Brainbox by Christian Cantrell

Description: When the Earth begins cooling unexpectedly, humanity is left with only a few degrees of habitable latitude along the planet's equator. After establishing themselves as the three remaining powers in the world, the Americans, Chinese, and Russians eventually turn on each other in hopes of securing the last of the Earth's resources for themselves.

In an attempt to break the decades-long stalemate, the American military turns to Miguel dos Santos -- a brilliant Brazilian roboticist -- for help in creating the ASRA, or Autonomous Self Replicating Asset. The secret to the ASRAs is their neurological processors, also known as the brainbox, which enables the machines to "combine the logic and reasoning of a computer with the desperation and hate of the human soul." But as Miguel reluctantly carries out his orders, it becomes clear that he has other plans for what remains of humanity.

This short story (about 7,500 words) is both a technological and psychological thriller which unfolds across a landscape as exotic and unpredictable as it is dystopian and barren.


Review 3.5 of 5 Stars

Brainbox is a short story that I had actually picked up quite a while back. Life has been crazy, but I had a few free moments and decided to plunge on in. The author's description of the story gives a pretty good basic overview. In the end it was a story that took a really intense set of circumstances to try to teach us that we should all play nice together as humans. It was interesting, but I think it could have been fleshed out in some places. Anyway, keep in mind that it is a short story so if you have a few minutes and enjoy Mr. Cantrell's work you might want to give it a read. As for me I'm giving it 3.5 stars because though it was interesting in places, it was somewhat predictable and I didn't really feel I was surprised by any of it. I read and loved Containment, but to me this just wasn't the same caliber of story.

Review Postings Delayed Due to Move

I just wanted to give an update. I just moved for the second time in three months (on purpose, not because of anything bad lol), but had to find a permanent place since I had rented a temporary place for three months to move back home. Anyway, I'll have a new review up by this weekend and things should get back to normal.

Thanks so much for your patience.

TJ

Water (The Akasha Series) by Terra Harmony

Book Description:  Elemental powers in the palm of her hand…and it won't be enough to save her. When Kaitlyn Alder is involuntarily introduced to a life of magic, she becomes part of an organization hell-bent on saving the Earth. Her newfound life holds promises of purpose, romance, and friendship, but the organization divides and a rogue member holds Kaitlyn hostage. Now one of the most terrifying men the human race has to offer stands between her and Earth's survival.





Review 2 of 5 Stars:

I'm an avid reader and it took me forever to get through this book.  I originally picked it up because of the mention of controlling elemental powers and saving the planet. It sounded like a good idea, but I was turned off by the non-consensual sex in relation to the characters and how it was presented. I'm giving it two stars because it was pretty much technically correct from a writing standpoint, but I really lost interest in what had originally gained my interest about this book because of the way it was presented. It really seemed as if there were two very divergent story lines going and the two never did mesh together for me. There may be others who would enjoy this book, but let's just say it wasn't for me.

From Chaos Born (In Her Name: The First Empress, Book 1) by Michael R. Hicks

Book Description: 

CHAOS

For long ages, the Kreelan race has been ruled by war. Only the priests and priestesses of the ancient martial orders prevented total annihilation as countless times civilizations arose, only to collapse again into savagery.

RISE OF THE DARK QUEEN

Near the end of the Fourth Age, a powerful warrior from a brooding fortress deep in the Great Wastelands began her bloody rise to power. Syr-Nagath, known as the Dark Queen, began a brutal war of conquest across the face of the Homeworld, secretly planning to destroy the martial orders and resurrect the dark ways of her race’s apocalyptic past.

A CHILD FORETOLD

What the Dark Queen did not anticipate was the birth of Keel-Tath, a child unlike any other. A child foretold in an ancient prophecy, who was destined to wield the powers of the ancient orders and unite her race.

A child the Dark Queen must kill, no matter the cost…

Review 5 of 5 Stars

From Chaos Born is the first book in the third trilogy that Michael R. Hicks has done in the In Her Name series and is a prequel that takes us back to the time of the first empress of the Kreelan civilization to observe the beginning of the changes to the Kreelan culture and honor system that will eventually lead them to human space far in the future.  I really enjoyed it and it was interesting to see the societal struggles that this race faced as it was developing and reaching for the stars in an endless cycle of destruction. Syr-Nagath, the Dark Queen, is truly a brutal character with no redeeming qualities as far as I could tell.  Of course, though, in its slanted way this story is about good trying to triumph over evil as has been the rest of the series.  This is a story of hope for an embattled people who have carried on for generations watching their civilization rise and fall. In Keel-Tath there is hope and prophecies of greatness as well as warnings of dire events to come.  Since this is a beginning to a story that we've already witnessed in the current books of this series I was really glad to see that it didn't founder and the storytelling was as strong and imaginative as in the previous books. Can't wait to read the next one when it comes out.

Final Battle (In Her Name: Redemption, Book 3) by Michael R. Hicks

Book Description: In the final book of the In Her Name: Redemption trilogy, Reza Gard awakens in a hospital on Earth after having been in a coma for months. Charged with murder and high treason, he finds himself the scapegoat for a daring plot to assassinate the President of the Confederation.

Escaping with the help of Jodi Mackenzie, who is now hunted for what she knows about the death of the president, Reza discovers that something is deeply wrong with the Empire: the warriors have lost their will to fight. Compelled to step into a trap set for him and Jodi, the two once again find themselves bound for Erlang.

But this time it is to meet Tesh-Dar, who has been taken prisoner. Captured and sentenced to death, Reza can only watch as a human armada gathers for a strike against the Kreelan homeworld. But the human fleet - and humanity itself - will be doomed to utter annihilation unless he can reach the Empress in time...

Review 5 of 5 Stars

Altogether this has been a great series and I was thoroughly disappointed when I reached the end of Final Battle, the last book in Michael R. Hicks' In her Name: Redemption trilogy because I truly didn't want the story to end. Reza is a fantastic character who is incredibly interesting and easy to empathize with while reading. There's a lot going on in this book and I think Mr. Hicks did a great job of wrapping it all up, though I can only hope that there's another book after this one that will delve into other issues that would lead to a spoiler alert if I were to discuss them here.  Once again there's lots of action, intriguing characters and a gritty feel to the portions of the story that need it.  These stories are filled with so much that it has become more difficult to review them for those who have not read the others in the series as I truly don't want to give away too much and take away from the reader's enjoyment of their own discoveries and realizations. This is great science fiction / fantasy (as there are some elements that could be considered fantasy by some) and I thoroughly recommend it.  Mr. Hicks is a very good writer and I greatly enjoyed this book and the series as a whole.  So 5 stars for Final Battle and 5 stars for the In Her Name Redemption trilogy as a whole. If you're looking for something fresh and well thought out that will whisk you away to another place and time this may well be a story for you.

Confederation (In Her Name: Redemption, Book 2) by Michael R. Hicks

Book Description: In Book 2 of the In Her Name: Redemption trilogy, Reza Gard has been banished from the Kreelan Empire and is once again a stranger in a strange land as he returns to the human Confederation. Befriended by a marooned Confederation naval officer leading a desperate fight against the Kreelans on a distant colony world, she reunites Reza with Nicole Carré. With their help, he fulfills his childhood dream of becoming a Confederation Marine.

Reza will need all the help he can get, for dark forces are at work at the heart of the Confederation, and Reza becomes a pawn in a lethal power struggle that leads him back to the planet Erlang. There, a heartbreaking reunion awaits him, along with the discovery of an ages-old power that the Kreelan Empire will stop at nothing to control.

Review 4 of 5 Stars

Confederation, Book 2 of the In Her Name: Redemption trilogy has us following Reza Gard as he tries to acclimate to being human.  I enjoyed the book, but didn't find it to be as gripping as Empire, the first book in the trilogy. However, it is a necessary piece in an evolving story. There's a lot of exploration of the human attachments that Reza makes and though he is still the proud and dangerous warrior that we know him to be, he is also out of his element in his dealings with his own kind shall we say. That isn't at all unexpected at this point in the story and though I completely understood the reasoning behind all of that and how it affects the story arc, I just wasn't as drawn in by this volume as I was with Empire and the fascinating Kreelan culture. Book 2 is more about exploring humans at their best and worst and there's a lot of character and relationship building taking place to set up for the third book. As with the other books in this series by Mr. Hicks it was quite enjoyable and I dove into the next one right away. It really picks up after the second half of the book and propels the reader forward toward the third book, but the start of this one was a little slower paced. I'm further ahead in the reading than I am in the reviewing, but can comfortably say that this series will be one I read over in the years to come and will wait expectantly for new stories in the fascinating universe created by the author.

Empire (In Her Name: Redemption, Book 1) by Michael R. Hicks

Book Description: Empire is the coming-of-age story of Reza Gard, a young boy of the Human Confederation who is swept up in the century-long war with the alien Kreelan Empire. Nightmarish female warriors with blue skin, fangs, and razor sharp talons, the Kreelans have technology that is millennia beyond that of the Confederation, yet they seek out close combat with sword and claw, fighting and dying to honor their god-like Empress.

Captured and enslaved, Reza must live like his enemies in a grand experiment to see if humans have souls, and if one may be the key to unlocking an ages old curse upon the Kreelan race. Enduring the brutal conditions of Kreelan life, Reza and a young warrior named Esah-Zhurah find themselves bound together by fate and a prophecy foretold millennia before they were born.

Review 5 of 5 Stars

I read the In Her Name: The Last War series before beginning on the Redemption trilogy so I could read it in chronological order and am really glad I did.  I feel it gave me a better understanding of the Kreelan culture before beginning Empire. That said, the character building and overall storytelling involved in this book was fantastic. The story is compelling, harsh and brutal at points while allowing the reader to love the same characters who sometimes make the harshest decisions as well as delivering a love story to rival some of the classics. It's so easy to tell someone why you didn't like a book, but when a writer produces a story that really has that extra something so captivating that it draws you in to where you sit up all night reading even knowing full well that you have to be up early for work and that you'll be tired all day it's harder to express. How do you share that with someone else?  So, I'll do my best to tell you that it was heartwarming and fascinating to follow Reza. You share his fears, friends, struggles, accomplishments, love and heartbreak as he grows up in the alien culture of the Kreelans that become more his family than any he had ever known. Mr. Hicks has created a host of interesting and complex characters to draw the reader into this story. Tesh-Dar became a favorite character while reading The Last War trilogy and I was glad to see her and other intriguing characters were explored much more in depth in Empire. It was a great read and I'll be sad when I run out of books in the series.  Mr. Hicks has done an outstanding job of telling his tale. If you love great storytelling I'm sure you'll enjoy Empire.

Dead Soul (In Her Name: The Last War, Book 3) by Michael R. Hicks

Book Description: Three years after the brutal first contact encounter with the alien Kreelan Empire, the human Confederation is desperate for a victory. With over a dozen worlds under siege by legions of Kreelan warriors, President McKenna orders the Confederation military to deliver a victory to give humanity hope.

Ichiro Sato and his wife Steph, Roland Mills, Valentina Sikorsky, and the irrepressible General James Sparks are once again at the sharp end of the spear in a mission to take back the colony of Alger’s World from the alien invaders before the Kreelans have exterminated the human population.

But the overwhelming firepower that they plan to bring to bear on the Kreelans may not be enough. For leading the invasion of Alger’s World is Ku’ar-Marekh, a warrior priestess who is feared even among her own kind. With her spirit trapped between life and death, she is called Dead Soul…


Review 4 of 5 Stars

I was completely sucked in by the first two books.  Though I enjoyed this one, it wasn't quite as much of a draw for me.  I wasn't as drawn in by Ku'ar-Marekh, the Kreelan warrior priestess that was the Kreelan focus for this volume and I really don't feel that I need to be told multiple times that she cannot feel any emotional attachment in great detail.  I got it.  I would have really liked to see more about Tesh Dar, the warrior priestess from the first book as she was a very interesting character and I had hoped she would be back in business by the last book in the trilogy, but we did get more time with the Empress this time and that was pretty interesting.  I will say that I read the prequel series first after having read Mr. Hicks' Foreword at the beginning of Empire from the Redemption trilogy because I wanted to read the story in chronological order so there may be more of what I'm looking for in that story line later, but I can't say at this point as I have just begun reading Empire. Additionally, things with the main human characters all wrapped up a little too quickly in the last chapter of the book like it was an afterthought.  Other than Ku'ar-Marekh and the final few pages, I enjoyed the read and continue with my recommendation of the series, but do have to say that the third book, in my opinion, wasn't quite as good as the first two; however, that may not be the case for others.  I really like Mr. Hicks' storytelling style and think he's a very good writer. If you enjoy an science fiction adventure of the military flavor you could certainly lose yourself in the series for a couple of days. 

Legend Of The Sword (In Her Name: The Last War, Book 2) by Michael R. Hicks

Book Description: Six months after the alien Kreelan Empire launched its invasion of human space, the Confederation of Humanity, a coalition of human worlds banding together for self defense, is rapidly growing.

Unfortunately, not all human worlds want to join the Confederation. Some, like Saint Petersburg, don't believe the tales of alien invaders, and think that the formation of the Confederation is nothing more than a veil over Earth's expansionist ambitions. With a powerful navy built in secret and armed with nuclear weapons, Saint Petersburg is preparing to launch their own offensive against Earth before the Confederation becomes too powerful.

The Confederation heavy cruiser Yura, commanded by Ichiro Sato, is part of the fleet the Confederation sends to preempt Saint Petersburg's attack. Drawn into a deadly trap, the Confederation fleet and its Marines are fighting for their lives when Kreelan warships, led by the enigmatic warrior priestess Tesh-Dar, materialize out of hyperspace.

As Tesh-Dar and her warriors wreak havoc on the two human fleets and Saint Petersburg itself, Ichiro, Roland Mills, and a Confederation spy known as SCARLET are faced with desperate choices from which they learn the true meaning of sacrifice.

Review 5 of 5 Stars

I finished Legend of the Sword, the second volume in Michael R. Hicks' In Her Name: The Last War series yesterday. The second book was as good as the first so I started on the third one and am about halfway through it at this time, but that's a review for later. I'm really enjoying this series. The Kreelan priestess Tesh-Dar is fascinating as is the entire culture that Mr. Hicks has brought forth here. Not very long after the first book ends we rejoin our characters as the crisis is picking up between the Confederation and the totalitarian government of Saint Petersburg.  Just in time for the fun the Kreelans arrive to join the party.  We are introduced to some interesting new characters who keep things exciting and moving along, as well as giving the reader a few new characters to follow that will tug at your heart. This is military science fiction, but it's so much more. What I've read so far has been really well done and Mr. Hicks is an excellent storyteller. There's lots happening all the time and you have to pay attention because he does a really good job with character relationships and wrapping things up. If you skim through parts, when you get to the wrap-up you'll feel like you're missing a piece (I say this from guilt of trying to see what was going to happen next to a particular character lol). This would be a fantastic science fiction action flick. I heartily recommend it for summer reading if you enjoy action with a great story.

First Contact (In Her Name: The Last War, Book 1) by Michael R. Hicks

Book Description: Young Midshipman Ichiro Sato joined the Terran Navy to escape a tyrannical father and find freedom among the stars. He had no idea when he boarded the survey starship Aurora for his first assignment that he and his crew would make humanity’s first contact with a sentient alien species. In an uncharted star system where Aurora’s crew discovers two planets inhabited by a non-human civilization, Aurora is disabled by gigantic alien starships before she can escape. Boarded by nightmarish blue-skinned warriors with claws and fangs, the aliens learn all there is to know about the ship, including all its stored information about humanity, before the crew is slaughtered in a series of ritual combats. Ichiro, the sole survivor, is returned to Earth as a messenger to warn of the aliens’ coming invasion of human space.

For that is the Way of the Kreelan Empire, an ancient and dying race that has waged war across the galaxy for a hundred thousand years, slaughtering every sentient species it has encountered in a desperate search for the One, a savior foretold in an ages-old prophecy who can rescue them from looming extinction. For the Kreelans, who will die out in a handful of generations, the conflict with humanity will be The Last War.

With Earth leading a fragile coalition of military forces to mount a defense against what many believe is nothing more than a hoax, Ichiro again finds himself at the sharp end of the spear aboard a Terran destroyer. Together with journalist Stephanie Guillaume, Legionnaire Roland Mills, and the irrepressible General James Sparks, Ichiro and the other men and women of the coalition put their lives on the line against an enemy none of them could ever have imagined.

Review 5 of 5 Stars

First Contact from Michael R. Hicks' In Her Name, The Last War series was a great science fiction read...and I do mean great. I really enjoyed it and have happily moved on to the next book in the series to continue reading this fantastic story. The book description does a good job of describing what is going on in the book, but in no way leads readers to believe that the book is going to be as good as it really is. This is a great story and is really well-written. I enjoyed it from start to finish and was irritated with myself when I could no longer stay awake to read more. The book is filled with action and battle, as well as great characters and the story doesn't stumble at any point in the telling.  The Kreelan Empire, its culture and characters are fascinating with the author doing a superb job of world and character building. I've been pretty lucky lately on my book choices and this one was no exception.  The characters have depth and you find yourself feeling along with them. I even cried a little at one point. All in all this was a great story and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys excellent world building and characterization with almost non-stop action.  At no point in the book was I bored and often I was irritated when the reading was interrupted. So, if you've got some free time, find a place to hole-up and enjoy the journey.

The War of Pawns (The Human Chronicles - Book Three) by T.R. Harris

Book Description: In The War of Pawns, Adam Cain, a Human lost in a galaxy of alien empires and exotic locales, fights desperately to return to Earth, only to find that his homecoming is anything but joyous. In the aftermath of a devastating attack upon the Earth, Adam learns that the Humans have been played for fools by the evil Klin race. Now he has two enemies to fight -- the Juireans, and now the Klin.

Yet as before, the aliens do not realize what trouble they're in. Now they're up against an entire Planet of Supermen! Pity their weak and fragile bodies. Adam Cain -- as well as the entire Human Race -- is out for revenge!


Review 3 of 5 Stars

I read The War of Pawns, which is the third book in T.R. Harris' series The Human Chronicles. Our adventurers have made it home, but things aren't as they were before and the merry band is soon heading out for more adventure as the war kicks up.  As I've stated in previous reviews for this series, the story is really good and a lot of fun. As this is book three I hate to give away too much of the story, but the die has been cast and the alien intrigue is now clear to more than just Adam Cain and his companions as they head out to do battle and protect the interests of the human race. Once again, however, the lack of care with editing and proofreading brought down the score.  It's wonderful to have a great story and readers want that, but when the lack of editing is evident on almost every page it becomes a problem that distracts me from the story. Independently published or not, at least have some of your friends read it over for errors and ask that they mark them. That said, I've had a great time running around in this universe and will probably read the fourth book that has been announced. If you enjoy a good action/science fiction adventure story this may be for you if you're willing to take the editing errors with a grain of salt.   

Alien Assassin (The Human Chronicles - Book Two)

Book Description: In the exciting continuation of The Human Chronicles Saga, ex-Navy SEAL Adam Cain finds himself attempting to make a living the best he can in the alien universe he's been dropped into -- as an assassin! After all, with his kick-ass attitude and instinctive hatred for aliens, he's a natural at it.

As a Human among aliens, he's stronger, faster and tougher than just about everyone -- and everything -- he encounters. In this reality -- Adam is the Superman.

Alien Assassin is a whirl-wind adventure of incredible space battles, shoot-outs with galactic criminals, and even a love interest that is...well, a little different. And as all of this is going on, the political forces of revenge and 4,000-year-old grudges converge on The Fringe Worlds. But even as galactic forces close in on Adam and his gang, there's one message that all the aliens begin to grasp: Don't Mess With The HUMANS!

Review 3 of 5 Stars:


So I've become engaged with the story itself. It's really a lot of fun, but the proofreading is not good. In some places the editing is so bad that you have to go back to see how the paragraph fits together. I'm not a big stickler for a small mistake here and there, but suggest the author invest just a little for some copy editing.  That being said I have thoroughly enjoyed the story. It's a great adventure and moves along at a good pace. The story is engaging and the characters have really rounded out with the second book. Adam Cain has become more and more interesting as has his unexpected companion who leads the Fringe Pirates and we've gained a lot more story of what's going on in the universe. If not for some really big editing errors that made me stop where I was in the book to figure out what it was supposed to say, I would have given it a 4. Since I've already started the third book I have to say I've enjoyed the series, but like the reader to be aware of the drawbacks as well. If you like a good adventure, this installment in the series will be happy to carry you along if you have a little patience to get through the rough spots.

War (Galactic Exploration) by Peter Cawdron

Book Description: War is the fourth in a series of stand-alone novellas exploring concepts related to the Rare Earth Hypothesis in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

The crew of the Rift Valley are being chased through a star cluster by marauding aliens intent on harvesting their genetic diversity. With limited options, being out-gunned and out-paced by the alien warships, the Rift is running out of options.




Review 5 of 5 Stars:

At the author's request, I read the beta of War, the fourth installment of the Galactic Exploration series this past weekend and it is now available for download to your favorite e-reader (just a small plug for a struggling indie author here on the blog lol).  As it is difficult to separate the pieces of the story now that I've read them all, this will be kind of an all encompassing review for the project as a whole and as I feel the series was intriguing, enjoyable and well written, I'm giving it 5 stars.

War had more punch and tension than some the previous installments which were more world (so to speak) and character building and I really enjoyed seeing it all come together with the action and more tension than we've seen in the previous novellas. War was very descriptive and even some of the portions that weren't actually action seemed that way, but I'd have to spoil the story to tell you how that was achieved.

All in all, Mr. Cawdron really did an excellent job of bringing the characters together from the other installments and integrating them in this latest novella for a chance to mess with your head a little. For the first time the characters from the previous installments are together (in a manner of speaking) and it was good to see them all struggling and working together for the same goals - survival and freedom. For those who have read the three prior novellas, Anderson, Trixie, Berry and Diana are all present as they encounter what so many yearn to search for and may be afraid to find. War was a good read and I think some of the complaints I've seen in reviews from others (and that includes myself) that there wasn't enough and they were left hanging will easily be resolved by reading the four novellas together.

Daughter of Time: A Time Travel Romance by Sarah Woodbury

Book Description: A medieval man with an uncertain destiny, Llywelyn, the Prince of Wales, faces treachery and deceit at the hands of friends and foes alike

A modern woman with a troubled past, Meg's life is in tatters when she slips through time and into medieval Wales ...

Only by working together can Meg and Llywelyn navigate the shifting allegiances that threaten the very existence of Wales--and create their own history that defies the laws of time.

Review 3 of 5 Stars:

This one was a mixed bag for me. I mostly read science fiction, fantasy, random science books and a mystery here or there, but time travel romances are my very occasional guilty pleasure. I'm a history nut and given that I was in the middle of a physics book it seemed like a good time for a little light reading on the side. So, I picked up Daughter of Time: A Time Travel Romance which is a prequel to the After Cilmeri series by Sarah Woodbury on a free promotion along with a couple of others to see if I could find one to read. This was definitely the best of the lot, didn't get deleted after the first two pages (as did the others), and I finished it without any problem. I mean it is what it is, but it wasn't bad for light reading of the time travel romance variety and I'm rating it with those things in mind. So I'm giving it a 3 because the history was interesting, language problems were explained and that sort of thing. There was no great explanation for the actual time travel, but sometimes that's better. If you sit down to read a time travel romance and expect too much then you're likely to be disappointed. It's something to take with a grain of salt and with that in mind (as I hovered between a 2 or 3 for the ranking), I decided on the 3 because it was basically enjoyable and it was free. There were some problems with the story line where it made me pause, but not so bad that I had to shut it and run away. I won't be reading it again, but some of it was really interesting and it was just barely a romance; very light compared to many out there and nothing graphic (pretty safe all the way around).

Ray Bradbury (1920 - 2012) - RIP

Usually I only review books in this spot, but Ray Bradbury (one of my favorite science fiction writers) passed away yesterday and I just wanted to take a moment to note his passing. I can't possibly calculate the hours I've spent reading and re-reading his works. As a young girl I escaped into his books and had my eyes opened to a wider world and universe. So, here is my little bit of thanks for being able to enjoy the work of such a wonderful artist.

First Shift - Legacy (Part 6 of the Silo Series) (Wool) by Hugh Howey

Book Description: In 2007, the Center for Automation in Nanobiotech (CAN) outlined the hardware and software platform that would one day allow robots smaller than human cells to make medical diagnoses, conduct repairs, and even self-propagate.

In the same year, the CBS network re-aired a program about the effects of propranolol on sufferers of extreme trauma. A simple pill, it had been discovered, could wipe out the memory of any traumatic event.

At almost the same moment in humanity’s broad history, mankind had discovered the means for bringing about its utter downfall. And the ability to forget it ever happened.


Review: 4 of 5 Stars

I recently read the Wool Omnibus which was so good it just blew me away. So I immediately headed back out to purchase the sixth volume in the story. Mr. Howey is very talented and overall I enjoyed the story; however, it wasn't as gripping as the ones before and some of the plot seemed a little off or perhaps unlikely so I wasn't drawn into the story as completely as with the previous volumes in the story. I'm not at all saying I didn't enjoy the read. It was interesting and I very much enjoyed it. Mr. Howey is an excellent writer and has some really interesting ideas. I will most definitely read Wool 7 when it comes out. I'm intrigued and completely sucked into the story, but I think the real story lies in what will happen to the people struggling to survive in the silos and how they can improve their world rather than how they got there. To me, it seems that is where the real human drama is taking place and I think I would have rather seen those in the silos discovering and coming to grips with the truth of how it all happened than to go back and see it played out. Of course, that's just my opinion and it's easy to say how you would have like to see things go from the perspective of a reader. Anyway, altogether a good read and a must for anyone who has enjoyed the previous installments in the Wool series. I very much look forward to reading the next installment in the series.

The Watchers of Ur: Cradle by Lamonte M. Fowler

Book Description: From before the Dawn of Man, good and evil have battled on the Earth. As humans progressed from Eden to the skies and to space, Azrael watched over humanity — teaching, guiding, and protecting the Children of Earth.


The Enemy, imprisoned on Earth for their rebellion, carry out the Master’s plan to end their bondage and take the war to a new front — a pristine ‘cradle’ world where suffering and war are not known. Using the Emperor of Earth and the resources of his vast empire to build mankind’s first starship, the Enemy weaves a plot that spans generations, and threatens two sentient races.


In Book One, Azrael enlists Father Bożydar Jofre, a Jesuit priest, and Kavan Ferre, a brilliant physicist, to prevent the Enemy from escaping to the stars. Joined by an unlikely group of space pirates, Azrael leads an epic race across the solar system to halt the Enemy before their great migration can begin.


THE WATCHERS OF UR: CRADLE will take you from Earth to Mars, Europa, Titan, and beyond on an epic journey filled with fast-paced action, gripping human drama, and stunning glimpses of the future of Mankind.

Review: 4 of 5 Stars

When I started this book I was a bit leery given the framework and the obvious references to religion. Nevertheless, I sat down to read it and despite my initial misgivings it really was a fun read so I'm giving it a 4 for the entertainment I derived from it. I really enjoyed some of the characters and appreciated the spice thrown in by some of the more obscure ones in this merry band of mortals off to save the universe. In addition, I'm always up for some good action and a rollicking space battle and there was plenty of both. The author did add some twists to the age old struggle between good and evil, which were interesting to think about in the context of the story. Overall, I enjoyed it and I'll probably read the next one. If you like an occasional swashbuckling type romp and have the ability to treat fiction as just that and not take it too seriously then you might pass an enjoyable afternoon with this space adventure.

Wool Omnibus (1-5) by Hugh Howey

Book Description: This is the story of mankind clawing for survival, of mankind on the edge. The world outside has grown unkind, the view of it limited, talk of it forbidden. But there are always those who hope, who dream. These are the dangerous people, the residents who infect others with their optimism. Their punishment is simple. They are given the very thing they profess to want: They are allowed outside.



Review 5 of 5 Stars:
At the suggestion of an author I recently reviewed, I finally got around to reading Wool by Hugh Howey and was greatly pleased with the recommendation.  It seems I benefited from being a little late to the game as the first five stories had been bundled together while I procrastinated. This story is extremely well done from start to finish. I not only enjoyed it, but life pretty much came to a halt as I read it over the Memorial Day holiday. Another good indication of the story's quality is that I immediately purchased First Shift - Legacy (Part 6 of the Silo Series) within hours of finishing because I'd run out of book and wasn't ready for the story to end. Wool was so well done. I was truly intrigued by the characters and found myself fully involved especially once Juliette's struggles began in this controlled and broken world of the silo. She was a great character - independent, intelligent, feisty, compassionate, loyal and willing to overcome any odds to survive against seemingly impossible odds. One of those characters who brings to mind the phrase indomitable will and I truly enjoyed this story from start to finish. Everything about this story was well done from social dynamics to the uncovering of the hidden truths. I can only suggest that you read it and hope that you enjoy the experience as much as I did. I'd give it more than a 5, but that's as high as the rating scale goes.

The Brotherhood of Piaxia by Michael Drakich

Book Description: Years have passed since the overthrow of the monarchy by the Brotherhood of Warlocks and they rule Piaxia in peaceful accord. But now forces are at work to disrupt this rule from outside the Brotherhood as well as within! In the border town of Rok, a young warlock acolyte, Tarlok and his older brother, Savan, captain of the guard, become embroiled in the machinations of dominance. While in the capital city, Tessia, the daughter of Piaxia’s most influential merchant, begins a journey of survival. Follow the three as their paths intertwine, with members of the Brotherhood in pursuit and the powerful merchant’s guild manipulating the populace for their own ends.


Review 3 of 5 Stars:


The author requested that I review this book. I really enjoy a good fantasy and the description sounded pretty good so I sat down to read it. Overall it was a decent story. Not epic and sweeping, but not bad either and I didn't have to struggle to finish it. The writing was good and the story flowed along. All things considered the writing was not the problem (and that is a compliment). I believe the overall problem was that the author played it a little too safe in the story and I really didn't feel that the characters were explored enough. Several of the characters had great promise to invest the reader in their struggle, but never quite hit the depth that drives emotion. As far as characters go Tarlok was my favorite, but at times even he seemed a little flat in his responses. For me, this type of story should be a valiant struggle against the adverse force that is causing trouble to make you really feel for the characters and get caught up in their struggle to right wrongs. There were moments when I was truly intrigued and couldn't wait to get back to the story. However, everything worked out a little too neatly, what should have been major battles were won too easily, everyone's plans worked out just as they had hoped and what should have seemed like insurmountable odds kind of fizzled due to the ease with which those odds were overcome and the predictability of the outcomes. There was no moment when you felt that the good guys might really lose the day and I think that's an integral piece for this type of story. Note that I'm not discouraging readers from this book. If you enjoy a good general fantasy story then you'll probably enjoy this, but don't expect to be holding your breath for the conclusion. I think with some additional skill honing with regard to plot and characterization along with a dash of risk taking we might see some really good things from this author.

Savannah by Peter Cawdron

Book Description: Savannah is the third in a series of stand-alone novellas exploring alternatives to the Rare Earth Hypothesis in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

How did a nurse from Chicago find herself on a voyage to the outer reaches of the galaxy? After taking up a position in an exclusive hotel in Kenya, Diana finds her world turned upside down by the advent of the equatorial space-port. 



Review 5 of 5 Stars:

As I have enjoyed his other works, I happily settled down to read Savannah, Peter Cawdron's most recent addition to the set of novellas he's been working on in his exploration of the Rare Earth hypothesis and how mankind might go about searching for extraterrestrial life. Having read the other novellas he has written in this series, I was ready to see where the latest installment would take me as I still had unanswered questions and was truly interested to see where the story was going. Gladly, I can say that I very much enjoyed Savannah and was pleased that it tied together several of the things in the previous novellas that I felt were missing. This volume really tied together the pieces for me from Serengeti and it was interesting to see meet the characters in Trixie and Me in a different setting before they set out on their explorations. I will freely admit that I was a little confused as the story got started since the others were further along the timeline, but I immediately recognized the characters and was more than willing to explore their stories more as I felt I'd been left hanging regarding the story of these characters when I first read about them in Serengeti. As I had hoped from the description I was soon drawn into the characters and the story of how it all began, which I very much enjoyed reading and I was disappointed when it had to end. I'm afraid that to say more would give away too much and lessen the enjoyment for readers. In reviewing this, I wish that I could say I'm only reviewing Savannah which was very interesting, had some wonderfully fun and unusual humorous moments and kept my attention from start to finish. However, having now read three of the stories in this series it's kind of like reading a really good book that covers several different story lines in sections. In fact, it reminds me of reading serial science fiction where you had to wait expectantly for the next month's issue to come out. I definitely suggest Savannah to readers and am waiting expectantly for the next issue in a manner of speaking...

Sisterhood of Dune by Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert

Book Description:

It is eighty-three years after the last of the thinking machines were destroyed in the Battle of Corrin, after Faykan Butler took the name of Corrino and established himself as the first Emperor of a new Imperium. Great changes are brewing that will shape and twist all of humankind.

The war hero Vorian Atreides has turned his back on politics and Salusa Secundus. The descendants of Abulurd Harkonnen Griffen and Valya have sworn vengeance against Vor, blaming him for the downfall of their fortunes. Raquella Berto-Anirul has formed the Bene Gesserit School on the jungle planet Rossak as the first Reverend Mother. The descendants of Aurelius Venport and Norma Cenva have built Venport Holdings, using mutated, spice-saturated Navigators who fly precursors of Heighliners. Gilbertus Albans, the ward of the hated Erasmus, is teaching humans to become Mentats…and hiding an unbelievable secret.

The Butlerian movement, rabidly opposed to all forms of “dangerous technology,” is led by Manford Torondo and his devoted Swordmaster, Anari Idaho. And it is this group, so many decades after the defeat of the thinking machines, which begins to sweep across the known universe in mobs, millions strong, destroying everything in its path.

Every one of these characters, and all of these groups, will become enmeshed in the contest between Reason and Faith. All of them will be forced to choose sides in the inevitable crusade that could destroy humankind forever….

.

Review 3 of 5 Stars:
I love the Dune universe and was really looking forward to this book.  In fact, I bought the hardback for my birthday since I own them all and I've mostly enjoyed and been entertained by the other books that Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert wrote in the Dune universe after Frank Herbert's passing.  I wish I could say that I loved it, felt good about paying almost $30 for it and will read it over and over for years to come, but unfortunately I can't.  There were some interesting tidbits and history, but on the whole I never was thoroughly engaged in the story presented.  The Bene Gesserit stuff was kind of blah where it seemed it should have been more exciting given the events taking place.  I most enjoyed finding out what became of Vorian Atreides after he rode off into the sunset, so to speak, in the series previously. The Harkonnen ploy for vengeance wasn't really all that vengeful in nature or exciting.  Seemed like all the factions were just kind of blundering along trying to get their houses in order. I wish I could add something more positive as I've loved the series up until now.  Let's hope that if there's a next one that it regains the flavor that made Dune such an intriguing series to visit.

Trixie & Me (Galactic Exploration) by Peter Cawdron

Book Description: Trixie & Me is the second in a series of stand-alone novellas exploring alternatives to the Rare Earth Hypothesis in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

Trixie and Berry are trapped on an alien space ship. Berry can't move, but he seems to understand what's going on. Trixie is confused, she has no recollection of how they ended up in the dark depths of an alien war craft. She struggles to comprehend even the simplest of concepts, struggling to speak, but she is free of her chains, so she is Berry's only hope. They must escape their captors and warn humanity about this sinister threat coming from the galactic core.

Review 5 of 5 Stars:
The author requested that I read/review this book. What a great and unexpected ending. I love a good twist and this one was totally unexpected. Unfortunately, I can't tell you more than that or it'll ruin the whole experience.  All in all this was a great story.  It was a little slow at the beginning, but picked up nicely on the way and moved along at a good pace once it got going.  When you get to the end you finally realize what was being built, though at no point in the story did I expect the conclusion to be what it was.  Mr. Cawdron's writings improve and become more intriguing with each new tale he produces and I look forward to reading the next in this series of novellas exploring the search for intelligent life.  This story was cohesive and intriguing.  The ideas were fresh and well thought out and I truly enjoyed it.  Thus far, I've enjoyed Mr. Cawdron's various stories and look forward to seeing more from this up and coming independent author.

Sisterhood of Dune - Will Update Later in the Week

Hi. This week I'm changing jobs. What that means is that I'm working two jobs and reading Sisterhood of  Dune, which is a pretty decent size book. I'll have the review up by the end of the weekend at the latest. Thanks for your patience.

The Power Behind the Throne by S.K. Nicoll

Book Description: In the year of HRH The Queen's Diamond Jubilee comes a fiercely controversial story that exposes evil at the heart of the British establishment.

Three of the UK's most powerful men will stop at nothing to protect the monarchy... and that includes the murder of American architectural student Jack Hollander, the one man who can prevent Prince Charles from fulfilling his destiny.



Review - 4 of 5 Stars:
I don't read a lot of political thrillers. I'm essentially a science fiction / fantasy geek who likes a little mystery or romance from time to time, but I do like to drop into other genres occasionally if I spot something interesting. I read the first 89 pages of this book on Ms. Nicoll's web page and then bought the book because I was curious to see how it ended, which turned out to be a good purchase. Her story of Jack Hollander's adventures was definitely interesting and entertaining. All in all it was well-written and moved along at a good pace. I was interested in the predicament of the main character, young Jack Hollander and his lady love, as well as his unwitting involvement in an international intrigue through no fault of his own. Mr. Hollander's situation takes him into unexpected situations with plenty of twists, turns, and excitement to keep the reader interested. I would hate to give away more than that, but I really enjoyed the ending. If you enjoy political thrillers, I think that you'll enjoy this one.

The Saga of the Seven Suns: Veiled Alliances by Kevin J. Anderson

Book Description: Based on the legendary science-fiction series by acclaimed novelist Kevin J. Anderson, THE SAGA OF SEVEN SUNS: VEILED ALLIANCES acts as a revelatory prequel to the Saga novels Hidden Empire and A Forest of Stars. In this fantastical volume, the human race begins its expansion into outer space only to discover that for centuries a multitude of other planets have been interacting on a cosmic scale. Now as Earth attempts to become a player in this new arena, her ambassadors are thrust into a foreign world of alien life forms, backstabbing politics, lustful relationship, bitter feuds, family rivalries, and a deadly quest to become the supreme force in the universe.



Review 4 of 5 Stars:

The Saga of the Seven Suns series is a favorite in my household. So, when I saw that the prequel was out, the book I was had been reading was abandoned to the nightstand and I dove into one of my favorite universes. As a follower of the series I was pleased with Veiled Alliances and consider it an excellent addition to the story as a whole. For a new reader to the series, I would suggest starting at book one, Hidden Empire, as Veiled Alliances did have some spoilers for what comes in the series. The original series was a fantastic journey of exploration and I would definitely read the original books before going back to the prequel. However, I consider it a must have for the collection if you enjoyed the series. All in all it was a great read and a pleasant trip back to one of my favorite places.

Containment by Christian Cantrell

Book Blurb: As the Earth's ability to support human life begins to diminish at an alarming rate, the Global Space Agency is formed with a single mandate: protect humanity from extinction by colonizing the solar system as quickly as possible. Venus, being almost the same mass as Earth, is chosen over Mars as humanity’s first permanent steppingstone into the universe.

Arik Ockley is part of the first generation to be born and raised off-Earth. After a puzzling accident, Arik wakes up to find that his wife is almost three months pregnant. Since the colony’s environmental systems cannot safely support any increases in population, Arik immediately resumes his work on AP, or artificial photosynthesis, in order to save the life of his unborn child. Arik’s new and frantic research uncovers startling truths about the planet, and about the distorted reality the founders of the colony have constructed for Arik’s entire generation. Everything Arik has ever known is called into question, and he must figure out the right path for himself, his wife, and his unborn daughter.


Review 5 of 5 Stars:
Wow! Let me start by saying that I know I'm a science geek. My greatest challenge in writing this review is not to gush on what I've just finished reading and give it away with spoilers. So, I'm going to try to keep it simple. The main character was easy to relate to, the science was intriguing, and I loved the problem-solving aspect of the book as a whole. It was witty, had twists, mystery, deception and intrigue all wrapped into a great story. About 3/4 of the way through the book, I was hoping that my assumptions were correct about what was really happening as I sped forward to the conclusion. I can't tell you how disappointed I was when I tapped the screen the last time and there were no more pages. I tapped it twice more just to make sure. All in all this was a great read if you enjoy science fiction that is really based on science.

Serengeti by Peter Cawdron

 
Blurb: Serengeti is the first of three novellas exploring alternatives to the Rare Earth Hypothesis in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

The Serengeti is a generation star-ship, venturing out above the Milky Way, searching for signs of alien intelligence. The crew discover far more about the nature of sentient life than they imagined possible.  

Review - 4 of 5 Stars:
I'd previously read Anomaly and had really enjoyed it. So, I was excited to read Serengeti. As I had hoped, Peter Cawdron did a good job writing Serengeti and it caught my interest right away. It suited me fine that it was heavy on science as it explored whether man should search for other life in the universe, among other things. I very much enjoy stories that make me think so the fact that it wasn't an action story did not bother me in the least. I especially liked that in addition to the scientific question being explored, it explored the reactions and feelings of the characters as they were faced with the reality of their small part in this ongoing project. There was plenty to think about. I'm also a sucker for a science fiction love story, even a heavily cerebral one. I read the whole thing in about two hours. I realize this novella is the first of the series, but it seemed as if it could have benefited from being expanded a bit more. I'm hoping that Mr. Cawdron will give us a little more story in the next one. I'm intrigued by what might have happened next. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed what I read and look forward to seeing the next one in the series.

The Fringe Worlds (The Human Chronicles - Book One) by T.R. Harris

Book Blurb: Adam Cain is an alien with an Attitude!

After all, how would you feel if you were abducted by aliens and transported into a strange, new universe away from your home, your family -- everything familiar to you? Would it make you happy? Not likely!

Now imagine you're stronger, faster and more coordinated than every alien you encounter. Would you start kicking some ass? Of course you would!

This is the story of Human superiority in the galaxy, a gritty, realistic profile of a young Navy SEAL who doesn't like aliens very much -- and he makes them pay for disrupting his happy life back on Earth!

Review - 4 of 5 Stars:
An interesting romp through the galaxy.

All in all this wasn't bad for light reading. It moved along at a pretty good clip for a book that was trying to set up for future books. The writing was good, the characters were interesting enough and it did offer a little different viewpoint of humans out in the universe. At times, though, it seemed like the author had watched a little too much Farscape during the writing process. Since that thought kept running through my head while I was reading it, I'm mentioning it here. I'm not going to go into why self-published authors should pay close attention to the editing process since it doesn't really affect the storyline. Having said that, there's every possibility that I'll read the next one just to find out what happened. I basically liked it, but have other books to finish before I get back to the series.

Tabloid Reporter to the Stars by Eric James Stone

Book Blurb: Lawrence Jensen is a disgraced science reporter forced to earn a living working for a tabloid. Then he wins the lottery to pick the journalist who will go on mankind's first interstellar mission. It's his shot at redemption -- but can he ever overcome his past?

Review - 3.5 of 5 Stars:
As you can probably tell from the title this wasn't a masterpiece of modern fiction to be passed down through the years, but it was fun. The writing was pretty good and all things considered I was not sorry that I had read it. It was fairly cheesy, but made me smile on more than one occasion and I did manage to make it all the way to the end.

Assault and Pepper by Tamar Myers

Book Blurb: It's a five-alarm frenzy as Magdalena Yoder and the rest of the congregation of the Beechy Grove Mennonite Church get ready for the annual chili supper cook-off. But just when the devout diners sit down to eat, beloved Reverend Schrock falls facedown into a pot of the savory stew. It seems someone slipped some peanut butter into the chili - knowing full well that the good reverend was deathly allergic to peanuts.

Review - 5 of 5 Stars:
Magdalena Yoder is a true mystery heroine that will keep you laughing...

I'm a murder mystery enthusiast to say the least. I actually read this book a couple of years ago, but I love the series and wanted to share it.

A friend gave me my first book about Magdelana Yoder, Mennonite bed and breakfast owner and part-time sleuth. It sat in the house for about a week before I picked it up. After I read the first one, I had to have the rest and Assault and Pepper did not disappoint. These books are quirky and laugh out loud funny (not stupid funny, but very smart humor), in addition to satisfying the mystery enthusiast's desire for a sleuth to catch the bad guy. Magdalena Yoder does it like no one else as she investigates a multitude of crimes in the Amish / Mennonite community of Hernia, PA. The characters are wonderful, peculiar, familiar...I can't even begin to explain it. You really have to read one for yourself. I've read tons of mysteries, but Tamar Myers' books are like a vacation. They are truly original and her sense of humor is spot on. I can only hope someone buys you one and that you too come to love these books as I have.

The Stolen Gospels by Brian Herbert

Book Blurb: Lori Vale, a rebellious teenager, is thrust into the middle of a violent religious conflict when her mother is murdered, and the girl is taken to a heavily guarded fortress in an ancient Greek monastery. There, a group of radical women is creating an earthshaking religious text, the Holy Women’s Bible. The new sacred book will include the Old Testament and the New Testament, edited to alter gospels that are detrimental to the interests of women, such as passages asserting that they should obey their husbands, remain silent in churches, and suffer the burden of Eve’s sins. 

A third section of the Holy Women’s Bible is the biggest bombshell, the Testament of the She-Apostles. It asserts that Jesus Christ had 24 apostles, not 12, and half were women called “she-apostles.” Eleven she-apostles have been reincarnated in modern times as female children, and are revealing new female-oriented gospels about the life of Jesus, stories they say were omitted from the Bible by male church authorities who decided what to include in the Bible and what to leave out of it, in order to assert the power and dominance of men over women.

The radical women have dangerous enemies, and Lori’s life is in grave peril, along with the lives of the remarkable female apostles of Jesus. . . .


Review - 5 of 5 Stars:
I just finished reading The Stolen Gospels by Brian Herbert and am just starting on The Lost Apostles. Brian Herbert has become a really good writer over the years and to-date I've enjoyed the majority of his books that I've read. I truly think it's a shame that Mr. Herbert was unable to publish this book through the conventional channels due to its controversial nature; however, I'm thrilled that he decided to e-publish it. It was a great read and I'm looking forward to finishing the second book in the series. I love the premise of this book and the way the subject matter was handled. The characters are varied and well thought out.

I live for socio-political books and this one definitely qualifies. I read the Race for God several years back and was happy to see Mr. Herbert's exploration of yet another touchy subject. I like thought-provoking fiction and thoroughly recommend this book.

Anomaly by Peter Cawdron

Book Blurb: Anomaly examines the prospect of an alien intelligence discovering life on Earth. The technological gulf between mankind and the alien species is measured in terms of millions of years. The only way to communicate is using science, but not everyone is so patient.

Mankind's first contact with an alien intelligence is far more radical than anyone has ever dared imagine. With a technological gap of millions of years, mankind is barely able to recognise the arrival of an alien space craft outside the gates of the United Nations in New York.


Review - 5 of 5 Stars:

I found Anomaly randomly when I was looking for something to read at lunch one day and consider it a fantastic purchase. In fact I enjoyed it so much that I'm currently reading Serengeti, another book by Peter Cawdron that I'm sure I'll be reviewing here when I've finished. The characters and hero of the book were vibrant, every day people, which greatly added to its charm and interest level in my opinion.

Anomaly was a great science fiction book. I loved that it was so different from other books I've read. It was truly original and fresh. The writing was tight and compact and I was especially intrigued by how the world as a whole reacted to the discovery of Earth by an alien intelligence that was patient enough to wait for us to learn about it. It was a smart book, rather than an action novel and I found it really difficult to put down. If you enjoy intelligent, fresh, speculative science fiction that makes you think, this book is for you!

I read to be entertained. If you share that view, then Peter Cawdron is definitely an author to watch for in the future.