JAMIRR is another one of those books where I’ve had the basic plot elements in my head for quite a while but just wasn’t ready to write the book…until I was. (I’ve had the cover since January 2024.)  I always envisioned a Badari Main Male Character with amnesia from cryosleep being bought by a female gladiator to become part of her team, over the objections of her assistant.

Here’s what I’ve said before about why I love gladiator stories:

I love the old “sword and sandal” movies like ‘Demetrius and the Gladiators’ and any version of ‘The Last Days of Pompeii’, as well as more modern works like Starz’s ‘Spartacus’ series. So the idea of writing a scifi romance series involving futuristic gladiators fits right into my world view as an author.

And for those who wonder why my scifi gladiators wear what looks remarkably like ancient Roman uniforms – hey, it’s cool looking, it says ‘gladiator’ immediately and as a kid I imprinted on Demetrius’s dramatic, swirling red cape in that movie. I carefully established in the first book that the citizens of the galaxy Hinterlands have a romantic, inaccurate view of their own historical past and therefore the gladiatorial ‘industry’ relives the imagined glories of the old days, complete with ancient weapons…and red cloaks. There’s a lot of world building to my gladiatorial system, and readers have said it reminds them of various forms of highly organized professional sports in our time, among other influences. (I also did a lot of research on the actual Roman gladiators.)

Getting back to Jamirr specifically, one thing I try to do in all my series is to not tell a cookie cutter same story each time. So yes he’s a lost Badari and of course Kyden and the others are determined to rescue him but what if he doesn’t want to be rescued? He has strong loyalty to Samyra, the FMC who saved him from going to the mines to die. And of course she’s his fated mate. I enjoyed getting into Kyden’s head a bit as well, having to deal with a brother who rejected the help he was offering. Kyden’s used to solving every problem pretty promptly and this situation was a tangle.

It was fun to bring in a couple of past characters – the old pensioner Two Swords and the public relations expert Falayla, both of whom first appeared in RENNYR, and give them a moment or two to shine. We also see a bit more of Elara, Kyden’s mate-wife.

Writing some of the challenges Samyra the FMC of this book was facing made me really tense and I was glad to know I’d be giving her an HEA as well, just perhaps not the one she was expecting. But always with Jamirr at her side!

Here’s an excerpt from the first conversation Jamirr and Samyra have after she’s taken him to her compound. He’s been fed, had a shower and gotten clean clothes. Tazur is an alien great cat that Samyra keeps as a pet.

An entire wall was devoted to a display of the mistress’s trophies and championship crowns and belts. She was quite the consummate gladiator apparently.

Samyra in her Beast Lady arena persona Depositphotos

Samyra awaited them in a solarium, full of exotic plants. The air was perfumed by the various blooms and Tazur lolled on the floor next to her chair. Seeing Jamirr the cat emitted a raspy sound and got to her feet, coming to bump against his legs. He reached to scratch behind her ears and was rewarded with a purr that echoed in the room.

“You may go,” Samyra said to Darryl, who bowed and left. She studied Jamirr, who stood at attention despite the great cat begging for more affection. He stared over her head, focusing on a ten-legged spiderlike insect weaving a web in the midst of a dense cluster of spiky leaves. It was imperative he retain his self control for the coming conversation.

“You clean up well,” Samyra said at length.

He stayed silent. If she was waiting for him to thank her for the clothes, the food or the shower she’d wait forever.

“Why do you refuse to fight?” she asked, not at all disconcerted by his silence.

He debated with himself and finally lowered his eyes to study her face. “Because they, the previous masters, wanted me to. And my refusal was the only freedom I possess any more. I can’t be forced to train for the arena. I’d rather die than give in but unfortunately each time they saw more profit in selling me again than in putting me out of my  misery. The afterlife has to wait it seems.” More words than he’d probably spoken in a year and he cautioned himself not to be vulnerable just because she was a beautiful woman.

“Pity. But I didn’t acquire you for the arena so we can move on from that discussion. I was struck by how Tazur took to you immediately earlier today. She doesn’t like people aside from me although she tolerates Darryl. I need an animal keeper for my collection and I think you’ll be ideal.”

Jamirr was relieved and a bit intrigued but he had a key question. “Do the animals fight?”

“No.” She acted surprised and appalled at the question. “There are gladiators on the circuit who fight with animals but I’m not one of them. Perhaps you’re not aware my arena name is the Beast Lady and I’m always seen in public with at least one, if not more of my pets. I can write them off on my taxes that way, if they’re part of my brand. You’ll be coming along as their handler.” Samyra smiled and he was stunned by the softening effect of the expression on her sculpted face. “In truth, rescuing exotic animals and giving them a good home in my private zoo here is my one and only indulgence. My hobby. Occasionally I’m asked to rehabilitate an animal so it can be returned to the wild. More often Customs impounds a shipment of illegal creatures and I’m given a chance to bid on them, along with a few other collectors.”

“I see.”

“It won’t be exciting work, just feeding the animals, cleaning cages, doing light training exercises with them—I have a few I take on public media appearances and they need to perform certain natural behaviors on cue for a food reward.” She looked him over. “You do realize by refusing to fight you’re forfeiting the chance to ever purchase your freedom? Being my zookeeper doesn’t pay but winning prize money in the arena puts credits in both our pockets.”

He had no answer which would satisfy her so he kept his silence. Eventually she waved him away impatiently. “All right, go find Darryl and he’ll give you a walkthrough of the zoo.”

JAMIRR (BADARI GLADIATORS BOOK FIVE) by Veronica Scott

His memories gone, mistreated and abused by a series of owners, Jamirr knows only that he won’t give in and become a fighter in the savage arenas of the galaxy. He refuses to give his so-called masters the satisfaction. Destined for a grim fate in the mines, he waits to die. Raised by a gladiator father to become an arena warrior from the time she was old enough to hold a wooden sword, Samyra inherited his struggling gladiatorial house and has carved out a career as the ruthless Beast Lady. Looking for new fighters she knows she should pass Jamirr by. He’s nothing but trouble and untrainable. Something about him won’t let her walk away and she takes the risk of adding him to her team. Despite himself Jamirr has a growing loyalty and attraction to the Beast Lady. He’s drawn to the caring woman underneath the savage exterior she presents to the world. But she has secrets that threaten them both and he still has no idea what kind of past his amnesia is concealing. He knows he’s not human, not with claws and fangs, yet he loves a human woman. Will he fight for her? Could a gladiator and his mistress ever become mates and equals? And will the arrival of a group of men like him known as Badari create opportunities for freedom or destroy the life Jamirr’s carved out?

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