I picked MY ENEMY, MY ALLY up for fun, and while it was a pleasant enough read, I wasn't enthralled.

There were good points. Duane lets her imagination run wild with aliens. Many diverse species, cultures, sexual orientations, abilities, colors, and body types roam the pages freely and happily. Duane's deft handling of science and the mechanics of the Star Trek universe made for a solid, high stakes adventure. Ael was a fascinating, fresh character, and her and Kirk's relationship was well-wrought (especially the ending!!).

What majorly dropped my review star count was the plot's pacing. The first 200 pages seem to exist only to set up for the last 100 pages, and while Duane's plethora of details build up the characters and world nicely, they can't hold my attention. Put simply and horribly, I was bored and that's partially why it took me so long to finish the book.

Once I got to page 201 though, the plot speeds up to break-neck speed. I was so on board for the ride that I nearly cheered. Everything came together in a tight little bow, and I finished quick.

To sum up, read MY ENEMY , MY ALLY if you have the patience for a very, VERY slow beginning and like exploring coolio author creations. Otherwise, it's a bit of a slog.