Red Storm by Bradley James - A Great Prequel To Accompany This Author's Novel Series

Red Storm by Bradley James

Thanks to the author's newsletter, I discovered that Bradley James had penned a prequel short story in his Aftermath universe. It is set before his first novel, Aftermath: Lunar. I snapped it up.

The story is set on Mars during a very dense dust storm. The principal character, Elliot Adams, has to brave seemingly impossible conditions to re-establish blacked-out communications; a daunting task, to be sure.

Red Storm is easily read in one sitting at 57 pages. There is a lot packed into this story and, as an avid reader of Bradley's work, I relished it.

Astronauts Elliot Adams, Franklin Lewis, and Dr. Elena Vega are conducting a routine mission on the Red Planet. The trio is caught in an unexpected violent dust storm and must get to shelter quickly. Elena is injured by flying debris and needs more medical attention than Elliot and Franklin are trained to perform. So, while Franklin does the best he can for Elena, it is up to Elliot to find a way to restore communications to call for help. He makes a promise to Elena that he will not fail in his task, and he is a man of his word, no matter what it takes.

Of the many things there are to appreciate in this story, my favorite is getting to know more about Elliot's partner, Franklin. In Bradley's first novel, the focus is mostly on Elliot, and while we are aware that Franklin is his partner, we don't get to know much about him.

Elliot is a man of integrity, and his resourcefulness is a key element in Red Storm.

Once again, as in all the Aftermath novels, Bradley displays a gift for writing characters a reader can care about. Another plot point I enjoy in the writing is the light and often humorous dialog between characters. In this piece, the banter between Franklin and Elena is absolutely priceless!

The most prominent theme in Red Storm for me was perseverance and the human spirit. Stranded and alone, Elliot and Franklin put their skills to work to resolve the overwhelming set of problems they face. They refuse to quit as they run into one obstacle after another to try to get the job done.

My takeaway: never underestimate a person who decides to follow through. One may not have adequate resources, but ingenuity can make up for shortfalls.

If one has not read Bradley's Aftermath series, this is a good short story to get an idea of what to expect in the novels, of which there are three, with a fourth one coming in the not-too-distant future. But Red Storm only scratches the surface of a much deeper tale of survival in the most hostile conditions. This heavily character-driven story is a great one. It fascinates me how Bradley can put so much story and character development into such a small space.

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.

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Cedar Mills By Dylan James - Old Tropes With A Modern Treatment

Cedar Mills by Dylan James

This is a good one! It is a story that utilizes some old tropes, but that doesn't take away from the quality a reader will encounter when they pick this one up. It is most certainly appropriate for the season (Halloween). I would recommend this book for those who enjoy horror, science fiction, and government conspiracy tales. There are also other elements to this such as a strong young adult feel.

While there are plenty of twists and turns, I have to admit the ending was completely unexpected for me and had me smiling for days after I read it.

Mainly, I just found this to be a very captivating story that included great character development. The world-building was great, and I was deeply engaged all the way to the end.

The sleepy little town of Cedar Mills is like many Midwest towns. It has a high school where kids contemplate their futures and prepare for post-high school plans like going to college or entering the workforce. But the town also has a history, and it is a dark history. When one young man strikes out on his own to investigate an old building buried deep in the woods, he doesn't make it out of the woods. Local law enforcement is not allowed to investigate, so the task of getting answers falls to the boy's best friends and a demoralized ex-cop. What they find is a bottomless pit of horror and a decades-old government cover-up that has been under the noses of the people of Cedar Mills the whole time.

One of the main strengths of Cedar Mills is the great characters we get to know as the tale unfolds. They are all believable people in an unbelievable situation. The point of view in the story switches from character to character where their back stories unfold.

High school student Jake Evans is the best friend of the deceased teenager. He has a plan to go to college, and he should be a successful student. He is loaded with tenacity, and he's pretty smart. But he needs more professional help to solve the mystery. That is where Tom Dalton comes in. Tom is an ex-cop turned private investigator. He looks like an old hippie and is often underestimated. He knows how to get the job done.

There are other supporting characters in Cedar Mills, some of whom provide the main characters’ motivation for their actions.

Then there are the evil and scary characters. One such is a monster that can dismember people with almost no effort!

My favorite plot point and a main theme in this tale is how long the conspiracy has been going on and how oblivious everyone seems to be until the death of the young man who wants to do an interesting story for his school newspaper. Even after the boy's brutalized body is found, it takes Jake, Tom, and the other kids to form a kind of new family. Jake blames himself for the tragedy and is driven by his need for retribution and to provide closure to those suffering losses.

What I take away from Cedar Mills is to remember that everything should be questioned, no matter how unpleasant the answers may be. The real monster in this story is that people were willing to just move on instead of learning where it all began.

Cedar Mills is a great sci-fi/horror story that will chill the reader to the bone. It is also simply a fun story written with traditional tropes with an updated style. The author does a great job creating visuals with words. The woods on the outskirts of town are spooky enough without the roaming monster, but the horror really ramps up when the entity makes an appearance. There are some trigger warnings to be considered before picking up this book. There are scenes of extreme gore and graphic violence. There are also graphic descriptions of murders and children's deaths. With those things in mind, I would recommend this to those readers who enjoy a story that is built around suspense and horror with an element of sci-fi.

Oh, and did I mention an incredible (at least for me) plot twist at the end? Yeah, there's that too.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dylan James is the author of a dozen-plus short stories and poetry publications, appearing in Horror Tree's Trembling With Fear, Moria Literary Magazine, and more. His non-fiction novel, BROTHERS, peaked at #3 on the Barnes & Noble's History Bestsellers.

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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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Kris PR: Deus Ex Homine by GS Morgan (Fractured Ascension Book 1) - Awesome Noir Science Fiction!

Kris PR: Deus Ex Homine by GS Morgan (Fractured Ascension Book 1)

Kris PR is a cyberpunk sci-fi techno thriller featuring the challenges faced by Kris Peterson, a police officer who stumbles into a complicated situation. The story is set in Manchester, England, in a future where humanity is becoming lost in a world of gene enhancement, cybernetic implants, and a world controlled by corporate greed and control.

I was taken in by the story from the opening pages. It is a fast-paced thriller that kept me enthralled all the way through. I enjoyed the twists and turns as the story unfolded. Kris quickly became a character I deeply cared about. The book has deep emotional content thanks to the well-written characters.

Manchester is a beautiful city today, but Morgan envisions the Manchester of the future to be much like the city depicted in the Blade Runner (1982) film. The entire city is lit up by neon advertisements, that is, except for the dark alleys where some of the book is set.

Kris PR has an interesting philosophical element involved as he tries to sort out how to be a better human. Pay attention to the epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter.

While on patrol, Manchester Police Officer Kris Peterson is approached by a young girl requesting his help because she is being chased by a stranger. When he moves to help her, he comes under attack and barely escapes. He takes the girl, Aimee, to his home because of a special ability she has.

He learns she has been kept in a facility under less-than-ideal circumstances. As he investigates her story, he finds himself embroiled in a desperate fight, almost losing his life.

The same person who nearly beat Kris to death drops him off at an office where he receives illegal military-grade implants greatly augmenting his already genetically enhanced abilities. Unfortunately, this combination is unacceptable to the society he lives in. He is an outsider, shunned by nearly everyone, and his new mission is to survive and stay away from the Corp, who desperately wants him under their control.

There are numerous characters introduced in this first installment of Morgan's Fractured Ascension series. The principal character, Kris, is the point-of-view character for most of the book. He is what is known as an "Edit," someone who has had their genes edited to make them the best human specimens they can be. Kris, for the most part, is just a person. Because of his genetics, he has abilities beyond others. Kris is an admirable person with a good sense of right and wrong. He thinks situations through, and this is what gets him into trouble, because he cannot see what is happening below the surface and it costs him dearly. He is going to have a difficult time keeping ahead of the Corp as he fights a system that has little value for life beyond what it can do for them.

My favorite plot point in Kris PR is the very detailed description of the installation of Kris' cybernetic enhancements and his recovery from the beating he took. That part of the book was some of the best sci-fi writing I have ever read! It made me cringe several times as I read it and was so well written that I could see exactly what was happening in my mind's eye. Amazing stuff!

Another favorite part was the banter between Kris and Aimee, while she was at his apartment. While Kris is smart, Aimee seemed smarter than him in other ways. They were a bit standoffish when they first met, but once Aimee learned she could trust Kris, their interaction was a blast to read.

A theme that stands out to me in this tale is the growing conflict between humanity and technology. Currently, we are at the dawn of integrating technology into our lives in many ways. One of the most recent is the use of artificial intelligence. A friend who teaches writing is constantly finding her students submitting papers that are completely written by AI. My friend is becoming frustrated by this trend and has to submit numerous disciplinary reports to the dean of the college every semester. It is getting worse all the time. What the author of this Kris PR does - for me, at least - is project the use of technology far into the future, and what the implications might be when integrated into humans. The character Kris gets tech installed in a deep way, and doesn't want it, but it is there, nevertheless. What ethical questions arise as a result? Is it good or bad? These are just a couple of questions humans will face as we move into the future.

This is not a new trope in science fiction literature, but I like the way the author handles it because Kris is so determined not to lose his humanity.

My takeaway from Kris PR is to wonder whether post-humanistic ideas are being forced upon us, or is it a continuation of evolution? Now, there's something to think about.

At the bottom line, Kris PR is a great work of modern sci-fi. It is deeply entertaining while still making one think about future implications. It deals with complicated issues, but the writing is so clear, those ideas are easily communicated to the reader. The emotional context is all over the spectrum. The world-building is great, colorful, and oftentimes on the scary side.

Readers who are sensitive to graphic scenes of violence may want to think about whether they want to read this. But if you enjoy lots of action with interesting characters, pick this one up. High recommendations!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

GS Morgan spent nearly two decades in policing before deciding reality wasn't cyberpunk enough - so he wrote his own. A former chief inspector, hostage negotiator, and emergency responder, Mrogan has witnessed how systems of control twist both power and identity. Now an academic and researcher in policing, technology, and security, he dissects those same systems in fiction.

His debut novel, Kris PR: Deus Ex Homine, fuses genetic supremacy, cybernetic warfare, and post-human philosophy into a noir-drenched vision of collapse and transformation. When he’s not writing about illegal augments, rogue cops, and the machinery of faith, Morgan explores cognitive failure in decision-making - and why humanity is so good at choosing the worst possible option.

He lives online at www.gs-morgan.com and can be found lurking in neon-lit dystopias on X @GSMorgan.

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Jeryn's Dagger (Empire and Ashes Book 1) by D.L. Young - Great Character Driven Space Opera

Jeryn's Dagger (Empire and Ashes Book 1) by D.L. Young

An outstanding beginning to a series of a space opera epic. Jeryn's Dagger is fast-paced and loaded with great characters, both good and evil. Set in a future where humanity has moved out among the stars, there is plenty of action and interesting technology to keep a sci-fi reader turning pages from beginning to end. While the overall backdrop are the stars in the galaxy, characters play out this story in several settings created with descriptions of places palpable to readers.

I enjoyed this book immensely, and I think it might also appeal to readers across genres.

Smuggler and rogue, Jeryn Lorsi, finds himself in custody of authorities who want answers about his recent activities. This situation is not new to him, and he takes advantage of an opportunity to free himself.

His escape artistry is not unnoticed, and he is recruited for a new job.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the galaxy, a ruler of an organization designed to unite the worlds of the sector becomes vulnerable as many worlds of the Realm are seeking to become independent. This would present a great deal of economic hardship to the realm, but waiting in the shadows is one person ready to pick up the pieces and restore the realm, by any means necessary.

The principal character of the story, Jeryn, is a skillful rogue who gets into and out of trouble all the time. He seems to enjoy life, but his main skill is knowing how to work with others. He lives in a diverse galaxy, and his only personal problem is when he encounters those who think they are superior to others, especially when dealing with other species. As a result, the crew he becomes a member of have a respect for each other and their skills. He is an eminently likeable character among various others that I enjoyed in this tale.

My favorite plot point in Jeryn's Dagger is how the author focuses more on the characters and their interactions and avoids info-dump to fill in with pages of explanation. The reader gets just enough information to color the action.

The theme that stands out for me in this story is how author Young builds the tale around the Star Trek Vulcan ideal of IDIC (Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations). As I mentioned earlier, I appreciate Jeryn's attitude and how he has respect for life in all its forms. 

My takeaway from Jeryn's Dagger is to remember that It is through respect and cooperation that the good guys will achieve their goals.

Jeryn's Dagger is excellently written and is a great story that will absorb the reader. Personally, I found it mesmerizing and couldn't put it down. If you enjoy sci-fi, you should enjoy this character-driven space opera. I suspect fellow fans of Star Trek and Star Wars will be especially attracted to this because of the adventure and political aspects.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

D.L. Young is a Pushcart Prize nominee and winner of the Independent Press Award.

His novels echo his many influences from science fiction books and movies, including Star Wars, the Mad Max films, Dune, Blade Runner, Star Trek, and the stories of William Gibson, Harlan Ellison, and J.G. Ballard.

Visit dlyoungfiction.com for more about his work.

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My Digital Soul by Michael McGinty - God Will See You Now! Sci-Fi With A Twist!

My Digital Soul by Michael McGinty

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

What would you talk to God about if you could meet Him in person? How would that even be possible?

For the characters in My Digital Soul, a new hard science fiction thriller mixed with mythological horror by Michael McGinty, that will give one pause to think about those questions.

I enjoyed this character-driven tale that moved at breakneck speed. There was never a dull moment, and every page contained twists and turns that enhanced the thrill ride to amazing heights.

I'm including the book's blurb from the author:

What awaits in the afterlife beyond the code is not always God’s divine mercy.

Brilliant software engineer Dr. Susan Parker is about to create God in the Machine. Bankrolled by property mogul Brice Woodlands, she has only two years to devise the ingenious technology to digitize human souls and submit them to her virtual God for assessment inside the cyber-sphere.

Five troubled strangers—a high-class escort and prodigal daughter, a war refugee burdened by terrible guilt, a reckless eco-warrior, a financial guru who believes he might be God, and Brice’s brother, Bryan—all desperate to meet God, volunteer to upload their souls to the prototype. But the expected paradise descends into chaos when a malevolent construct exposes their darkest failings and casts them into twisted versions of binary Hell.

Battling their inner demons and tormented by devils forged from legend, their quest for absolution becomes a fight for survival. Friendships form, sacrifices are made, and unlikely heroes emerge. But can they overcome the malefic force born from source code and haunted by divine ambition?

Blending speculative technology, mythological horror, and spiritual reckoning, My Digital Soul is a harrowing, genre-bending tale of sin, remorse, and the search for forgiveness in a simulated world where the deepest secrets of your soul are laid bare.

While the entire story is great, I found getting to know the characters in the beginning of the book the most enjoyable for me. The five people driving the plot are all interesting, and are all flawed and/or scarred in some way.

Susan is a brilliant software engineer who is given the task of creating God in the machine. She, and her assistant work to make the code behave according to the instructions of the person who hired her and is paying a premium for her services.

An upper-class escort call girl named Roxy pursues a man from her past. The meeting does not end well.

Ahmad is desperate to save his family when the government in his home country falls. What he does to escape will haunt him for the rest of his natural life.

Rebecca cares about the environment and is willing to go to dangerous lengths to force change.

Thomas is an investment banker who makes himself and his friends rich at great expense to others.

And finally, Bryan, an old man with a terminal medical condition, who wants to know what awaits him in the afterlife.

These people have their own reasons for getting involved in the enormous project that takes a heavy toll on Susan.

My favorite plot point in My Digital Soul is character development. The characters mentioned above are all well developed, and the way they were written made me feel bad for them. I didn't see them as evil people, but rather as people who made some reprehensible mistakes in their lives. They will be forced to look at what they did and evaluate themselves.

But then, there are also the characters I did not mention. There is a virus-like being in the machine, as well as mythological characters who look to take advantage of the people entering the machine to meet God. These mythological characters add a spice to the story, taking it over the top, in a good way.

As I read through the story, I couldn't help but think of it as a modern-day, artificial intelligence adult version of The Wizard of Oz. The more I read, the more the theme of being on a quest of self-discovery surfaced. Now, please don't misunderstand; the tale does not parallel the old story by Frank Baum; it is definitely not a rewrite. This is just one aspect that stood out to me. Your mileage, of course, may vary.

My takeaway from My Digital Soul comes from Plato's account of Socrates’ trial for impiety and corruption. The quote is: "An unexamined life is not worth living."

I think what the philosopher was telling us is that each of us should spend time in introspection of our lives. The question to ponder is, am I living the kind of life I want people to remember?

But that's just me.

My Digital Soul is an entertaining, character-driven story I could not stop reading. I loved the character development and how the tapestry of the tale was woven around them. The science is accessible to the average reader, and the mythology has an interesting modern twist. This is one of the best artificial intelligence stories I have read to date, and I look forward to future projects by this author from Down Under. I recommend My Digital Soul to anyone who likes a well-written, fun story full of action and unexpected plot twists.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Born and raised in Kalgoorlie, in the goldfields of Western Australia, I moved to Perth in the late 70s to study for a Bachelor of Engineering Degree (in Electronics) at Curtin University (or WAIT in the olden ☹ days).

With a good science fiction novel in hand and a lifelong passion for technology and innovation, I have always imagined a future for humanity built around technologies that might seem impossible today, yet possible when we imagine tomorrow.

When not writing, I run a software development company (https://www.cyinnovations.com), love 70s heavy rock music, and cheer on my beloved West Coast Eagles AFL team. And I often go fishing in the Australian never-never.

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A Scarred Drifter by Sotto Voce - Great Post-Apocalyptic Story Telling

A Scarred Drifter by Sotto Voce

Some scars are on the surface; some are on the inside. A Scarred Drifter is about a young man who has scars both inside and out trying to make his way in a world where circumstances have gone even beyond a simple subsistence existence to a real fight to stay alive. What makes this story unique is that the author spins the story in a way that reflects his pen name of Sotto Voce. Those of us who are musicians know the Italian term, sotto voce, to mean "in a subtle or quiet voice." While the writing style for this tale’s narrative is in a subtle voice, the events in this tale are anything but understated. This is one of those not to be missed stories written in a deep, sensitive way. The world-building is incredible, the characters feel real, and there are twists and turns galore that explore the human condition under dire circumstances. There isn't anything about this book I didn't like.

This tale follows the life of Cole Patterson from the age of 8 to 27. As a youngster, he spends his days playing around and near the sea where he learns to swim well and learns to navigate a boat. He is a good fisherman and helps to feed his family from the bounty of the sea, and he learns how to build at the elbow of his dad. For the most part, life is pretty good as he plays along the beach with his friends. That is, until one day when the realities of adult life force his family to relocate. Between climate change and artificial intelligence, the economy crashes, and people are thrown out of work. Nearly everyone is trying to carve a living out of nothing.

Then, disaster strikes, and the social structure disintegrates, giving way to chaos, and the only way to survive is at the expense of others.

Cole is forced to strike out on his own to find a new place to make a life. There are overwhelming challenges at every turn, and it's going to take an abundance of fortitude and wit just to live.

As the tale unfolds, we follow Cole during his adventures as a boy and into the difficult teen years, and finally into adulthood. He is a good kid, but he is also a tough kid. Cole has a lot of compassion, but when threatened, he can be a vicious opponent. He is well liked by most people that know him, but some fear him with good reason. Cole doesn't set out to hurt anyone who hasn't hurt him. He is not a coward, but prefers to avoid conflict if he can, but unfortunately, there are those who back him into a corner and that is when his anger issues emerge, and there is no half-way when he retaliates against those that attack him, or those he cares about.

Cole's character is well developed and will draw the reader in from the first page and keep one hanging all the way to the end. There are triumphs to make the reader applaud, defeats to get down about, and sadness to make one shed tears.

My favorite point of plot is how the story unfolds in four parts. It opens with a peek into the recent past, then goes into the more distant past and brings the story up to the present. This arrangement allows the reader to become familiar with the character, then reveals what events and people shape him as he encounters others on his journeys. The way it is presented was the hook that drove me forward for the rest of the book.

The principal theme that stood out for me was the main character searching for a place he could belong. There are a number of different social arrangements shown in the book, so Cole had to find what worked for him. The reader goes on this journey with the character as though we are looking over his shoulder and able to hear what goes on in his mind. His search also led him to make several choices, and like any good solid story, the hero is flawed and doesn't always make good choices. As a result, this story is believable, and maybe even a little prophetic.

My takeaway from A Scarred Drifter is a reminder that life is full of choices, and choices have consequences.

A Scarred Drifter is a post-apocalyptic story set beginning in the very near future. The world-building is amazing, the characters feel like real people, and the story is told so well, anyone who is a fan of this type of storytelling will enjoy it. If you are not careful, and pay attention, you also might learn from this tale. It is full of surprises, not all of which are pleasant. There are some descriptions of violence that may be disconcerting to some, but I think it helps advance the story and is not gratuitous.

Highest Recommendations!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hi, I am Sotto.

It is my shadow in my profile picture, taken fourteen years ago. I was around 3000 meters high (approx. 10000 feet) on a mountain called Rinjani. It was near dawn, and I was about to miss the sunrise on the peak as it was still a distance (vertical!) away. The terrain was difficult; I wasn't in tip-top condition since I hadn't been climbing for a long time. Nearing the peak, I slid down two steps for every three steps I took. It was exhausting; I considered quitting and kept questioning my existence and objective.

I didn't quit and reached there in an embarrassing amount of time. I missed the sunrise but, thankfully, also the sunrise crowd and had the peak all to myself. It was awesome. The mountain has a beautiful turquoise-colored lake in the crater with an active volcano at that time. I've climbed many peaks before, but this one was special, as this was the only peak I had reached alone for the journey and the finale. My climbing buddy had given up. Sitting on the mountain ridge in the darkness, I had my prolonged favorite moment, looking at the stars, embracing the peace and silence.

I love nature; going up the mountains, scaling the cliffs, exploring the deep, and chasing the currents. I haven't had chances for those now for many reasons, but I find an equal, if not more, amount of happiness strolling the beach with my loved ones and my dog, baking, and writing.

Writing is therapeutic, personal, and intimate. Climbing Rinjani is the reflection of my writing journey. It's challenging, and I am not in sync with the current, continuously questioning my existence and objective. I change the 'standard' professional author profile to a ramble. It's not easy for me to be out there, but I aspire to make my writing known and take small baby steps each time to come out of my shell. I can't really change. I don't have a bubbly personality to engage with everyone facetiously and prefer to establish genuine bonds instead. Even though it will take forever and is not ideal, I like to be myself.

English is not my first language, but it's the one that I can comfortably use to express myself the most. Sotto Voce is my pen name, and I love the meaning. It suits me the most.

If you are reading this or reading my works, thank you.

To learn more about Sotto Voce's Work, follow this link: https://www.sottovoceinora.com/

Well, there it is...

Qapla!