Slaves to the Stars by Nuell Martin - Marvelous Sci-Fi Thriller!

Slaves to the Stars by Nuell Martin

One thing I have found in reading books by independent authors is that there are a lot of people out there writing some amazing stories. Every now and again, there are a few of those books that rise above others, defying my ability to come up with adequate superlatives to describe a high level of excellence in creativity - Slaves to the Stars is one of those.

Nuell Martin is a multi-talented individual who is especially amazing at telling a good tale. There isn't one single thing I didn't love about this story. There are several great characters who a reader can become invested in. The story is paced so well it just flows off the page. The settings are colorful and easy to visualize. The science is easy to understand. And finally, the story will challenge one to question conventional scientific and religious thought.

If you only read one sci-fi book this year, Slaves to the Stars would be an excellent choice.

At an Asian Orthodox church in Montenegro, a humble priest discovers ancient writings describing a celestial event that he witnesses in his telescope. Father Igor Grgic must get what he has learned to his superior.

The world enters a global energy crisis that threatens to collapse the planet's entire economy.

Scientists around the world puzzle over a message from an object that has appeared above the planet Jupiter.

The people of Earth face a challenge. The question is, can humanity rise to the occasion?

The characters in Slaves to the Stars are mostly ordinary people, many of them posses a high level of intelligence and extraordinary analytical minds. They learn as they work to solve the problems placed in front of them. Most of the principal characters are well developed and become people the reader can invest in.

My favorite plot point is the chapter where we learn about the nature of the object that has taken up position over Jupiter. In that chapter, we learn about the origins of the object and its purpose. It is an entity that is alive and sentient, but it is not organic. This section is pure science fiction that reads as scientific fact. The author goes into painstaking detail that reveals his skill as a writer and his vivid imagination. It is not only science; it is art! The detail is gripping, and the world-building is colorful and fascinating.

The theme that stood out to me the most in this tale was the line between truth and belief. As the characters discover the nature of the object, they learn that often belief becomes truth in the minds of humans. But this is not always the case. Belief is a tricky thing that can shade truth, and there are those who, despite solid evidence, continue to deny the truth in favor of belief. This can be a very controversial area of an individual's philosophy. I admire the courage of Nuell Martin's willingness to take this challenge on and putting it in writing.

In my life, I have learned that the distance between what I know and what I think I know are often separated by vast distances. Slaves to the Stars had me thinking about this all the way through.

My takeaway from this book is to remember to question everything. A line from Hamlet seems appropriate here: "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

In case you haven't guessed by now, I am impressed by Slaves to the Stars and number it among the best books I have ever read. It is a work of science fiction, but I think anyone who enjoys a great story would enjoy it. The only thing I would caution the reader about is that there are some violent scenes therein. 

It is a well-written and professionally edited book that moves at a good pace. The characters are compelling. The world building is top-notch. From the moment I opened it, I was spellbound until the end. There are twists and turns all the way through, and the ending is one of the best plot twists I have ever encountered!

Highest Recommendations!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Nuell Martin, a creative and restless mind with a penchant for out-of-the-box thinking, has emerged as a distinctive voice in the realm of science fiction literature. His journey into the arts began with a 25-year dedication to music, specifically ambient music, which set the stage for his later pursuits. It was in the past five years, in the coastal city of La Coruna, Spain, that Nuell's passion for writing took flight, culminating in his debut novel, Operation Bifrost. A graduate in biology, Nuell's academic background infuses his writing with a unique blend of scientific authenticity and imaginative flair. His work is characterized by a relentless quest to shed light on the mysteries of the world, offering new and logical perspectives on age-old human questions. This approach has resonated deeply with adult readers of hard science fiction, earning Operation Bifrost critical acclaim and a slew of positive reviews, particularly noted on Amazon.

Nuell's creative process is fueled by his need for continuous innovation and his interactions with diverse cultures and ideas from around the globe. As a musician and a photographer, he harnesses these artistic avenues to enrich his narratives, weaving intricate stories that captivate his audience. His readers find themselves immersed in worlds where science and imagination intertwine, creating a tapestry of thought-provoking and engaging narratives. Currently, Nuell is channeling his energies into thinking up new ideas for his upcoming works, promising to keep delivering to his fans the kind of intellectually stimulating and imaginative storytelling they have come to expect. As he continues to explore the boundaries of science fiction, Nuell Martin stands as a rising star in the genre, an apprentice of everything, and a master of his craft.

As mentioned, Nuell is also a creator of music. The soundtrack he composed for the book is at https://nuellmartin.bandcamp.com/album/slaves-to-the-stars and can be found on Apple Music as well.

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The Alcuin Rift: Cosmic Science Fiction by Charleston Lim - This Debut Novel Deserves A Look

The Alcuin Rift: Cosmic Science Fiction by Charleston Lim

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

The Alcuin Rift is the title of a debut novel from Charleston Lim. It is a hard science fiction space opera that presents readers with something to think about. I enjoyed this tale of scientific discovery and a first contact situation, but there are no aliens revealed in this story. It is a fast read. I got through it in three sittings. While I have one reservation, mostly, I found it a solid story and I look forward to reading his next novel. Alcuin Rift is a complete story in itself, but it leaves room for a sequel, should the author choose to write one.

The following is the blurb describing the plot...

"An experiment in quantum reality draws the attention of something vast, unknowable, and indifferent."

"Dr. Elena Kade spent her life unraveling the mysteries of the universe. But when her experiment sends an unexpected signal into the void, the answer that returns is beyond comprehension—and devastating."

"Time is running out. If Kade cannot find a way to communicate—to make them understand—then humanity’s reality may cease to exist."

"The Alcuin Rift is a gripping debut science fiction novel written by a Filipino author exploring hard science, cosmic horror, and first contact. It's perfect for fans of science fiction books such as The Arrival and The Three-Body Problem."

The above description greatly simplifies what is between the covers. The story itself is far more complex, but is within the grasp of the average reader.

The only problem I had with this tale is with the characters. They felt one dimensional and stereotypical. There were scientists that included a lead scientist and an ambitious scientist who thought they knew better than the lead and was a little jealous. There were a few military persons who asserted themselves as one might expect commanding officers would. My problem is that I wanted to learn more about the people involved and find at least one character I could care about. For me, I found myself not really caring about what happened to the people in the story.

My favorite point of plot in Alcuin Rift was the science. I'll be the first to admit, I know very little about quantum physics or the properties of gravity waves. I do know they are phenomena that exist. Author Lim made it obvious he had done his homework to prepare for the writing of the story. I cannot tell where the real science versus made-up science - if there was any made-up - begins and ends. But my hat is off to Lim for his use of either type of science in the story! It made it a fun story to read and added elements of suspense and surprise to the tale.

There are numerous themes woven into the tapestry of this narrative. One that stood out to me is how solving problems on a universal scale must be very carefully thought out before they are executed. Who knows, in the distant future, we may run into some situations presented in Alcuin Rift, and lives, or even the entire existence of the universe as we know it, could be at stake.

My takeaway is to remember that it isn't a good thing to play around with things we don't understand. It's not nice to try to fool Mother Nature!

The Alcuin Rift is a fine, accessible first effort from author Charleston Lim and worth the time to read. I will be watching his future work and am eager to see growth in this writer. I recommend this book to those who enjoy some heavy-duty science content intermixed with high stakes risks in the exploration of the unknown.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Charleston Lim was born and raised on the island of Cebu, Philippines. Charleston has a deep passion for storytelling, science, and exploration - both in the real world and the vast expanse of fiction.

A Computer Science graduate, he has worked across multiple fields, including web development, design, news writing, and marketing, each experience shaping is perspective on technology and human creativity. Beyond his work in the digital space, he is also a photographer and musician, constantly seeking new ways to capture emotion and atmosphere, whether through images, music, or the written word.

Writing science fiction in the Philippines presents a unique challenge. In a country where mythology and folklore dominate popular storytelling, and where religious beliefs often shape public perception of science, speculative fiction that explores hard scientific concepts struggles to find mainstream acceptance.

Science fiction is often seen as a Western genre, associated with Hollywood blockbusters, superhero films, or anime, rather than a serious form of literature. Despite this, Charleston believes that science fiction has a place in Philippine storytelling - not as an outsider's genre, but as a means to explore the future of humanity, technology, and our place in the cosmos.

The Alcuin Rift is Charleston's debut novel. It blends hard science fiction with the mystery and the unknowable depths of first contact.

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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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My Buddy Gave Me A Starship By Myles Christensen - Lots Of Laughs Excellent Entertainment

My Buddy Gave Me A Starship by Myles Christensen

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

With a title like this one, there is no way I could resist reading.

My Buddy Gave Me A Starship is a space opera from the lighter side. But it isn’t all fun and games when characters play in the backdrop of deep space meeting alien species both friendly and malicious. The tale is packed full of action and adventure to keep a reader on the edge of their seat. The characters are believable, and it isn’t difficult to relate to their plight. I was pulled in right from the opening page and the pace of the story ramps up quickly. The world-building is also excellent, and the reader will see numerous vistas, both beautiful and menacing.

I found this book quite refreshing after reading a lot of serious sci-fi. It runs the full gamut of emotion, and one cannot help but love most of the characters while deploring a few others.

The story opens with a man named Mitch, who goes to work one morning and is greeted by his supervisor, who apologetically dismisses him. He seems to have made a costly mistake involving a project he worked on.

So, Mitch does what any down on his luck guy would do. He heads to his favorite diner and orders a large bowl of ice cream to drown his sorrows. Mitch’s lifelong friend, Gabe, sits down with him and says he has something he is sure will cheer him up. After a short drive, Gabe opens his barn to reveal a starship parked inside! Gabe explains how he found the ship and how he has been making repairs and upgrades.

To say it cheered Mitch up would be a gross understatement. Mitch is astounded and wants to take a flight. Gabe promises they will do a flight test the next day.

Like a kid who is headed to his first professional baseball game, Mitch arrives at Gabe’s place to find a small group of people in commando gear preparing to take the ship for themselves. Then he discovers Gabe has been severely injured in his encounter with the commandos. So, Mitch does what anyone would do in such a situation. He gets onto the ship, belts himself into the pilot’s seat, and orders the onboard AI to take the ship rapidly “anywhere but here.”

The AI complies by transporting the ship a distance of six-hundred light years in the blink of an eye. And that’s only the beginning!

The tale is heavily character driven. Too much information would spoil the story.

Mitch is a human who finds himself unemployed until he finds his best friend has been wounded by commandos who want the ship Gabe has found. His aim is to find justice for Gabe.

Tera is Mitch’s artificially intelligent companion, modeled on a fifteen-year-old snarky female. She helps Mitch learn to run the ship, but is sometimes hesitant to share important information until the last minute. Her personality often causes Mitch just a bit of frustration and drives the humor in the story.

Vrynn is an alien female who wants the ship to fight in a conflict with an oppressive organization. She becomes a valuable aid to Mitch as well as depending on him for help.

My favorite point of plot in My Buddy Gave Me A Starship is the interaction between the characters. They all have goals and help each other try to realize them. The humorous banter between them is priceless! I think this is where the author really shines in his writing. It is through the principal character’s interactions that the story unfolds as we also get to know them. It is hard not to care about them and their plight.

My takeaway from this tale is to remember no matter how bad things seem, stay optimistic. The closing of one door may lead to the opening of another, which might lead to the adventure of a lifetime.

While the trope in My Buddy Gave Me A Starship is an old, well-worn one, and Myles Christensen has given it a fresh treatment, and it is eminently entertaining, engaging, and a whole lot of fun. The characters have depth inspiring the reader to care for and root for their success. The backdrops are well fleshed out and full of interesting variety. The writing is clear, and the tech is easy to understand. This is a great opening to a series of stories, and I look forward to future installments. The story is complete in itself and I loved the great plot twist at the end!

Highest Recommendations!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Myles Christensen loves to write exciting adventures because he loves to read exciting adventures. The hopeless romantic in him will usually sprinkle a teensy bit of romance into his stories. While writing, he listens to music that matches—and sometimes inspires—the storyline.

His mild-mannered alter ego is a product development engineer, university professor, and game inventor. He lives in Utah with his wife and children.

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Progress Report By Roman Lando - Fast Paced And Humorous With Serious Overtones

Progress Report by Roman Lando

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

I received an email from the author who offered me a copy of Progress Report and asked if I would consider reviewing it on my blog and other places I leave reviews. The first thing that got my attention was the cover design, and the synopsis sealed the deal.

Progress Report is a sci-fi adventure technothriller that is full of twists and turns and is written with a sense of humor approaching that of Douglas Adams, author of the Hitchhiker's Guide books. While it is not as bizarre as Adams' work, I found myself smiling all the way through it, and occasionally laughing out loud. There are numerous references to today's pop-culture making it a fun book to read.

But don't be fooled by the humor. There are some serious implications included in the text that will make one think, should one desire to do so.

Progress Report is well written and easy to follow. It is entertaining and is a fun rollercoaster ride. The characters are people I found myself caring about. Should one read between the lines, there is a story that should be taken seriously, and some commentary that is worth a second look. I especially appreciated how the author put so much of himself in this tale of intrigue.

Art, an ordinary guy, he just wants to be left alone to do his own thing. He enjoys flying his drones and taking life one day at a time. Unfortunately, for him, one of his older quad-copters encounters an invisible barrier and crashes. The incident gets the attention of some advanced aliens who immediately begin a life-threatening chase. He barely escaped with his life and soon finds himself charged with becoming an unlikely hero on a mission to save humanity. With the use of an alien artifact, he has the adventure of a lifetime with a mission ahead of him, and aliens with nefarious intent behind him.

I like Art. Just a regular, if not somewhat reclusive, character who knows his technology. He is unsure of himself, especially when it comes to female companionship. He also seems to be a bit clumsey, but has solid survival instincts. He is comfortable with artificial intelligence, which is very much to his benefit in Progress Report.

Along the way, he meets Tia. I cannot write too much about this character because it would be a major spoiler. I'll just say she is the embodiment of people are often not what they seem to be. She is, in a word, fascinating. Art also thinks she is.

My favorite point of plot is the angle the story comes from. The first chapter is titled "74%," indicating the amount of battery life in a cell phone that Art is using to chronicle the events that follow. All the chapters are percentages of battery life and I feel it is a race for art to complete his story before the phone goes dead.

I also enjoyed how Art injected humor into the story. It drove the plot forward and was never over the top. He has a unique way of seeing the world and I appreciated it immensely.

My takeaway from Progress Report is how a hero can emerge from a character, especially when they aren't looking to be a hero. Does anyone wake up in the morning and say to themselves, "I'm going to do something heroic today?" That's not the way it works. Super heroes don't exist in the real world. In Art's case, he was just out minding his own business, flying his drone, and he was forced into being a hero by the circumstances. He learned there was a situation and did what was needed to resolve it to everyone's benefit.

I give my highest recommendations to Progress Report as a fast-paced sci-fi adventure story with great characters. If you enjoy tales, including futuristic technology and first contact scenarios, this is the book for you. I look forward to future work from this author. His debut novel is full of swerves and surprises. It is engaging from the very first page with just a few places where the action slows a little to give the reader a chance to catch his/her breath. 

This is the first book completed in 2023, and it was a great start to my year of reading.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Roman Lando, author of Progress Report, is a composer, musician, web and new media designer, and positively has too many passions, interests, and hobbies in his life.

When he’s not writing books or music, he can be found sailing, playing keys in a prog rock band, flying his drones, building crazy flight simulation rigs, and LARPing. His life long love and passion for hard Sci-Fi take a special place in his heart. Reading was never enough. The only way to satisfy the obsession was to write his debut novel. He hopes to share his love for true Science Fiction, along with his interest in history, science, philosophy, and technology with his readers.

After living in three countries on three continents, and speaking three languages, Roman has finally settled in Toronto, where he lives with his wife and two daughters. No dogs or cats are involved - his drones are his pets. He is now working on his second novel.

You can get in touch with Roman and subscribe to his mailing list at the Progress Report website: https://progressreport.romandesign.ca

Those Left Behind by N.C. Scrimgeour - Saving People From A Dying Planet Is Hard Work

Those Left Behind by N.C. Scrimgeour

I received an advance review copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Those Left Behind is due for release on November 16, 2021.

In Scrimgeour's previous book, The Exodus Betrayal, readers are introduced to Alvera Renata, an artificially enhanced bounty hunter who explores the world of New Pallas. That story serves as a prequel to this book, those left behind. However, this is not simply a continuation of Alvera's story. There are more characters to follow in this continuing tale and the story becomes more intricate. Left Behind is a space opera/first contact sci-fi story that is hard to set aside once opened. The characters are complex real people who have numerous ways to approach the goal of saving the people of New Pallas, a planet so overpopulated and polluted, there is no hope of survival.

Alvera Renata, former bounty hunter, has a vision for the people of New Pallas. She envisions them surviving on a new world in another galaxy, hoping they have learned the lessons from the mistakes made on their old home planet. Filled with hope and high anticipation, Alvera captains a small scout ship through a tunnel in space connecting to Waystations. When her ship, the Ranger, arrives at its destination, she finds herself and her crew in the middle of a conflict that brings the promise of all-out war.

Another problem is that as soon as the Ranger arrives, the Waystations shut down, trapping Alvera in on one end, and the people she wants to save on the other.

Driven by her mantra, "all of us go, or none of us go," it is up to Alvera and her crew to get the Waystations back online. Time and circumstances are against her; she is in a race to save the people of an entire planet from extinction.

In Left Behind, Alvera is a far different character than she was in the prequel book. Her purpose is more noble, and her compassion is ramped up, but she still has the same resolve and single sightedness for achieving a goal.

There are also some new characters involved, each playing a part to either help bring the humans from New Pallas, or to stop an already complicated situation from exploding.

All the characters are interesting in their views and beliefs and are what really drives the story forward.

Another aspect I found appealing was how, once the Ranger arrived at the far end of the tunnel, the crew all went their separate ways to solve unique problems they encountered, and how clever they were at solving them.

Beyond just being a good solid and entertaining story, my takeaway from Left Behind is how the principal character has grown from someone who worried about her own survival to her concern for the survival of everyone on New Pallas. We don't get a lot of details on how this happened, but to help understand, I would recommend reading the prequel to understand Alvera's motivations.

Among the author's strengths demonstrated in Left Behind is world building. Every place she describes comes alive, as do her characters. She is adept at creating people, especially aliens, that have real feelings and values to give one something to think about.

I recommend this book as one that will interest those who enjoy strong female characters set in situations with intensity and a sense of urgency.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

N.C. Scrimgeour is a science fiction and fantasy author whose books focus on character-driven stories in vibrant worlds, from folklore fantasy to space opera.

After completing her Masters in English Literature, she went on to work in journalism, marketing, and communications while pursuing her passion in writing.

When she's not working on her books, she enjoys playing story-driven RPG's, watching and reading all things science fiction and fantasy, and getting outdoors with the dog for a good walk.

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