The Aftermath: Terra (The Aftermath Series Book 3) By Bradley James - Entertaining High Adventure Sci-fi

The Aftermath: Terra (The Aftermath Series Book 3) By Bradley James

I received a copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

The third installment of the Aftermath series is every bit as good as the previously two published works by Bradley James. Those previous works are The Aftermath: Lunar, and The Aftermath: Titan - click on the title to see my reviews of those books. The big difference with this third story is how the author has ramped up the intensity of the story.

This segment of the ongoing story picks up where the previous one leaves off. It hits the ground running and does not let up until the end, and is wide open, begging for a fourth book.

I eagerly await the next one!

While on the surface of the moon, astronaut Elliot Adams witnessed an asteroid strike on Earth, and that single event would have been enough to send him on a quest to survive in the harsh Lunar environment. But no, that wasn't enough. He discovered there was a permanent underground base on Earth's only natural satellite he knew nothing about. Then he discovered there were people living in that idyllic settlement. It was idyllic until he further discovered it was built and operated by a people calling themselves the Telvanni, who seem to want to take over Elliot's home world.

The Telvanni, and their leader, the General, have plucked yet another asteroid from its natural orbit and sent it hurdling toward Earth. Elliot and his Lunari friend, Mayto, hijack a Telvanni ship and head to Earth to stop that catastrophe, while Ava and her daughter remain on the Moon to once again face the General.

It's going to take some clever thinking, hard fighting, and the willingness to sacrifice to bring an end to the General and his gang of henchmen's attempt to rule what's left of the human race.

Aside from writing some amazing adventure tales, Bradley's strength as an author is bringing great characters to life.

Elliot and his friends are people a reader will come to care about. They all have their own special skill sets and work together to achieve seemingly impossible goals. Along with their problem-solving skills, they also have a sense of humor that made me laugh out loud while reading. 

Less appealing is the General. He has no redeeming qualities and has no reservations about torturing and killing people on a whim.

The characters in Aftermath: Terra are worth the price of the book.

My favorite point of plot in Aftermath: Terra is the description of what Elliot finds in the aftermath of the first asteroid strike. There are pockets of survivors who are just trying to live as best they can, and others that prey on them, almost seeming to help their antagonists. Adding to the intensity of the story is how the stakes have risen. Not only is Elliot trying to save a group of people trapped on the Moon, now he has taken on the responsibility for everyone left on Earth, too. It is no small task, and Elliot faces some huge obstacles to overcome.

There are two major themes that stood out to me in this segment of the story. The classic tale of good versus evil is prominent. With no other apparent purpose than conquering Earth, the Telvanni kill massive numbers of people. The General is cruel and seems to enjoy playing with his prey before going in for the kill. The second theme is it seems good cannot exist without evil. Even when evil is apparently stopped, it comes back with a vengeance and is even worse the next time around.

My takeaway is, when fighting evil, its defeat is not final - one must remain vigilant, always.

The Aftermath: Terra is an excellent sci-fi adventure story. It is full of twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing. Take nothing for granted if you enter Bradley's imaginary universe. 

I am recommending those interested in reading this series to start at the beginning and read all three books in order. Each subsequent book opens at the minute the previous one ends. The three novels are well worth the time to read. I've found the entire series highly entertaining and a fun rollercoaster ride into a saga with heroes to love and villains a reader will love to hate.

Highest recommendations for this book, as well as the entire series.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bradley James published his debut novel, The Aftermath: Lunar, in early 2024, realizing a long-held dream. Since then, he has been irreversibly bitten by the writing bug, immediately embarking on his next literary adventure without looking back. When not immersed in crafting narratives, Bradley can be found indulging in long runs, losing himself in books, consuming copious amounts of coffee, or passionately cheering on his favorite football team. Though born in London, he now resides in Southwest England, where the lush landscapes often serve as a backdrop for his creativity.

You can connect with Bradley on his website, https://bradleyjamesauthor.com/.

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The Aftermath: Titan (The Aftermath Series Book 2) By Bradley James - Loaded With Action, Surprises, And Superior Characters!

The Aftermath: Titan (The Aftermath Series Book 2) by Bradley James

I received a copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Note: This title is due to go public on October 18, 2024

To start, I will share a quote from Bradley appearing at the beginning of this book:

"Whoa, Not So Fast!"

"The Aftermath: Titan is the second book in The Aftermath series. If you have not yet read the first book in the series, then it is recommended that you start there."

As the author politely says, it is recommended to start with the first book in the series, The Aftermath: Lunar. I would not only agree with Bradley, but I would also say it is a must! I will reference the first novel in this review, so if you haven't read Lunar, I urge you to close this blog post and read it first!

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

The Aftermath: Titan is the continuing story of an Earth astronaut who witnessed the apparent destruction of his home planet while on a mission to the moon. His original mission was scrapped, and his only focus became survival.

In Titan, the story of Elliot Adams continues, and the stakes get ramped up ever higher than before.

I absolutely ripped through this book with such fervor and finished it in five days between other things I was supposed to be doing. After having to set it aside, I thought about it, and couldn't wait to get back to it at the earliest opportunity. Titan flows like a fast river, as one reads. It is chock full of action, suspense, battle, humor, and it is all driven by a cast of excellently written characters a reader will become invested in!

Bradley has mastered writing some great sci-fi that unfolds on an epic scale. The world building and setting of the story's scenes is vivid and one can almost feel the environment the characters move through.

***Spoiler Alert***

The Lunari live a primitive life under the surface of the moon. However, they are actually being, more or less, enslaved by the aliens who call themselves the Telvanni. When the Lunari learn the truth about what they once considered their gods, they rise up, and with the help of stranded astronaut, Elliot Adams, they are victorious in defeating the Telvanni.

The Telvanni are led by a cruel master known only as the General who is killed in the uprising, and those of his troops who survive are imprisoned in their base.

But before he dies, the General reveals something very disturbing to Elliot. It is something called a Death Shepherd.

Elliot is accepted by the Lunari and develops strong relationships with many of the people living there.

***End Spoilers***

Eliot learns what the Death Shepherd is, thanks to Dax, a technology expert who worked for the Lunari under duress. Elliot realizes he must go to Titan, the moon orbiting Saturn, where the Telvanni have established their main base in the solar system. Elliot and his befriended Lunari embark on a perilous mission to accomplish several goals, including saving lives on two worlds.

Nothing is easy, and the odds are stacked against Elliot and his companions.

Elliot is not only an astronaut, he is also a trained soldier. Thanks to his being from Earth, he also has a secret weapon that will serve him well on his quest. He is a good and kind man but is not to be underestimated. He can deal out some violence when the occasion arises, and it does. But, like any great hero, he needs help from others as well, and he has some good and skillful people on his side.

Dax is little more than a slave because of something the Telvanni hold over his head. When he has the opportunity, he teams up with Elliot and the other Lunari. Although some would see him as a cowardly collaborator, Dax is anything but cowardly.

Mayto, the son of the Lunari Chief, did not like Elliot initially, but he warms up and the two develop a great friendship. They have each other's backs and work well together. Mayto has a temper that can get out of control, and often does, but Elliot and others remind him he must not let his temper control him. He must learn to control his temper and through this, he will have far more success. He learns this lesson well, with reminders, of course.

Ava and Bella are a mother and daughter team. Ava's husband is presumed dead, and she and Elliot strike up a relationship during the events of the first novel in the series. Their plight is mostly separate from Elliot and is, in itself, a great story.

There are a few truly cruel and evil characters in this tale. The Supreme Telvarch is the leader of the Telvanni and is truly drunk with power. He will stop at nothing to gather more and more power. His main henchman, Dravix, is a man who loves killing and making people suffer under his torture. These two are monumental villains with no redeeming characteristics whatsoever. Of course, this only adds to the fun that is Aftermath: Titan!

My first favorite point of plot is the epic battle scenes in the story. They are huge in scope; with dire consequences should our heroes fail to achieve their goals. The consequences are just as dire for the bad guys should they fail. There are victories on both sides as the scenes unfold and the outcomes offer some amazing plot twists, one of the major strengths of this tale.

Second, I loved the dialog between characters! Another of Bradley's strengths as a writer is creating dialog that is witty and, at times, hilarious, but also shows great compassion and the deep friendships the characters share. The witty banter happens at moments where the reader may need a break in the tension to catch their breath, but the action continues to ramp up, after those moments of relief, to greater and greater heights.

And last, but not least, are the plot twists and turns! There is a surprise at nearly every page turn which drives the reader on to the end, and when the end comes, the reader is going to want more!

The theme that stands out for me, and my takeaway from The Aftermath: Titan, is to remember how heroes never go into a situation to become heroes. A real hero is someone who sees a situation, or a need for change, and does what it takes to get the job done.

I give my highest recommendations for The Aftermath: Titan, and for the previous novel in the series, The Aftermath: Lunar, as an unfolding sci-fi space opera saga that is exciting, filled with on-the-edge-of-your-seat action, and just plain fun to read. There is never a dull moment in these stories, and the current installment is jam-packed with all manners of emotional content. The reader will feel great triumph, disappointment and despair, deep sadness, and much joy all the way through this fast-paced story. It is well worth the investment of time to read and will not disappoint sci-fi fans. Bradley has written a masterpiece with his very first series of novels and I am so happy to have found them!

Remember, read BOTH books in order. Lunar is full of background information that will help in understanding the universe created by this amazing author.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bradley James published his debut novel, The Aftermath: Lunar, in early 2024, realizing a long-held dream. Since then, he has been irreversibly bitten by the writing bug, immediately embarking on his next literary adventure without looking back. When not immersed in crafting narratives, Bradley can be found indulging in long runs, losing himself in books, consuming copious amounts of coffee, or passionately cheering on his favorite football team. Though born in London, he now resides in Southwest England, where the lush landscapes often serve as a backdrop for his creativity.

Look at Bradley's website: https://bradleyjamesauthor.com and join his Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/948989713645274

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The Aftermath: Lunar By Bradley James - A Great Fascinating Debut Novel Worth Reading!

The Aftermath: Lunar by Bradley James

I received a copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. 

The Aftermath: Lunar is the debut novel and first part of a planned series by Bradley James.

When I saw the cover, I knew I had to read this one. Imagine standing on the surface of another world where you have had to bring everything you need to survive and then you witness the destruction of your home planet. Unimaginable, you say? Yes, it is. But the author of this brilliant first novel builds a world on another world to spark the imagination.

There are twists and turns galore at nearly every page turn, making this unlikely story seem plausible. It is packed with plenty of action that begins on the opening page and never lets up right through to the end. I found myself not wanting to put Aftermath down because the ends of most chapters are cliffhangers in miniature spurring one to read on.

Astronauts Elliot Adams and Franklin Lewis are on a mission to the Earth's Moon near the site of a base under construction. When they look up, they see rocks and boulders impacting the surface, kicking up dust and debris and seek to get undercover to wait the event out.

But that is only the beginning of the explorer's problems.

In the chaos, the pair dash for cover and become separated. Elliot notices a large shadow pass over the surface and can only watch as the Earth suffers from the impact of a huge asteroid. There isn't time for reminiscing, as survival is the first order of business. Elliot and Franklin become separated and lose communication. Elliot falls unconscious.

When he awakes, he literally stumbles into something that shouldn't be on the moon. What he finds is only the beginning of an adventure to boggle and fascinate the reader.

One of the author's major strengths in the writing of this story is a bullpen of well-developed characters. Many are characters the reader will certainly find themselves caring about, while others are shrouded in mystery. This makes for a fascinating and well-paced read. I will not talk too much about them because it would lead to some major spoilers.

The principal character, and the one whom we follow through the story, Elliot, is a strong character and the one we get to know the best. He is a good man with a solid moral base. Even with everything he faces, he doesn't lose his composure as he works out puzzles and navigates through and around obstacles the author places in his way. He also has some special skills that make him even more fun to read.

Another of Bradley James’ strengths in Aftermath is the world building and is my favorite plot point in the book.

Right from the beginning, during the meteor storm all the way to the end of the book are vivid and make an amazing backdrop for the characters to move through.

The major theme of this tale is survival. There are numerous and varied situations presented to challenge Elliot and others as they work to overcome them. There is never a dull moment in this book.

My takeaway from Aftermath is to remember that no matter how hopeless things may seem, there will always be a solution to problems as long as one doesn't stop thinking and acting while taking advantage of what one has at hand and remains open to learning something new.

The Aftermath: Lunar is just a fun and entertaining story that is hard to put down once the reader cracks the cover. I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a fantastic journey. I think even those who are not sci-fi fans would enjoy this just for the humanity in it. It is a cracker-jack of a first novel that includes not only a great story but also great characters and some fine world building. It has everything one could want in a well-crafted tale of adventure and survival.

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bradley James published his debut novel, The Aftermath Lunar, in early 2024, realizing a long-held dream. Since then, he has been irreversibly bitten by the writing bug, immediately embarking on his next literary adventure without looking back. When not immersed in crafting narratives, Bradley can be found indulging in long runs, losing himself in books, consuming copious amounts of coffee, or passionately cheering on his favorite football team. Though born in London, he now resides in Southwest England, where the lush landscapes often serve as a backdrop for his creativity.

Find Bradley's website at https://bradleyjamesauthor.com/

Well, there it is...

Qapla!