Family is one of fiction's oldest themes, but some of my favorite relationships are the ones that aren't defined by blood, but by choice.
How powerful it is to see two people with a military background who begin on opposite sides of a divide slowly build mutual respect. Not because they must, or because it's convenient. But because they discover something worth preserving.
Because I write space opera and military sci fi, I find chosen bonds endlessly fascinating. They require effort. Trust. Forgiveness. They are tested repeatedly because nothing obligates either person to remain.
Perhaps that's why they feel so meaningful.
The relationships that stay with me as a reader are often the ones built piece by piece. Shared experiences become trust. Trust becomes reliance. Reliance becomes affection. Over time, people who once seemed entirely incompatible become family.
Those transformations don’t happen through grand speeches. They happen because of small decisions made repeatedly. Showing up. Keeping a promise. Offering help. Refusing to walk away.
In military sci fi, brotherhood, friendship, and loyalty are not single moments. They're accumulations of moments.
As an author, I focus on dramatic turning points. But strong relationships in fiction evolve through dozens of ordinary choices that gradually become extraordinary. That’s an ideal situation for space opera.
The relationship between Six and Pietas in my Bringer of Chaos series grew from that idea. Their story begins with hostility and distrust, but over the course of a novella and three novels, they discover that the strongest bonds in life are the ones we choose to make.
Watch Your Six releases on Aug 14th. Book 1, Origin of Pietas is free now. If you haven't started this series yet, now is a good time. It's complete, and it's a powerful example of military sci fi brotherhood.
WATCH YOUR SIX
Arrives August 14
The Empire remembers.
Book Hooks is a weekly cooperative blog hop hosted by members of Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
It's a chance each week for you to discover current works in progress or previously published books by possibly new-to-you authors.
Thank you for stopping by.
Links below lead to the sites of other authors also taking part. You can "hop" from mine to theirs with one click.
Download and Explore Immortal Empires & Fallen Empires
Look over the trigger warnings
Claim your immortality by signing up for my newsletter.
Immortal Reviews Rock & Rule • Join the Review Team
Copyright ©2025 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved.
Imperial Archive Notice
Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!
My characters may be found in multiple books within this story universe.
Pietas images courtesy of Nik Nitsvetov Pietas cosplays.
Transmission complete.
The Empire remembers.
Remain. Endure. Return.
