The second installment of the Echo space opera duology is a satisfying end
to a story that I found spellbinding and just plain fun to read.
In the first book, the reader gets to know Kai Randall, a bit of a pirate
with a good heart and a solid sense of justice. He becomes an unlikely hero
when he rescues Shreya Nova, a scientist and military officer whom he
rescues despite the beating she gives him during their first meeting. Added to
those two are Perri Hasana, a young woman who has ambitions of being a pilot
but is an apprentice to Kai (click here to see my review of the previous book).
Together, Kai and Perri gains Shreya's trust sufficiently enough for them to help find her missing husband who was kidnapped during the test flight of a new
propulsion system.
Echo 1 was loaded with gut busting humor in an otherwise tragic story of
loss and brutality. This volume takes a bit of a darker turn and is terrifying
when we finally meet the alien race responsible for the kidnapping and all of
Shreya's heartaches. Add to that the continuation of one of the most despicable
characters I have ever met in a story, and you get an amazing story to tug at your emotions and might even take you to the breaking point.
Ignoring all available evidence to the contrary, Shreya refuses to accept
that her husband is dead and will continue to search for him until she has
evidence otherwise, and she is willing to go to any lengths to learn the truth.
Kai wakes after healing from injuries he sustained in the previous novel and
realizes the feelings he has for his young apprentice.
With a bounty on his head, Kai and his crew head off to an uncharted region
of the galaxy and encounter a race of beings so powerful, it is doubtful they
will survive.
The action and adventure ramps up to a captivating and satisfying conclusion
that will absolutely break the reader's heart along the way. Be sure to have a
box of tissues handy as you read this one!
My favorite plot point for this second book revolves around
one of the most powerfully compelling characters in any story I have ever read.
That would be in the person of Parri Hasana. She is quick-witted, highly
intelligent, and able to adapt to unfamiliar situations. I place Parri at the
top of my list of the greatest of female characters along with Ellen Ripley.
My takeaway from both parts of Michael's duology is the role of persistence
in them. I once saw a quote: "Success is not the absence of failure; it's
the persistence through failure." The quote is attributed to Aisha Tyler.
First, there is Kai. He could have easily just walked away from Shreya at any
time, yet something inside him spurs him on and emphasizes his humane side.
Shreya will not give up on her husband, no matter what. And Parri continues to
follow her heart. She will not give up on winning Kai's heart.
Even the villains show monumental persistence. The evil commander who
tortured Shreya in Echo 1 is back, and he is not giving up seeking his revenge.
And there are the aliens who have persistence at their very nature.
In short, the Echo Space Opera Duology, is among the best Sci-Fi I have ever
read. It is an amazing, well-told saga that runs a full gamut of emotional
content. It will entertain and inspire readers, and I give it my highest
recommendations. Don't miss this one. The story unfolds at a good pace and is
hard to set aside once you start reading.
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Well, there it is...
Qapla!
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