Reality Benders by Vegastarchild584 returns to Zhang and Simon on the Mothership Athena, escorting thirty children through foggy mountains on KUR13X and surviving a crawler bee attack. They pilot the ship under chaos, deal with Zhang temporarily merging with water-dwelling hybrids, and are commended by Captain Alpha1. Reassigned, they infiltrate a Dolom laser installation using simulations and disguises, disable the weapon with Landin_S4284’s help, evade Dolom forces, and bring escaped workers to Chara to build a settlement. After stabilizing life there, they face Eben attackers aboard Athena, protect Alpha1, and restore control of the ship. Later, they uncover Eben's plans on the Plymouth Fury, meet Princess Ardali, and escort her family to Chara. However, when Zhang and Simon resume their duties, Zhang makes a shocking announcement that will change the dynamic of their relationship forever.

Vegastarchild584’s Reality Benders is a sophisticated and unique addition to contemporary science fiction, combining same-sex relationship representation with intricate and inventive technological constructs. There are a lot of moving pieces, with missions that span mining asteroids, interstellar diplomacy, and high-level tactical operations, all shown with careful attention to spatial logistics, shipboard systems, and strategic interactions between human, alien, and clone characters. The community-building, collaborative problem solving, and social integration on Chara conveys a well-realized vision of interspecies cooperation—but the changes that come to Simon and Zhang when they find out there is a development in their relationship are the best part of the whole story. This is a sexy, polished, and intellectually witty addition to Vegastarchild584’s Wild & Zany Galactic Adventures of Commander Zhang & Lieutenant Simon, Soulmates who Incarnate on Earth and Save the World canon.

When Commander Zhang and Lieutenant Simon, two Sirian Ahel humans of the Galactic Confederation, are asked by Captain Olin, their superior, to take on a new, daunting assignment, they have no choice but to accept. The Andromedans had tipped off the Confederation about a Dolom operation involving the use of laser technology to escape from 3D Holographic Earth, a clone of the old 3D Earth created for those who failed to ascend to 5D Earth, and cause chaos. Zhang and Simon are supposed to go deep undercover, posing as Dolom reptilians, to infiltrate the Dolom installation, disrupt their operation, and provide real-time intelligence to the Confederation. However, as they embark on their mission, they find themselves facing an imminent danger that threatens the future of the whole multiverse. Find out how it all goes down in Vegastarchild584’s Book 4: Reality Benders.

Lovers of near-future sci-fi novels blended with LGBTQ romance, eroticism, drama, adventure, action, and thrills will find Vegastarchild584’s Book 4: Reality Benders an enthralling read. The author brings the scenes to life with vivid depictions, featuring a diverse, dynamic cast. The subtle tone accompanying the storyline kept me guessing what was coming next, keeping me turning page after page. The author makes the scenes tremendously dramatic, highlighting the wry humor in the story. The character-driven dialogue, entwined with banter and sarcasm, alongside an introspective voice, gave insight into the cast’s emotions. Juxtaposing their complex traits made it easy to connect with them. Through the cast, the narrative explores themes of power, loyalty, betrayal, desire, love, intimacy, technology, survival, ethics, crime, and more. While this is a stand-alone read, I highly recommend reading the preceding installments to enjoy it more.

Reality Benders by Vegastarchild584 is the fourth book in the series, and a unique adventure for fans of space operas. It is a riotous, interstellar romp that tosses your run-of-the-mill genre notions and takes you on a hilarious and hot ride with two incredible characters. Commander Zhang and Lieutenant Simon, Sirian Galactic Confederation officers, soulmates, and possibly the most entertaining duo ever to zip across the multiverse, share a strong chemistry. They are on a mission to stop a sinister scheme to hijack the ascension of humans still stuck on the 3D Holographic Earth. They soon uncover a ruthless attempt to seize control of their Sirian mothership, the Athena. They are forced to face off against a bloodthirsty fiend from a parasitic human race bent on stealing and trafficking advanced weapons. But whether these galactic heroes can resist each other’s magnetic attraction and stay focused long enough to complete their vital missions is another twist to this engrossing tale.

Reality Benders is a unique treat in the series and most suitable for readers who enjoy superhero MM soulmates with a talent for reality-bending magic. I enjoyed the bond between these characters; their playful banter gave the story both heat and heart, while their mission—to thwart a nefarious plan to hijack humanity’s ascension process—gives it stakes that span galaxies. The supporting cast is just as eccentric—a ragtag crew ready to stir up trouble and keep the laughs (and the love) flowing. The tension was there, growing through every page, and I enjoyed it. Vegastarchild584 has delivered again in this entry into the series that will excite fans of LGBTQ fiction, cosmic capers, or anyone craving high-vibe fun with a metaphysical twist. The prose was delectable, the world-building immersive, and the conflict propelled the plot forward to unexpected places.

With the fourth installment of The Star Seed Series, author Vegastarchild584 once again takes readers on a wacky adventure into space. Reality Benders follows the antics of Galactic Confederation agents Commander Zhang and his partner, Lieutenant Simon, as they try to fulfill their quest and help humanity ascend from the 3D holographic Earth to 5D. During a covert operation investigating the Dolom, Zhang and Simon discover an insidious conspiracy. The two lovers face a myriad of challenges in their adventures, including battling the colonizing race of Eben, helping Zebetan Princess Ardali find sanctuary on Chara with her lover and their son, and uncovering a plot to smuggle state-of-the-art technology by a 4000-year-old vampire. Toward the end, Zhang sets out on a mission to help the Amarisians as an Ascended Master.

Funny and thrilling in equal measure, Reality Benders is a mind-blowing sci-fi adventure. It's not the most serious sci-fi book I've ever read, but that's exactly what makes The Star Seed Series so much fun. Author Vegastarchild584 keeps an entertaining balance of romance, action, adventure, and humor with a narrative that isn't afraid to push the boundaries of sci-fi and wade into the waters of wackiness and satire. Apart from the unpredictable plot, the dialogue is witty and thoroughly captivating. Some of the interactions between Zhang and Simon had me in stitches. It's a fast-paced story with a large cast of characters. A lot of things happen in quick succession, one after the other, with Zhang and Simon often being the only common thread. In conclusion, this is a sci-fi novel for readers who love light-hearted adventure tales with LGBTQ romance.