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Verdant String #0
Interference / Insurgency
2 novellas of The Verdant String Series
The seven planets of the Verdant String, the green, fecund sources of life spanning five solar systems, comprise the Verdant String Coalition. This is the setting for a new science fiction romance series from award-winning science fiction romance novelist Michelle Diener. While the people of the Verdant String know they have a common ancestor, a group of explorers who colonised the planets at the same time a thousand or more years ago, the mysteries of who they were, and where they came from, persist.
Interference (A 25,000 word novella introducing the world of the Verdant String)
Interference can go either way . . .
The tiny moon of Cepi is on a countdown to destruction, and while Nyha Bartali has been persuaded to take her four wards for a final look at the archaeological wonder, now she's eager to leave. The only problem is, someone has other plans--plans to exploit Nyha and her girls' status as the betrayed orphans of the Verdant String in order to give them time to steal Cepi's secrets.
Nyha and her wards' value as survivors of the destruction of Halatia means it would be political suicide for any leader of the Verdant String to endanger them again--something the hostage-takers know very well. What the hostage-takers don't know is that Nyha and her girls have more help than they realize.
Mak Carep knows his team's presence on Cepi is the last flex of Arkhor's muscle before the moon is blown to bits. Arkhor has interfered on Cepi since it discovered the ruins four hundred years ago, but sometimes, interference can have unexpected consequences. When Nyha and her girls are taken hostage, Mak and the rest of his special forces team are the only ones who have any hope of rescuing them, and they're ready and willing to do what Arkhor does best . . . Interfere.
Interference was first published in the Orphans in the Black Anthology in July 2017.
Insurgency (Insurgency is a 45,000 word short novel set in the Verdant String series)
The Parnian city of Var is under siege. Buildings are being targeted by insurgents whose only aim seems to be destruction. Nick Bartega is part of the Protection Unit team investigating the explosions, but with no discernible pattern, and no one taking responsibility, he and his colleagues have hit a blank wall.
That is until his neighbor, Tila, is caught up in the first real mistake the insurgents have made. Cornered, forced to take Tila's whole office hostage, the insurgents are surrounded and out of options, until they use Tila as their shield.
Tila sees herself as Parnian first, Halatian second, but her dark blue hair, and the strong emotions her very existence provokes in others means the insurgents see her as the perfect hostage. No one on Par wants to give the order that might catch her in the crossfire. They'd rather let the insurgents get away.
But Nick, and his commander, Drake, see the first glimpse of a pattern in the insurgents behavior. Not that long ago, Halatians were used as hostages in another incident on the tiny moon of Cepi, and the parallels are hard to ignore. So is this attack on Var an isolated incident, or is there a bigger conspiracy at play?
Whatever the truth, Nick isn't prepared to leave Tila in the insurgents hands. And he's prepared to break any rule, and disregard any order to do it.
The seven planets of the Verdant String, the green, fecund sources of life spanning five solar systems, comprise the Verdant String Coalition. This is the setting for a new science fiction romance series from award-winning science fiction romance novelist Michelle Diener. While the people of the Verdant String know they have a common ancestor, a group of explorers who colonised the planets at the same time a thousand or more years ago, the mysteries of who they were, and where they came from, persist.
Interference (A 25,000 word novella introducing the world of the Verdant String)
Interference can go either way . . .
The tiny moon of Cepi is on a countdown to destruction, and while Nyha Bartali has been persuaded to take her four wards for a final look at the archaeological wonder, now she's eager to leave. The only problem is, someone has other plans--plans to exploit Nyha and her girls' status as the betrayed orphans of the Verdant String in order to give them time to steal Cepi's secrets.
Nyha and her wards' value as survivors of the destruction of Halatia means it would be political suicide for any leader of the Verdant String to endanger them again--something the hostage-takers know very well. What the hostage-takers don't know is that Nyha and her girls have more help than they realize.
Mak Carep knows his team's presence on Cepi is the last flex of Arkhor's muscle before the moon is blown to bits. Arkhor has interfered on Cepi since it discovered the ruins four hundred years ago, but sometimes, interference can have unexpected consequences. When Nyha and her girls are taken hostage, Mak and the rest of his special forces team are the only ones who have any hope of rescuing them, and they're ready and willing to do what Arkhor does best . . . Interfere.
Interference was first published in the Orphans in the Black Anthology in July 2017.
Insurgency (Insurgency is a 45,000 word short novel set in the Verdant String series)
The Parnian city of Var is under siege. Buildings are being targeted by insurgents whose only aim seems to be destruction. Nick Bartega is part of the Protection Unit team investigating the explosions, but with no discernible pattern, and no one taking responsibility, he and his colleagues have hit a blank wall.
That is until his neighbor, Tila, is caught up in the first real mistake the insurgents have made. Cornered, forced to take Tila's whole office hostage, the insurgents are surrounded and out of options, until they use Tila as their shield.
Tila sees herself as Parnian first, Halatian second, but her dark blue hair, and the strong emotions her very existence provokes in others means the insurgents see her as the perfect hostage. No one on Par wants to give the order that might catch her in the crossfire. They'd rather let the insurgents get away.
But Nick, and his commander, Drake, see the first glimpse of a pattern in the insurgents behavior. Not that long ago, Halatians were used as hostages in another incident on the tiny moon of Cepi, and the parallels are hard to ignore. So is this attack on Var an isolated incident, or is there a bigger conspiracy at play?
Whatever the truth, Nick isn't prepared to leave Tila in the insurgents hands. And he's prepared to break any rule, and disregard any order to do it.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 14, 2018
211 people are currently reading
225 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Diener
60 books1,921 followersMichelle Diener is a bestselling, award-winning author of historical fiction, science fiction and fantasy. Having worked in publishing and IT, she's now very happy crafting new worlds and interesting characters.
Michelle was born in London and currently lives in Australia with her husband and two children.
When she's not writing, or driving her kids from activity to activity, you can find her online at Twitter and Facebook.
Michelle was born in London and currently lives in Australia with her husband and two children.
When she's not writing, or driving her kids from activity to activity, you can find her online at Twitter and Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
March 11, 2019
This is two novellas that a couple reviews indicate are needed background for a series I was interested in. I generally skip novellas in series, but I took a shot on this one. And it mostly worked out.
Both stories are well-written and have a good pace and interesting characters. The motivation of the bad guys is a bit obscure with hints of a bigger conspiracy centered around greedy capitalist "smugglers" who want to, I dunno, make money or something. Unlike the good people of the Verdant String who enjoy the "citizenship dividend" of living in a collective where nobody is allowed to amass "too much" private wealth. The individual bad-guys in each story had relatively clear short-term goals (steal a thing, blow up a thing, whatever) and a squad-based team hierarchy so that kind of worked. But the broader goals and strategic planning just weren't there at all so once we meet the big-bad in a given scenario the question "why are we here, again" becomes a nagging one that has no answer. Which is too bad, because it seems like Diener is trying to lay hints for a bigger structure or story arc and that ended up feeling like it might be no more than a simplistic "capitalists suck"
The more interesting background was with the Halatians—survivors of a planetary disaster that was made the more tragic by the greed of the pirates who captured the survivors in order to ransom them only to run up against inaction by the Verdant Stringers arguing about whether to give in to extortion. Since the water of their home planet (or something) give them distinctive blue hair, these survivors are readily identifiable and tend to evoke both shame and protective instincts now that everyone knows they were failed so spectacularly in the recent (10 years ago) past. So both plots involved people taking Halatian women hostage because that guilt/protective thing makes them great leverage for getting what they want.
Both these stories were a bit too short for the romance at their core to develop very well. Both have a Halatian woman being thrown together with a military guy. The women are each capable and level-headed, the military guys are interested/intrigued. Smitten, even. Significant glances are shared. Brief exchanges reassure each that the other is similarly smitten. They work together to beat the bad guys. The "smitten" is pretty much taken for granted, though, so while I liked the leads and want them together, there's not much relationship development going on.
Anyway, that seems like a lot of griping and weakness for two stories that are, individually and collectively, four-star reads. The action is fast-paced. The characters are intriguing. The tactic-level events hold together very well. And I like seeing capable people being resourceful.
A note about Chaste: Both stories are chaste. Probably because there's little room for much more than significant glances. I don't remember if there are even any kisses, now I think on it. Huh. So yeah...
A note about politics: Please don't take my comments above as an invitation to argue political systems. My only point is that the background is surface, at best, with the author making intriguing generalizations about how things work but without actually exploring/supporting them. This is fine for her story because it isn't about the politics. It might be interesting to explore those generalizations in ways that many have used sci-fi for in the past, but that isn't what Diener has chosen to do, here.
Both stories are well-written and have a good pace and interesting characters. The motivation of the bad guys is a bit obscure with hints of a bigger conspiracy centered around greedy capitalist "smugglers" who want to, I dunno, make money or something. Unlike the good people of the Verdant String who enjoy the "citizenship dividend" of living in a collective where nobody is allowed to amass "too much" private wealth. The individual bad-guys in each story had relatively clear short-term goals (steal a thing, blow up a thing, whatever) and a squad-based team hierarchy so that kind of worked. But the broader goals and strategic planning just weren't there at all so once we meet the big-bad in a given scenario the question "why are we here, again" becomes a nagging one that has no answer. Which is too bad, because it seems like Diener is trying to lay hints for a bigger structure or story arc and that ended up feeling like it might be no more than a simplistic "capitalists suck"
The more interesting background was with the Halatians—survivors of a planetary disaster that was made the more tragic by the greed of the pirates who captured the survivors in order to ransom them only to run up against inaction by the Verdant Stringers arguing about whether to give in to extortion. Since the water of their home planet (or something) give them distinctive blue hair, these survivors are readily identifiable and tend to evoke both shame and protective instincts now that everyone knows they were failed so spectacularly in the recent (10 years ago) past. So both plots involved people taking Halatian women hostage because that guilt/protective thing makes them great leverage for getting what they want.
Both these stories were a bit too short for the romance at their core to develop very well. Both have a Halatian woman being thrown together with a military guy. The women are each capable and level-headed, the military guys are interested/intrigued. Smitten, even. Significant glances are shared. Brief exchanges reassure each that the other is similarly smitten. They work together to beat the bad guys. The "smitten" is pretty much taken for granted, though, so while I liked the leads and want them together, there's not much relationship development going on.
Anyway, that seems like a lot of griping and weakness for two stories that are, individually and collectively, four-star reads. The action is fast-paced. The characters are intriguing. The tactic-level events hold together very well. And I like seeing capable people being resourceful.
A note about Chaste: Both stories are chaste. Probably because there's little room for much more than significant glances. I don't remember if there are even any kisses, now I think on it. Huh. So yeah...
A note about politics: Please don't take my comments above as an invitation to argue political systems. My only point is that the background is surface, at best, with the author making intriguing generalizations about how things work but without actually exploring/supporting them. This is fine for her story because it isn't about the politics. It might be interesting to explore those generalizations in ways that many have used sci-fi for in the past, but that isn't what Diener has chosen to do, here.
July 22, 2020
Two great space opera stories in one book!
Just a hint of romance, but there' not even a kiss, so it cannot be labeled as romance. Still the world building is very inetersting and I'm surely going to read the other books in the series!
Just a hint of romance, but there' not even a kiss, so it cannot be labeled as romance. Still the world building is very inetersting and I'm surely going to read the other books in the series!
June 27, 2020
sheesh. That was the longest book blurb I've ever read!
3.5 stars rounded up.
There's a lot packed into these short tales from a string of planets (the Verdant String) that were colonized centuries ago by the same colonists. Now their societies are for the most part egalitarian, except for two planets (the Breakaways) where the worst of the greedy have fled to do their dastardly best.
Both stories have a Halatian heroine. Halatia was part of the String until it experienced planet wide catastrophe and now there are few Halatians but they are readily visible from their blue hair.
In both stories, the H is a special Ops kinda guy. And the stories themselves are related as well so you really need to read them in order and together.
I quite enjoyed them even though there wasn't a lot of romance. The romance takes a back seat to the politics and the action. But what romance there was had chemistry and I wished there was more. Especially the second story.
The world building is stellar, and the characters aren't perfect but they are people you can get behind easily.
Safety is fine.
3.5 stars rounded up.
There's a lot packed into these short tales from a string of planets (the Verdant String) that were colonized centuries ago by the same colonists. Now their societies are for the most part egalitarian, except for two planets (the Breakaways) where the worst of the greedy have fled to do their dastardly best.
Both stories have a Halatian heroine. Halatia was part of the String until it experienced planet wide catastrophe and now there are few Halatians but they are readily visible from their blue hair.
In both stories, the H is a special Ops kinda guy. And the stories themselves are related as well so you really need to read them in order and together.
I quite enjoyed them even though there wasn't a lot of romance. The romance takes a back seat to the politics and the action. But what romance there was had chemistry and I wished there was more. Especially the second story.
The world building is stellar, and the characters aren't perfect but they are people you can get behind easily.
Safety is fine.
August 24, 2022
These two novellas are primarily a set-up for the rest of The Verdant String series. However, I would like to say that Diener has a deft hand at setting up the plot, world building, conflict, and characters of the story all very quickly, without any info-dump. It’s laid out seamlessly, which, as I said, requires a bit of skill.
It helps that she adds a brief “previously on” synapsis at the beginning of the subsequent books in the series which allows them to be read as a stand-alone, but the plot does build on what’s happened in previous books, so I’d recommend reading them in order. Hey, I think Interference / Insurgency is free if you sign-up for her newsletter. (Yes, that was a shameless plug for one of my favorite authors.) Cheers.
It helps that she adds a brief “previously on” synapsis at the beginning of the subsequent books in the series which allows them to be read as a stand-alone, but the plot does build on what’s happened in previous books, so I’d recommend reading them in order. Hey, I think Interference / Insurgency is free if you sign-up for her newsletter. (Yes, that was a shameless plug for one of my favorite authors.) Cheers.
August 22, 2025
Review 4/12/23:
Fabulous!
This book offers a twofer: a short story and a novella, each set in the Verdant String universe. Their events occur prior to the events in Breakaway, Book 1 of the Verdant String series. Both stories are fabulous examples of MD's sf, space-opera romances. The romantic couples in both stories are well matched, dynamic protagonists, who are filled with compassion and integrity, as they courageously face down impossible odds in order to defeat the evil villains.
I am really enjoying this series! I read these two stories after finishing Breakaway, which is fabulous as well. It is possible to read these books out of order, because each has a different set of romantic protagonists and a satisfying, upbeat resolution. But since there are characters that crossover from book to book, I am definitely going to read the rest of this series in order.
Reread 8/22/25:
Just as enjoyable as the first time!
Fabulous!
This book offers a twofer: a short story and a novella, each set in the Verdant String universe. Their events occur prior to the events in Breakaway, Book 1 of the Verdant String series. Both stories are fabulous examples of MD's sf, space-opera romances. The romantic couples in both stories are well matched, dynamic protagonists, who are filled with compassion and integrity, as they courageously face down impossible odds in order to defeat the evil villains.
I am really enjoying this series! I read these two stories after finishing Breakaway, which is fabulous as well. It is possible to read these books out of order, because each has a different set of romantic protagonists and a satisfying, upbeat resolution. But since there are characters that crossover from book to book, I am definitely going to read the rest of this series in order.
Reread 8/22/25:
Just as enjoyable as the first time!
December 9, 2025
5 stars all around!! Two fantastic novellas!
Plot- fantastic novellas with full, exciting romantic sci-fi plots featuring hostages escaping/being rescued. Chef’s kiss. And there is a bigger bad entity behind the situations that looms large… making me want to read the full series.
Romance-yes, there’s romance that makes the plots even more engaging.
Writing- fantastic. Some editing errors, but I didn’t mind too much.
Pacing- fantastic.
Characters- multiple 3rd person POV. The main characters are all very likable and relatable.
Cliffhanger - no, but it has piqued my interest in the main series for sure!
Content-
Language- some swearing
Spice- clean.
Format- KU
How I rated this series-
(Each book is a standalone, although they do sometimes build on each other in the grander space opera storyline.)
#0.5 Interference/Insurgency - 5 stars
#1 Breakaway- 5 stars
#2 Breakeven - 5 stars
#3 Trailblazer - 5 stars
#4 High Flyer - 4 stars
#5 Wave Rider - 3.5 stars
#6 Peace Maker - 4 stars
#7 Enthraller - haven’t read yet
Plot- fantastic novellas with full, exciting romantic sci-fi plots featuring hostages escaping/being rescued. Chef’s kiss. And there is a bigger bad entity behind the situations that looms large… making me want to read the full series.
Romance-yes, there’s romance that makes the plots even more engaging.
Writing- fantastic. Some editing errors, but I didn’t mind too much.
Pacing- fantastic.
Characters- multiple 3rd person POV. The main characters are all very likable and relatable.
Cliffhanger - no, but it has piqued my interest in the main series for sure!
Content-
Language- some swearing
Spice- clean.
Format- KU
How I rated this series-
(Each book is a standalone, although they do sometimes build on each other in the grander space opera storyline.)
#0.5 Interference/Insurgency - 5 stars
#1 Breakaway- 5 stars
#2 Breakeven - 5 stars
#3 Trailblazer - 5 stars
#4 High Flyer - 4 stars
#5 Wave Rider - 3.5 stars
#6 Peace Maker - 4 stars
#7 Enthraller - haven’t read yet
May 9, 2021
3.5 stars
Two novellas in one book. The first, Interference , is very short, a rescue story with a romantic interest unfolding between a male soldier doing the rescue and a female scientist who needs to be rescued. The beginning was a bit confusing, as the entire new universe was introduced in a huge info dump, but then the action galloped ahead, catching the reader's attention. The short format didn't allow much in the way of character development, but it was a swift and entertaining read. Too short, I'd say.
The second story, Insurgency , occurs in the same world and has the same format: a woman is taken hostage by some ruthless guys, and a man rescues her. Sort of. It is a bit longer than the first, but both left me hankering for more. Both stories are prequels to the VERDANT STRING series of novels, and I will definitely buy the first novel of the series to see if the longer format would satisfy my craving of a deeper immersion into this universe and its people.
Overall: I enjoyed both stories, although the characters in the second one make unforgivable professional mistakes. If a good guy in Special Forces shoots an enemy, he doesn't leave this downed enemy with a weapon. He searches his victim and secures him before doing anything else. So the enemy doesn't pop up again and resume his evil ways. This fact should be true in whatever genre the characters operate: sci-fi or fantasy or current reality. That the soldiers in this story didn't secure the bad guy makes them look amateurish, stupid rather than heroic. I don't think that was the author's intent. The plot needed this mistake, but I'd say that was a sloppy work on the author's part.
Two novellas in one book. The first, Interference , is very short, a rescue story with a romantic interest unfolding between a male soldier doing the rescue and a female scientist who needs to be rescued. The beginning was a bit confusing, as the entire new universe was introduced in a huge info dump, but then the action galloped ahead, catching the reader's attention. The short format didn't allow much in the way of character development, but it was a swift and entertaining read. Too short, I'd say.
The second story, Insurgency , occurs in the same world and has the same format: a woman is taken hostage by some ruthless guys, and a man rescues her. Sort of. It is a bit longer than the first, but both left me hankering for more. Both stories are prequels to the VERDANT STRING series of novels, and I will definitely buy the first novel of the series to see if the longer format would satisfy my craving of a deeper immersion into this universe and its people.
Overall: I enjoyed both stories, although the characters in the second one make unforgivable professional mistakes. If a good guy in Special Forces shoots an enemy, he doesn't leave this downed enemy with a weapon. He searches his victim and secures him before doing anything else. So the enemy doesn't pop up again and resume his evil ways. This fact should be true in whatever genre the characters operate: sci-fi or fantasy or current reality. That the soldiers in this story didn't secure the bad guy makes them look amateurish, stupid rather than heroic. I don't think that was the author's intent. The plot needed this mistake, but I'd say that was a sloppy work on the author's part.
January 16, 2018
I adore the world building of Michelle Diener. She has a deft hand at building in history and dropping it in conversation.
These two stories have just whetted my appetite for this new world and books to come.
Interference - As if surviving the destruction of her world and capture by smugglers escaping it wasn't enough to last a lifetime, Nyha is now a captive along with her four wards. The special forces team lead, Mak, helps rescue her (she rescues herself quite a bit). Romantic interest ensues. Lovely intro to the world of Verdant Strings.
Insurgency - What a riot of events! The romantic tension between Tila and Nick is fabulous. Again, Tila survived the destruction of her world and subsequent capture by smugglers. We see that in appropriate flashbacks in the story. She gets captured again and many things come to light about what happened and why in Interference. Enough is explained to lead into what is coming in the books (I hope, I hope!).
These two stories have just whetted my appetite for this new world and books to come.
Interference - As if surviving the destruction of her world and capture by smugglers escaping it wasn't enough to last a lifetime, Nyha is now a captive along with her four wards. The special forces team lead, Mak, helps rescue her (she rescues herself quite a bit). Romantic interest ensues. Lovely intro to the world of Verdant Strings.
Insurgency - What a riot of events! The romantic tension between Tila and Nick is fabulous. Again, Tila survived the destruction of her world and subsequent capture by smugglers. We see that in appropriate flashbacks in the story. She gets captured again and many things come to light about what happened and why in Interference. Enough is explained to lead into what is coming in the books (I hope, I hope!).
March 10, 2019
This is a collection of two romantic, high-action SF novellas set in the world of the Verdant String. (They're officially prequels to the series - I read Book 1 first before this and liked it, but I might have enjoyed it even more if I'd read these first? I'm not sure.) They're very light on the romance - the focus is on the action-adventure - but I enjoyed them both a lot (especially because the heroines are WAY more active and full of agency than they sound in the blurb for the book - I always like Michelle Diener's heroines).
January 29, 2018
3.5 stars
These were both decent novellas. I like Diener's scifi romance and these were no exception. They serve to lay the ground work for the series, introduce the long arc and the world, and perhaps some of the recurring characters. I like that she is presenting the social structure as flawed but well working socialism. It will be interesting to see where she takes that.
I'm looking forward to the first full length book in the series, due sometime in June 2018. I'll be reading it.
These were both decent novellas. I like Diener's scifi romance and these were no exception. They serve to lay the ground work for the series, introduce the long arc and the world, and perhaps some of the recurring characters. I like that she is presenting the social structure as flawed but well working socialism. It will be interesting to see where she takes that.
I'm looking forward to the first full length book in the series, due sometime in June 2018. I'll be reading it.
August 31, 2021
I read and enjoyed Diener's Class 5 series, and thought I'd give this series a try since I'm still in the mood for SciFi. I really enjoyed both stories, though the world-building is dense and it took some time before I figured out the society.
I enjoyed Interference a bit more than Insurgency, but both were quick reads. I look forward to reading the first full-length novel now that I have a grasp on the world.
I enjoyed Interference a bit more than Insurgency, but both were quick reads. I look forward to reading the first full-length novel now that I have a grasp on the world.
April 4, 2020
4.25 / 4 Stars
Two very good short stories introducing us to Michelle Diener's new series Verdant String. I liked all the main characters and am excited about reading the next book.
Two very good short stories introducing us to Michelle Diener's new series Verdant String. I liked all the main characters and am excited about reading the next book.
February 16, 2018
This is just a review of Insurgency, Interference was not for me at this time.
Bad guys are blowing things up and taking hostages. And honestly when I learned why, well, yes I understood, even if it was the wrong way doing it.
Tila is from a planet that is no more (now that seems like quite the story, and a sad one.) Also the whole origin of everyone, I totally want that too.
But, I was talking about Tila...ok blue hair, Halatian of birth, now like everyone else. Presently in danger.
Nick, "cop", then one who will deal with the danger she is in
Neighbors, falling in love. The end. Interesting beginning
Bad guys are blowing things up and taking hostages. And honestly when I learned why, well, yes I understood, even if it was the wrong way doing it.
Tila is from a planet that is no more (now that seems like quite the story, and a sad one.) Also the whole origin of everyone, I totally want that too.
But, I was talking about Tila...ok blue hair, Halatian of birth, now like everyone else. Presently in danger.
Nick, "cop", then one who will deal with the danger she is in
Neighbors, falling in love. The end. Interesting beginning
April 7, 2019
Really enjoyed
I really enjoyed Michelle Diener’s writing. I first read her in her Dark Mind series which I recommend to anyone looking for a great series. The characters in this series are equally enjoyable and are worth the time spent with them.
I really enjoyed Michelle Diener’s writing. I first read her in her Dark Mind series which I recommend to anyone looking for a great series. The characters in this series are equally enjoyable and are worth the time spent with them.
November 21, 2022
Lots of adventure and great characters. Romance between main characters was just hinted at and I would have liked the romance to be more fleshed out.
January 23, 2018
Good teaser novellas for new series.
March 15, 2019
I’m not saying this is high literature, but it was highly enjoyable! I’ve read tons of sci-fi, but never Sci-fi Romance and it’s kind of my new favorite thing lol
August 2, 2021
Interference – 5 stars. I read this in Orphans in Black (indeed the novella by Michelle was the reason I got the book in the first plance) and I loved it. So I was more than happy to read it again. It has everything you could want from a space opera – strong likable leads, good coherent plot, interesting world building and a hint of romance. While the story is short there is plenty going on and it was resolved satisfactorily. It did leave me wanting more though. Hopefully there will be more books about these characters and others in this universe. Michelle always writes awesome strong heroines and Nyha was no exception. I am not always so enamoured of her heros but this time around Mak was a hit. He is likable in his own right and not just as a love interest and partner for the heroine (although he is that too) I also liked Nyha’s wards and how they handle everything that happens too.
Insurgency – 4 star. It was with much delight that I returned to the world of the Verdant String. Once again we have a great action packed story with a smart and likable heroine and some light romance which doesn’t overshadow the main story (YAY) but adds to it. This time we visit the planet of Parn and meet Halatian Tila who was one of the Halatians saved by Drake – the heroic Parn Captain that disobeyed orders and sparked the rescue of the surviving Halatians on the smuggler ships. Lucky for Tila her new neighbour, City Watch officer Nick is smitten which comes in handy when Tila is unexpectedly caught up in an attack by terrorists who have been randomly (or so it seems) bombing the city. I also really loved how we got to meet Drake as the throwaway mention of him and his heroism in Interference made me interested in his character.
Really looking forward to reading a full length novel set in this interesting world and there is certainly scope for it as we still don’t know who the mystery string pullers are or their agenda. I actually want to read a full length novel about Nyha & Mak (and Nyha’s wards) from Interference and see how that relationship develops and follow them as they investigate who was behind everything because I just loved them so much.
I was very kindly gifted with a review copy by the author in return for an honest review.
Insurgency – 4 star. It was with much delight that I returned to the world of the Verdant String. Once again we have a great action packed story with a smart and likable heroine and some light romance which doesn’t overshadow the main story (YAY) but adds to it. This time we visit the planet of Parn and meet Halatian Tila who was one of the Halatians saved by Drake – the heroic Parn Captain that disobeyed orders and sparked the rescue of the surviving Halatians on the smuggler ships. Lucky for Tila her new neighbour, City Watch officer Nick is smitten which comes in handy when Tila is unexpectedly caught up in an attack by terrorists who have been randomly (or so it seems) bombing the city. I also really loved how we got to meet Drake as the throwaway mention of him and his heroism in Interference made me interested in his character.
Really looking forward to reading a full length novel set in this interesting world and there is certainly scope for it as we still don’t know who the mystery string pullers are or their agenda. I actually want to read a full length novel about Nyha & Mak (and Nyha’s wards) from Interference and see how that relationship develops and follow them as they investigate who was behind everything because I just loved them so much.
I was very kindly gifted with a review copy by the author in return for an honest review.
January 19, 2018
A Five Star Action Packed Sci Fi Romance!
I was provided with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I had read Interference previously in the Orphans in the Black anthology.
It was just as exciting re reading it again.
Insurgency was even more enjoyable given the back story of Interference.
Exciting and wonderfully unpredictable. Each story is complete in itself, with excellent world building, that leaves you feeling fulfilled .while looking forward with excited anticipation to the next book in the Verdant String series.
Michelle Diener draws her characters so deftly, you are drawn into their lives, their stories,. You care about these people, .
They are Characters that stay with you long after you've read the book.
I found these novellas to be a much more satisfying read than many full length books I've read.
These heroines aren’t sword welding Amazon's. Their power lies in strength, bravery, and integrity. When all else fails, they are prepared to use whatever means at their disposal to defend themselves and protect others. That’s a true heroine to me.
I love Michelle Dieners work. If you love these stories, I highly recommend her Class 5 series.
I was provided with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I had read Interference previously in the Orphans in the Black anthology.
It was just as exciting re reading it again.
Insurgency was even more enjoyable given the back story of Interference.
Exciting and wonderfully unpredictable. Each story is complete in itself, with excellent world building, that leaves you feeling fulfilled .while looking forward with excited anticipation to the next book in the Verdant String series.
Michelle Diener draws her characters so deftly, you are drawn into their lives, their stories,. You care about these people, .
They are Characters that stay with you long after you've read the book.
I found these novellas to be a much more satisfying read than many full length books I've read.
These heroines aren’t sword welding Amazon's. Their power lies in strength, bravery, and integrity. When all else fails, they are prepared to use whatever means at their disposal to defend themselves and protect others. That’s a true heroine to me.
I love Michelle Dieners work. If you love these stories, I highly recommend her Class 5 series.
December 15, 2025
4.0 - 4.5 ***
I'm so glad I read this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories. I like Michelle Diener's heroes and heroines. They're smart and realistic. This book had two prequel novellas to kick off a new series. There isn't much romance in either story. Lots of attraction between the H and h though. The world building is excellent and the characters have decent back stories for such a short books. Definitely left me wanting more.
12/15/25
Audible plus catalog
I'm so glad I read this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories. I like Michelle Diener's heroes and heroines. They're smart and realistic. This book had two prequel novellas to kick off a new series. There isn't much romance in either story. Lots of attraction between the H and h though. The world building is excellent and the characters have decent back stories for such a short books. Definitely left me wanting more.
12/15/25
Audible plus catalog
April 20, 2021
Really enjoy these two stories. The characters, the universe, the interwoven plot, the beginnings of romance. Have enjoyed every subsequent Verdant String story.
Recommend these stories and the following novels. Also highly recommend her Class 5 series which is how I found her books. Michelle Diener's books are both auto buys and frequent re-reads.
Recommend these stories and the following novels. Also highly recommend her Class 5 series which is how I found her books. Michelle Diener's books are both auto buys and frequent re-reads.
January 18, 2018
Interference: 4/5★
Insurgency: 4.5/5★
Interference:
Interference was a really great introduction to the world of the Verdant String. I'm always looking forward to Michelle Diener's next science fiction book because it always has a great cast of characters, especially her main characters. It obviously was no different with this novella. I adored Nyha and Mak and loved their chemistry together. I also have got to say that even though it was only a 25,000 word novella I still thought the story has really great world building. It was very well-written and also action packed, with a little bit of romance that definitely makes the reader want more. Nyha even ended up being one of my favorite characters that I've read about from this author. I just loved how although she knew Mak could help her in the bad situation she ended up in, she also was determined to save herself and the ones she loves. "He was a lifeline, the only one she had, but she needed to work on a way out of this without him, too. She couldn't depend on being saved."
It was just a really good story and a huge page-turner!
Insurgency:
Insurgency was in one word: unputdownable! I loved it even more than Interference and I already thought that story was really amazing.
Insurgency features two new characters named Tila and her new neighbour Nick, whom she connects right away. Nick is part of the Protection Unit team investigating explosions that have been going around in the city of Var. Tila is a Halatian (I already knew a lot about the Halantians from Interference so I was really glad this book was also about one). Unfortunately being Halatian causes her to be abducted by insurgents. Of course Nick doesn't hesitate to go after her along with his commander Drake.
Needless to say this story was pretty action-packed, which I loved. There was never ever a dull moment and I just kept wanting to read the next page and the next and the next until I had finished the book. I adored the two main characters. I loved the "tension" that surrounded them and their blossoming actraction towards on another. This book isn't heavy on the romance but I love the subtlety that the author created between these two.
Overall, Interference as well as Insurgency were two really good stories and a fantastic introduction to the Verdant String series. The worldbuilding was really incredible so I can't wait to read more of this world and the people in it.
Insurgency: 4.5/5★
Interference:
Interference was a really great introduction to the world of the Verdant String. I'm always looking forward to Michelle Diener's next science fiction book because it always has a great cast of characters, especially her main characters. It obviously was no different with this novella. I adored Nyha and Mak and loved their chemistry together. I also have got to say that even though it was only a 25,000 word novella I still thought the story has really great world building. It was very well-written and also action packed, with a little bit of romance that definitely makes the reader want more. Nyha even ended up being one of my favorite characters that I've read about from this author. I just loved how although she knew Mak could help her in the bad situation she ended up in, she also was determined to save herself and the ones she loves. "He was a lifeline, the only one she had, but she needed to work on a way out of this without him, too. She couldn't depend on being saved."
It was just a really good story and a huge page-turner!
Insurgency:
Insurgency was in one word: unputdownable! I loved it even more than Interference and I already thought that story was really amazing.
Insurgency features two new characters named Tila and her new neighbour Nick, whom she connects right away. Nick is part of the Protection Unit team investigating explosions that have been going around in the city of Var. Tila is a Halatian (I already knew a lot about the Halantians from Interference so I was really glad this book was also about one). Unfortunately being Halatian causes her to be abducted by insurgents. Of course Nick doesn't hesitate to go after her along with his commander Drake.
Needless to say this story was pretty action-packed, which I loved. There was never ever a dull moment and I just kept wanting to read the next page and the next and the next until I had finished the book. I adored the two main characters. I loved the "tension" that surrounded them and their blossoming actraction towards on another. This book isn't heavy on the romance but I love the subtlety that the author created between these two.
Overall, Interference as well as Insurgency were two really good stories and a fantastic introduction to the Verdant String series. The worldbuilding was really incredible so I can't wait to read more of this world and the people in it.
July 11, 2024
These are two starter novellas for the VERDANT STRING series. I've read two of the full length books from this series already and really, really liked them. Although a series with some walk on rolls from intermingled characters I think any of them can be read as a standalone. I know I've read them completely out of order and was still enchanted. The novellas set up the world of the verdant string (a group of lush planets) and mostly centers on two different characters from the same world. Both the main female characters are from the (former) planet Halatia. There is a backstory about how their planet was being destroyed and the refugees from the planet were kidnapped and held for ransom by pirates. The Verdant string planets were suitably horrified but hemmed and hawed around until someone in the military took things into their own hands and facilitated a rescue without permission. Many of the hostages had died and an entire race of people were almost wiped out. Because of this, anyone from Halatia is now treated with kid gloves and it helps that they have characteristic blue hair to make them stand out. The first book focuses on Nyha is visiting a moon that has suddenly changed it's orbit and must now be destroyed asap before it hurtles into the nearby planet. I can't remember why she (and her young wards) needed to even go but while there a faction tries to kidnap them. They want to keep them there and force the planet to their demands knowing they won't blow up the moon while a political hot potato Halatian is on it. It is action packed and the hero of the story is a planetary special forces type already on the planet. I liked this story but the second one was probably my favorite.
The second story, Insurgency focuses on Tila. She is also Halatian and working on her newly adopted planet. There has been a series of bombings in the city and the hero Nick (of the Protection Unit) is investigating them. He recently moved to a new apartment and is now Tila's neighbor. When the bombers target the building where Tila works they are almost caught and are about to take hostages when they spot her (blue hair remember?) and take her instead. Their reaction to seeing her is basically flabbergasted and you realize that something is up besides a random bombing.
Both stories are really short but contain a surprising amount of stellar world building. The action flows smoothly and each is it's own complete story.
The second story, Insurgency focuses on Tila. She is also Halatian and working on her newly adopted planet. There has been a series of bombings in the city and the hero Nick (of the Protection Unit) is investigating them. He recently moved to a new apartment and is now Tila's neighbor. When the bombers target the building where Tila works they are almost caught and are about to take hostages when they spot her (blue hair remember?) and take her instead. Their reaction to seeing her is basically flabbergasted and you realize that something is up besides a random bombing.
Both stories are really short but contain a surprising amount of stellar world building. The action flows smoothly and each is it's own complete story.
January 6, 2019
Diener has crafted two really interesting novellas to introduce readers to the Verdant String, a group of planets colonized by a related genetic group. These novellas focus on the impact a recent tragedy has had on their current events. The focus of both these novellas is on a Halatian heroine. The planet Halatia was destroyed, and the dithering inaction of the other planets meant that the Halatian survivors went through harrowing experiences, and many of them did not survive. So there’s a huge amount of cultural guilt in throughout the Verdant String surrounding any Halatians, and that fact drives the action of both Interference and Insurgency.
Both these novellas are well titled. The first focuses on interference in multiple ways; practically every major element in it is some type of interference. The second, more complex novella deals with a growing insurgency not only against the Verdant String but also involving what are called the Breakaway planets (those not part of the Verdant String). Life is very different in these places, and again, cultural norms and customs come into play in a very big way throughout this story.
I love how Diener doesn’t write reams of expository explanation about these worlds, their customs, and their influences. Instead, these elements are embedded in the story, and it’s up to the reader to start extrapolating what happened in these worlds in the past. Frankly, I’m not sure I got everything Diener wanted to get across, but I really loved how she respects the reader’s ability to understand what’s needed to fully invest in these novellas.
The romances here are subtle and underplayed; they help motivate some of the actions of the stories but are never the primary drivers. Instead of an intense romance, there’s some delightful interplay and fun with how things are interpreted, particularly in Insurgency.
Through both Interference and Insurgency, Diener immerses you in these new civilizations and lets you examine the impact cultural regret has not only on our understanding of the past but also its ability to influence the future.
Both these novellas are well titled. The first focuses on interference in multiple ways; practically every major element in it is some type of interference. The second, more complex novella deals with a growing insurgency not only against the Verdant String but also involving what are called the Breakaway planets (those not part of the Verdant String). Life is very different in these places, and again, cultural norms and customs come into play in a very big way throughout this story.
I love how Diener doesn’t write reams of expository explanation about these worlds, their customs, and their influences. Instead, these elements are embedded in the story, and it’s up to the reader to start extrapolating what happened in these worlds in the past. Frankly, I’m not sure I got everything Diener wanted to get across, but I really loved how she respects the reader’s ability to understand what’s needed to fully invest in these novellas.
The romances here are subtle and underplayed; they help motivate some of the actions of the stories but are never the primary drivers. Instead of an intense romance, there’s some delightful interplay and fun with how things are interpreted, particularly in Insurgency.
Through both Interference and Insurgency, Diener immerses you in these new civilizations and lets you examine the impact cultural regret has not only on our understanding of the past but also its ability to influence the future.
January 30, 2018
Another new series from Michelle Diener!!! Yes – I am happy! As far as her SFR series go, Class 5 and Sky Raiders, each one is unique in setting and in atmosphere. Verdant String is another singular series set in an egalitarian society that is being attacked from the inside and from outside.
The history of the Halatians is slowly doled out, but seems to be critical to both novellas, so I am guessing the series too. Blue-hair Halatians stand out on the Verdant String planets they have been forced to relocate to after their planet was destroyed in what I am assuming was a natural disaster. The survivors have managed to find new lives, but because of the past, they will always be the guilty reminder of what the other Verdant String planets did not do. Sadly, that makes them the optimal pawns, in politics, in society, in everything.
You see this truth in both of the prequel novellas Interference and Insurgency. The main characters are Halatian women caught up in circumstances they could not control or anticipate. Also key are the special forces/protection unit men that they meet and endure the conflict with. While the romance in Interfence between Nyha and Mak seemed a bit rushed, in Insurgency, Tila and Nick had a charming, slower start.
There is a special character in Insurgency that I really liked. Drake is the head of the protection unit and had a an exceptional, if infamous, role in the rescue of the Halation people. I hope we get to see more of him in the series
In both stories, the women were the captives and were rescued by the men. Not that the women were weak. In fact Ms. Diener’s heroines are never that. But I hope the rescuing will be mixed up in the future.
Interference hints at the history of the Verdant String and it’s technology. Insurgency gets a bit more into the Halation disaster. Both are providing background to what is sure to be a great new series that I look forward to with great anticipation!
The author provided a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.
The history of the Halatians is slowly doled out, but seems to be critical to both novellas, so I am guessing the series too. Blue-hair Halatians stand out on the Verdant String planets they have been forced to relocate to after their planet was destroyed in what I am assuming was a natural disaster. The survivors have managed to find new lives, but because of the past, they will always be the guilty reminder of what the other Verdant String planets did not do. Sadly, that makes them the optimal pawns, in politics, in society, in everything.
You see this truth in both of the prequel novellas Interference and Insurgency. The main characters are Halatian women caught up in circumstances they could not control or anticipate. Also key are the special forces/protection unit men that they meet and endure the conflict with. While the romance in Interfence between Nyha and Mak seemed a bit rushed, in Insurgency, Tila and Nick had a charming, slower start.
There is a special character in Insurgency that I really liked. Drake is the head of the protection unit and had a an exceptional, if infamous, role in the rescue of the Halation people. I hope we get to see more of him in the series
In both stories, the women were the captives and were rescued by the men. Not that the women were weak. In fact Ms. Diener’s heroines are never that. But I hope the rescuing will be mixed up in the future.
Interference hints at the history of the Verdant String and it’s technology. Insurgency gets a bit more into the Halation disaster. Both are providing background to what is sure to be a great new series that I look forward to with great anticipation!
The author provided a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2018
Interference: A lovely novella with a young woman and her four wards who are survivors of a destroyed planet, visiting a historical moon that is going to be destroyed to prevent it from colliding with another world. Hijackers have a plan to steal the gravity generator that is providing the atmosphere for the moon. They are no match for the special forces team, led by Mak Carep, that will stop them and protect Nyha and her wards. I loved the resourceful Nyha and the heroic Mak, and their strong connection formed during the ordeal.
Insurgency: A short novel set in the Verdant String series, Tila Dor Rio is one of the Halatians who were captured by smugglers after the annihilation of their world, and then rescued by Special Forces, lead by Captain Drake. When she meets her new neighbor, Nick Bartega, a member of the Protection Unit, there is definitely interest on both sides. Nick's team is investigating a series of explosions in various buildings around the city of Var, and then the building Tila works in is targeted. When the bombers see Tila's distinctive dark blue hair that marks her as Halatian, they take her as a hostage and leave the planet with her. Nick and his commander, Drake, join with Special Forces to try to stop the insurgents and get Tila back, and they’ll go to any lengths to accomplish her rescue. I thought the relationship between Nick and Tila was lovely. Since she had kept to herself a lot since she was rescued as a child, letting him into her life was a big step for her. I’m enjoying the setting of the worlds of the Verdant String Coalition and look forward to reading the first full length story in the series, which comes out later this year.
Insurgency: A short novel set in the Verdant String series, Tila Dor Rio is one of the Halatians who were captured by smugglers after the annihilation of their world, and then rescued by Special Forces, lead by Captain Drake. When she meets her new neighbor, Nick Bartega, a member of the Protection Unit, there is definitely interest on both sides. Nick's team is investigating a series of explosions in various buildings around the city of Var, and then the building Tila works in is targeted. When the bombers see Tila's distinctive dark blue hair that marks her as Halatian, they take her as a hostage and leave the planet with her. Nick and his commander, Drake, join with Special Forces to try to stop the insurgents and get Tila back, and they’ll go to any lengths to accomplish her rescue. I thought the relationship between Nick and Tila was lovely. Since she had kept to herself a lot since she was rescued as a child, letting him into her life was a big step for her. I’m enjoying the setting of the worlds of the Verdant String Coalition and look forward to reading the first full length story in the series, which comes out later this year.
December 17, 2025
4 Stars
‘The seven planets of the Verdant String, the green, fecund sources of life spanning five solar systems, comprise the Verdant String Coalition. While the people of the Verdant String know they have a common ancestor, a group of explorers who colonised the planets at the same time a thousand or more years ago, the mysteries of who they were, and where they came from, persist.’
Interference/Insurgency are two novellas that make up Book #0 of The Verdant String series by Michelle Diener. I have really enjoyed exploring this series which is made up of captivating science fiction, romance, and adventure, all set against the lush and imaginative backdrop of seven life-rich planets, spanning five solar systems. The worldbuilding is one of its strongest elements - each planet feels distinct, with its own culture, politics, and environmental challenges, making the Coalition setting feel alive and interconnected.
A series highlight is the balance between high-stakes action and heartfelt character development. Ms. Diener’s protagonists are resourceful, intelligent, and emotionally layered, often navigating both interplanetary intrigue and deep, personal relationships. The romance elements are woven seamlessly into the plot, never overshadowing the sci-fi core but instead enriching it.
Throughout it all there is a sense of optimism and resilience. Even amid danger, there’s a thread of hope, cooperation, and respect for diversity - both human and alien.
If you enjoy richly imagined space settings, strong and capable leads, and a perfect mix of romance and adventure, then you should jump on board for a rewarding journey through the stars.
Happy Reading…
‘The seven planets of the Verdant String, the green, fecund sources of life spanning five solar systems, comprise the Verdant String Coalition. While the people of the Verdant String know they have a common ancestor, a group of explorers who colonised the planets at the same time a thousand or more years ago, the mysteries of who they were, and where they came from, persist.’
Interference/Insurgency are two novellas that make up Book #0 of The Verdant String series by Michelle Diener. I have really enjoyed exploring this series which is made up of captivating science fiction, romance, and adventure, all set against the lush and imaginative backdrop of seven life-rich planets, spanning five solar systems. The worldbuilding is one of its strongest elements - each planet feels distinct, with its own culture, politics, and environmental challenges, making the Coalition setting feel alive and interconnected.
A series highlight is the balance between high-stakes action and heartfelt character development. Ms. Diener’s protagonists are resourceful, intelligent, and emotionally layered, often navigating both interplanetary intrigue and deep, personal relationships. The romance elements are woven seamlessly into the plot, never overshadowing the sci-fi core but instead enriching it.
Throughout it all there is a sense of optimism and resilience. Even amid danger, there’s a thread of hope, cooperation, and respect for diversity - both human and alien.
If you enjoy richly imagined space settings, strong and capable leads, and a perfect mix of romance and adventure, then you should jump on board for a rewarding journey through the stars.
Happy Reading…
Read
March 3, 2024Took my time with this one, as this was the last book in the Verdant String series that I hadn't read yet. I absolutely should have read this first because these two novels really lay out how the Verdant String works, how and when the Breakaways formed, and what's up with the Halatians.
I wasn't as into the first of the novellas, Interference. It's a variation on the Big Dumb Object you find in science fiction: humans encounter and run around on an massive artifact/ruins that's either alien or of occult purpose; adversity ensues for whatever reason. I thought the Halatian woman with 4 little girls as her charges was a little twee, but the story is still a fun little smash and grab.
The second novella, Insurgency, now this is where it's at. The politics of the Halatian Incident and it's continuing effect on the power structures of the Verdant String was completely spot on, like way more nuanced and true to life than I'm used to seeing either in science fiction or the fucking op-ed page. The effects of trauma can be generational, and suffering isn't actually ennobling and all that. Really good stuff.
But now I'm out of Verdant String books and I have no idea where to find my next obsessive series. :(
I wasn't as into the first of the novellas, Interference. It's a variation on the Big Dumb Object you find in science fiction: humans encounter and run around on an massive artifact/ruins that's either alien or of occult purpose; adversity ensues for whatever reason. I thought the Halatian woman with 4 little girls as her charges was a little twee, but the story is still a fun little smash and grab.
The second novella, Insurgency, now this is where it's at. The politics of the Halatian Incident and it's continuing effect on the power structures of the Verdant String was completely spot on, like way more nuanced and true to life than I'm used to seeing either in science fiction or the fucking op-ed page. The effects of trauma can be generational, and suffering isn't actually ennobling and all that. Really good stuff.
But now I'm out of Verdant String books and I have no idea where to find my next obsessive series. :(
November 6, 2018
Okay. 3.5 stars.
I bought this book because I really, really enjoyed this authors’ Class 5 series, so I thought I’d give this one a go.
Interference - it was quite a short novella, so I guess not much room for development. There was a significant amount of world building, which was a bit confusing initially. Unfortunately there wasn’t really any romance, which I personally found disappointing. there was a hero and a heroine who obviously were attracted to each other, and they silently alluded to that, but it didn’t go any further than that.
Insurgency - I liked this one more than the first. The characters were more relatable and the plot was more interesting. There was a bit more progress in the romance too.
I’ll keep reading the series, but so far it’s 3.5 stars from me.
I bought this book because I really, really enjoyed this authors’ Class 5 series, so I thought I’d give this one a go.
Interference - it was quite a short novella, so I guess not much room for development. There was a significant amount of world building, which was a bit confusing initially. Unfortunately there wasn’t really any romance, which I personally found disappointing. there was a hero and a heroine who obviously were attracted to each other, and they silently alluded to that, but it didn’t go any further than that.
Insurgency - I liked this one more than the first. The characters were more relatable and the plot was more interesting. There was a bit more progress in the romance too.
I’ll keep reading the series, but so far it’s 3.5 stars from me.
January 17, 2018
I read Interference in the Orphans in the Black Anthology and loved the world building, backstory, plot and character development. Insurgency takes all of that to a higher level. Both had tension filled story lines that fit their titles. There is interference in one and insurgents in the other. The backstory is fleshed out more in Insurgency. Both are full of danger and wonderful characters. This is a lead up to a new series by Diener. What I love about her SFR books are the very different worlds she builds while telling her stories. The Verdant String is a new unique and interesting setting for stories. These two are rather short but a full length novel set in the Verdant String is due out in June. I am looking forward to more adventures in this new setting.
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