem and Giselle's developing relationtship.

Giselle has to deal with not only leaving her home, which doesn't seem to bother her much (especially since Rem brings her dogs), different customs than she's ever known, and Rem himself, whose devolution has left him a bit more bestial than than she is entirely comfortable with, at first. Don't worry -- Rem's love and need of Giselle is clearly portrayed, and he never hurts her. He does, however, develop quite an attachment to her nipples -- and her freckles. Sparks fly as Giselle, a very modern woman, has to bow to the demands of other cultures, and Rem, with her help, conquers his devolution.

The sex is hot. Very hot, and though there is a plot (and a good one) wending through the story, it sometimes seems like the characters are always having hot sex. When they're not actually having hot sex, they're thinking about having hot sex. Again, Jaid Black at her finest.

No Mercy was a great story, and a wonderful expansion into the Trek Mi Q'an universe. If you've read Empress' New Clothes rest assured that Ms. Black doesn't lose her touch. If you are new to the series, though, you may have a hard time understanding what's going on in some of the scenes -- it may be better to start with the first book.

Rating: NC-17

Reviewed by Ann Leveille
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted December 21, 2001

Also available in paperback (ISBN 0972437746).