Dakiti by EJ Fisch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dakiti by E.J. Fisch is an action-packed science-fiction space-opera that will keep you on the edge. It has everything a good novel should have: an intense plot, deep characters, vivid setting, and conflict—OMG lots of conflict. Not just character conflict either. It’s a great mix of both character and action conflict.

The two primary characters are Lieutenant Ziva Payvan and Lieutenant Aroska Tarbic of the special police in Haphez. To say these two don’t like one another is a vast understatement, especially for Tarbic. He hates Payvan enough to want to kill her. When he’s forced to work as a part of her team, he seriously considers leaving his prodigious career. Lucky for us, he doesn’t. It’s just one simple mission, after all, right?

But then the mission goes wrong and the two must work together or fail. As the situation gets more complicated and deadly, they find themselves depending on one another to survive.

I’m an action-junkie, but the characters and characterizations were my favorite part about the whole novel. The first time we see Ziva is through Tarbic’s eyes. And because his perspective is skewed, we believe she is someone we shouldn’t like. However, as the story progresses, her character deepens. There is more to her than meets the eye.

Every time I turn a page, there is deeper conflict. Not just between Ziva and Tarbic, either. There, of course, is the antagonist and the people he has working for him. Bothum is not a nice person. He will use anyone in any way to get what he wants. And what he wants has to do with Dakiti. Just what or who is Dakiti? You will have to read to find out.

There is one thing about this novel that I did not care for. Though the action and conflict moved me forward, some of the character choices were unconvincing. For one, Tarbic is part of a special police force, yet he shares information with his girlfriend. Granted, she works for the same police force as him, yet she is not a part of his team. This seems like a big no-no that he should technically get fired for when this is all over.

The second unconvincing action was made by Tarbic, Ziva, and the rest of the team. After being told by the director not to go in for a rescue, they all risk their lives and their careers to do it anyway. I get that supposedly one of their own has taken, but I still don’t buy their motivation. Special ops do not go against the orders of their superiors. And, if by chance they do, they do not get to keep their careers afterward. They go to jail. Period.

These are just two of the irrational actions taken by the characters in this story. However, I could swallow them enough that I was still entertained and engrossed in the story. And I enjoyed the story well enough to buy the sequel.

E.J. Fisch’s writing style makes getting into the story easy. She is wonderful at spinning a tale and keeping the reader engaged. So, if you enjoy deep characters and tons of action, then Dakiti is the perfect read.

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