Sandorn's Prison: A Military Space Opera (Sandorn's Allegiance Book 2) By Thom Bedford

Sandorn's Prison: A Military Space Opera (Sandorn's Allegiance Book 2) by Thom Bedford

I received a copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Note: Sandorn's Prison is due to be released on March 11, 2023.

Sandorn's Prison is the second book in the Sandorn's Allegiance series by Thom Bedford. The first book in the series, Sandorn's Command, introduces the reader to several compelling characters who find themselves caught up in the middle of a war between two factions, the Alliance, and the Union.

Tanic Sandorn, former spacer, finds himself turning from a life of cargo runs to becoming an important player in the early days of the war on the side of the Alliance. He is joined by nearly all his crew, but one holds out, claiming the Alliance isn't all it's made out to be, and the union has been unjustly vilified.

I love space opera and Thom Bedford's offerings are some of the best I've read. He writes superior characters set in a backdrop of amazing ships, space stations, and impossible situations requiring cleverness to resolve. Along with epic battle scenes, there are political situations, intrigue, and romance.

Sandorn's Prison is the amazing continuation of the saga in which the principal character finds himself torn between following orders, or doing what is right and best for the most people.

On Exeter Station, Commander Tanic Sandorn works his daily routine until he is tapped to command an updated warship, the Leonidas. He gathers his command crew, a group of dependable people he has worked with in the past, and is attached to a fleet charged with the rescue of a large number of prisoners being held on a prison station.

The fleet commander, Commodore Flynn, is a glory-seeking, cowardly officer who has no problem sacrificing others to achieve his goals.

Sandorn disobeys Fynn’s orders to reduce the losses to the fleet. What's more, he is forced to make a monumental personal sacrifice, leaving someone very important to him behind.

In the brig, heartsick and feeling like he's let everyone down, he has to find a way to pull himself together and make a second trip to the prison station before it's too late.

Tanic Sandorn is a good man. He is a good soldier and a superb commander respected by his direct commanders and those he is chosen to command. But he is not the man to follow orders blindly. When he sees an injustice, he acts on it by doing the right thing, consequences be damned. In the pages of the two books in this series, Sandorn is the hero who doesn't set out to be the hero. He doesn't seek glory or laurels; he just wants to get his job done while minimizing the loss of life. As one reads, he becomes a real person one can admire and take as an example to follow.

My favorite point of plot in this tale is how there is a problem brewing behind the scenes that hasn't been revealed so far. In both books in the series, it is mentioned in a roundabout way, but not pinpointed. This is just one of the aspects of this series that keeps me coming back for more.

Another plot point I enjoyed are the twists and turns. While we know the hero is going to triumph, it is in no way predictable how Sandorn is going to achieve his goals, and it isn't guaranteed he will. His ultimate solution to the problem put in his way was completely unexpected, yet so simple, it could have been child's play. His solution also gives the reader some insight into the leadership of the much-maligned Union faction.

Thom is an avid sci-fi fan, and it really shows itself in his writing. Occasionally, I had to smile as I came across winks and nods to various other sci-fi franchises. 

My takeaway from Sandorn's Prison is no matter the consequences, a person of good character must stand by their principles and do what is right. 

I give my highest recommendations for Sandorn's Prison. It is an entertaining read that runs a full gamut of emotions. This (as well as Sandorn's Command) is space opera at its best. It seems so plausible that it feels real as one reads it, and the story will stay with the reader long after the book is closed.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thom grew up in Cheshire, England, with his parents and brother. Since childhood, he has had a propensity for creativity, whether it be writing, building models, painting, designing graphics and technology, or programming.

After studying computer science at The University of Manchester, he started working as a Software Developer. Following in his father's footsteps, he worked as a Technical consultant in London for several years, then in data warehousing back in Manchester.

In his spare time, Thom still writes, builds models, paints, and programs, but nowadays he also listens to a lot of music, watches a lot of films, reads, and enjoys playing video games.

His love for science fiction comes from blockbuster films like Starship Troopers, Star Wars, and Star Trek. B-movies like Wing Commander, Pitch Black, and Iron Sky. TV shows like Battlestar Galactica, The Expanse, and Stargate. Video games like Homeworld, EVE-Online, and Stelaris. Books Like Jack Campbell's Lost Fleet series, Jasper T. Scott's Dead Space series, and David Weber's Honor Harrington series. In other words, sci-fi - particularly space opera - in any media.

Thom currently lives in Cheshire, England with his wife, Helen, and their two cats.

Cryptid Killers By Allister Hodge - A Chilling Winter's Tale Of Murder And Mayhem

Cryptid Killers by Alister Hodge

I borrowed a copy of this book from Kindle Unlimited and am leaving this review voluntarily.

When I see the name Alister Hodge on the cover of a book, I will probably read it. I didn't learn about this one until I saw it come across my Facebook feed recently. I was looking for something a little different and decided to take this one on.

Cryptid Killers is a short and fast-paced story set at a ski resort somewhere in Australia. When I say fast paced, I mean reading this book is a lot like hopping a ride on a roller coaster in motion. The action begins on the opening pages and never lets up until the very end. It has a pair of great characters as heroes, as well as a pair of nefarious characters who are so buried in their own self-interest, they cannot see the danger they are unleashing to the resort's guests, who have paid a large premium to have a holiday.

At 149 pages, I was impressed by how Al crammed so much story into such a small space.

Cryptid Killers is a story that could cause one nightmares. The monsters in this tale are vicious and relentless, and there are too many to count. Al's descriptions of the horror caused by these creatures may be a trigger point to some readers, but for those who can take descriptions of injury and dismemberment, it is an entertaining read that might have one sleeping with the lights on.

I enjoyed this book, as I have everything I've read from Al Hodge, and I continue to look forward to his future work as an author.

When a skier is lost at a resort, Agent Rylan of the Cryptid Investigation Unit and her new partner, Eoin Carter, find themselves in a battle for their lives against an army of creatures who are rapidly emerging from hibernation. When they appear, they are ruthless, murderous, and very, very hungry.

As Rylan and Carter do their best to keep the resorts guest from becoming a hot meal in the frozen tundra, they also have to fight against the resort’s greedy owner and his henchman, who harbor ulterior motives.

One of Al's major strengths as an author is the characters he writes. While there wasn't a lot of background information given in this story, there is enough to help one become invested in their successes.

Agent Rylan knows her business. She is intense about her work, and she knows how to get the job done. I will not go into too much detail and spoil a plot twist. I want to know more about this character. Hopefully, there will be future books.

Eoin Carter is a former soldier who has seen his share of violence and death. He is pretty good at keeping his cool while he assesses and acts in situations. I don't think he was prepared for what he found on the mountain above the resort. Carter is a well-trained, tough ex-soldier. He and Ryland butt heads occasionally, but they actually work well together and are a great team.

Jacob Freidman is the villain of the tale. He, along with his henchman, make things miserable for Rylan, Carter, and just about everyone else on the mountain for their holiday. He is very rich and powerful; he has an ulterior motive and the consequences to others be damned.

My favorite plot point is also a major spoiler, and the thing about the story that makes me want more. It is also a major spoiler, so I will leave it by saying Agent Rylan has a lot of experience with cryptozoology.

My takeaway from Cryptid Killers is to warn others to be wary of things that come in pretty packages, like the ultra-modern resort. Sometimes those who are in the business of providing amazing experiences may have amazing ambitions and are willing to spend huge amounts of money to make even more money.

I have never been disappointed by anything I've read from Alister Hodge. He is an amazing writer who, through his characters, spins tales that are the stuff of nightmares. If you are looking for something that will thrill and give you the heebie jeebies, this is the book for you! Cryptid Killers is a story that runs at breakneck speed, don't blink, or you might miss something. Al includes things he has experienced in his profession working in the emergency room, and sometimes the reality of his descriptions can make one cringe. If you cannot handle such scenes, this might be one to avoid. But if you like horror with graphic scenes of mayhem, this is one you might want to dive into.

Highest Recommendations for a shorter read that moves.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Alister Hodge is an Emergency Nurse Practitioner, who lives in Sydney with his wife and two daughters. He is also a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Sydney, the author of numerous journal and textbook publications, and the co-creator of an app to support triage nurse development in Australia.

As a mental break from providing healthcare in a busy Emergency Department, Alister leaves behind the everyday traumas and horror of the real world, by creating new ones for a post-apocalyptic landscape.