Under Strain by Cynthia Sax [Review]

Under Strain (Rebel Cyborgs #2) by Cynthia Sax
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: May 26, 2021

Rebel Cyborgs
1. Containing Malice
2. Under Strain - Kindle
3. Baring Grudge
4. B Free
4.5. Needing Valor
5. Seizing Power

Related Series:
(Find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Cyborg Sizzle
1. Releasing Rage

Cyborg Space Exploration
1. Choosing Chuckles

Cyborg Unity
1. Provoking Odium

Cynthia Sax
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

A damaged cyborg warrior is hunted by a peace-loving human female.
***
Strain is severely malfunctioning. The D Model cyborg was the sole survivor of a horrific decision made by his cruel manufacturers. He hates all humans and when he attacks one placed under his cyborg leader’s protection, he is reprimanded, stripped of his weapons, told to watch and not actively participate in the next mission.

That mission takes him to a small remote planet. Its lush terrain should only be inhabited by the cyborgs they were sent to rescue. Strain senses another presence on the surface. She is watching him, tracking him, hunting him.

A fully operational cyborg would end her lifespan.

Strain wants to capture, kiss, claim her.

Kamyelle is the only one left of her kind. Warriors have killed the other nonviolent human inhabitants of her planet. She survived…barely by hiding in the trees, observing her enemies, and covering herself with lifeform scan-concealing mud.

When a handsome, gray-skinned, brilliant blue-eyed male arrives, surrounded by weapon-carrying warriors, she knows she has to save him. Warriors harm and they kill. That is what they do.

She won’t allow them to hurt Strain.

Thoughts on Under Strain: All the cyborgs who freed themselves have issues of some sort (because nothing perpetuates horrors like being manufactured, used, and abused by a group of people who enjoy putting the hurt on those they consider inferior), but Strain is REALLY badly off. The cyborg curse of perfect recall means he just keeps looping the most terrible thing he's ever experienced over and over again and the poor guy's a mess because of it.

He's trying his best to work through his malfunction, but being slated for destruction and abandoned in the worst way possible isn't an easy thing to work around when it plays on an endless loop.

What I'm trying to say is that Strain's a hot mess. He has a tenuous hold on the here and now and he REALLY doesn't like humans. Even the human females who have mated with other cyborgs mess with his head.

So when he catches Kamyelle's scent on their current rescue mission, he's equal parts worried he's going to hurt her in some way and determined to protect her from any dangers. Including himself.

As for Kamyelle, she's a peace-loving woman who's been on her own for a while. She's tried to do what she could to help the cyborgs left behind, but she has guilt about what she wasn't able to accomplish. Namely, finding a way to set the imprisoned cyborgs free.

A cyborg with some issues and a woman who is aggressively non-violent. They sound like complete opposites, but they work in the best way. And since I'm always ALWAYS down with seeing the cyborgs find their happy place, I'm thrilled with these two. *thumbs up*