Review of The Devil and the Dark series by R.M. Olson

This series is also not complete, but I’ve read all seven books that are released so far. Going to hound someone for an ARC of Book 8. In the meantime, I’m reading another series by the author set in an entirely different universe.

Devil to Pay (Book 1) Blurb

“I didn’t know that I wanted to read a science fiction series that feels like age of sail ships duking it out in space until I picked this up. Now I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. … One of the best Science Fiction stories in years.”-M.D. Cooper, author and creator of the Aeon14 universe

In a world of pirates and murderous ghosts, one naval cadet must choose between loyalty and survival.

In the Level’s Naval Academy, officer candidate Silas Hunt stumbles across a secret that could get him hanged for treason. His only hope to save his life and to find justice lies with a ruthless pirate captain, a woman known as Mad Dog. But if Silas wants to talk the pirate into helping, he’ll have to join up with the crew of the Sweet Jenny for a deep-space raid against his own navy that could quickly turn deadly.

The Verity is just a ship of the line, but for Stacks-born Captain Hollis Ives, it’s not just her first command. It’s her one chance to prove that a woman from the slums can handle a high-ranking naval position. But when her mission orders send her out after a ship whose distress signals have been picked up by pirates, she quickly realizes the posting could be a death sentence. And that’s before she recognizes which pirate ship she’s up against–the Sweet Jenny, captained by Mad Dog herself, and legendary for taking naval ships and leaving no survivors.

Treasure Island meets Master and Commander with a science-fiction twist and a diverse cast in R.M. Olson’s thrilling series, The Devil and the Dark.

My Review

I absolutely loved the Dark Between the Stars series and when I found the author had another series set in the same world, I had to read it.

The first book of the series, it introduces the cast while sending them on an adventure of their lifetimes.

Silas, a former naval officer, is on the run, after having stolen classified information. It’s information pertaining to an accident that happened more than a decade ago, an accident where Silas lost his parents. What he discovers is that the accident was due to negligence from the higher ups in the navy who covered it up by blaming it on two officers and their daughter who were all sentenced to death. The daughter escaped and is now the feared pirate captain, Mad Dog.

Silas goes to Blackrock to lay the evidence before Mad Dog, hoping to persuade her to come back and clear her name while bringing down the corrupt officials of the navy. Mad Dog refuses to even look at the evidence and makes him a counter offer. If he sails with her for one mission, she will look at the evidence and listen to what he has to say. Reluctantly, Silas agrees.

Their target is a ship stranded near a black hole, carrying advanced tech and weapons. But the navy has sent Captain Hollis Ives, a newly commissioned captain and the first ever captain from the Stacks to retrieve the ship and its cargo.

Hollis has left her old life behind and needs to prove that a captain from the stacks can do as good as, if not better than, the Level officers with their family names, money, and connections.

What happens when the pirate captain with a bone to pick with the navy and a naval captain who has to prove her right to her position clashes?

Man, I love Silas and Hollis both. I was in that weird situation where I wanted both of them to win. Like before I met Hollis, I was wholeheartedly on Mad Dog’s side because I hated the Level Navy. After meeting Hollis, I still hated the Level Navy, but I wanted Hollis to succeed so she can thumb her nose at the navy that looks down on her.

The perspectives of Gracie, better known as Mad Dog, and Admiral Usher, who is the face of the Level Navy, were both interesting in their own ways. I am completely on Gracie’s side and Admiral Usher can go f**k herself.

The book was so good, I’m off to read the rest of the series.

If you love space opera, underdogs against the system, and complex and real characters you can get behind, you will love this book.

Dead Reckoning (Book 2) Blurb

Treason, loyalty, and revenge in the heart of deep space.

Captain Hollis Ives has gone up against pirates before—specifically, against Captain Mad Dog, the pirates’ de facto leader. So when Naval High Command orders an attack on the pirate stronghold, Hollis knows damn well this mission won’t be as simple as the Commodore expects. And that’s not all—there’s someone from the Level, maybe in the navy itself, who wants her very dead.

Former naval officer Silas Hunt wanted Mad Dog’s help to take out the corruption in the navy. But her plans to strike back go far beyond any revenge he possibly could have dreamed up. Silas has to decide where his loyalties stand, and whatever he chooses, someone he cares for will die for it—either his former friends and crewmates in the navy, or the crew of the Sweet Jenny. And that’s only if he survives the naval attack on Blackrock to begin with.

Treasure Island meets Master and Commander with a science-fiction twist in R.M. Olson’s thrilling new space opera series, The Devil and the Dark.

My Review

Book 2 of the series, this continues the adventures of Silas, Hollis, Gracie and the rest. Overruling Admiral Usher, the navy has sent a fleet against Blackrock, with Hollis part of the fleet. In the meantime, Gracie and Silas are on their way to the Level, planning to steal more classified information from the navy.

The pirates fight back and the naval fleet are struggling but the Commodore doesn’t want to listen to Hollis’ concerns about Mad Dog. When they’re proved true and Sweet Jenny appears to wreak havoc, Hollis offers to follow the pirates to draw them away from the fleet.

But Hollis is walking into a trap, and Mad Dog wants her dead.

This one was just as good as the first and had me on the edge of my seat, gnawing at my fingernails. I loved how Hollis is always out to find a solution, even when she’s barely keeping herself conscious. I was again in the situation where I wanted Hollis to win, but also Mad Dog to not lose, like I wanted the Level Fleet destroyed and Hollis to survive because the f**king navy deserves to burn!

For all Mad Dog’s statements that Hollis chose the navy and hence she deserves to die, I don’t think she realises just how few options someone from the Stacks has. For all that she’s a pirate now, Gracie was born in the Level and had lived a life of privilege till it was taken away, and Silas is the same, so neither of them actually understands what it is like for someone born in the Stacks.

The book ended in a cliffhanger and f**k you all.

Imma go read Book 3 now.

If you love space opera, underdogs against the system, complex and real characters you can get behind, political intrigue, and adventure, you will love this book.

Enemy Colors (Book 3) Blurb

The enemy of my enemy …
Captain Hollis Ives has sworn to take down the infamous pirate captain Mad Dog, or die trying. But when their ships runs across an unexpected enemy in deep space—a war fleet out to destroy the Level itself—she’ll have to either form an alliance with the pirates, or watch her ship, her crew, and possibly the Level itself, burn.
Silas Hunt thought he’d left the navy behind forever when he joined up with Mad Dog. But now, forced to either work with the naval captain he’d been ready to kill, or see his crew members killed and his captain tortured, Silas will have to use every scrap of skill and ingenuity he learned from both the navy and the pirate crew to keep himself and Mad Dog alive long enough to escape.
Treasure Island meets Master and Commander with a science-fiction twist in R.M. Olson’s thrilling new space opera series, The Devil and the Dark.

My Review

When both Sweet Jenny and Verity are surrounded by Rosette ships who are planning to attack the Level, Silas and Hollis have to agree to work together to save their ships and the Level.

Gracie has been tortured by the Rosette officers and Hollis is still recovering from her injuries sustained in Book 1, so it’s upto Foster, Silas, and Ari to save their captains, their ships and come up with a plan to deal with the Rosette fleet and to prevent the impending attack on the Level.

I love Foster. I know I haven’t said it before, but I love them. I love all of Gracie’s crew, but we only get glimpses into Hollis’ crew and Foster is the one we see the most. They are just amazing. Honestly, the Level Navy doesn’t deserve either Hollis or Foster. While I was happy to see Hollis coming to her own, breaking out of the mindset of sacrificing herself and her crew for the navy, she has a long way to go still.

Foster is always the voice of reason but can use a shiv when called for. Every book in the series is getting better and the stakes keep rising!

Can I say I hate Admiral Usher? I hate her. She should die. Painfully.

Imma go read the next books of the series. I hate that there are only 7 out of the planned 18 or so. All the same, I need to read the rest!

If you love space opera, underdogs against the system, complex, flawed, and real characters you can get behind, adventures, political machinations, and space battles, you will love this book.

Articles of War (Book 4) Blurb

As the Level is plunged into a long-awaited war, two captains and two crews struggle to survive the fallout …

Silas Hunt made a promise to pirate captain Mad Dog: he’d keep her crew safe and bring them out of their first naval posting alive, despite far too many naval officers and sailors who’d be happy to take vengeance into their own hands. But when he and the former crew of the Sweet Jenny are assigned to a ship captained by a brutal man who wants nothing more than vengeance himself, Silas realizes that promise might be more difficult to keep than he’d anticipated.

Captain Hollis Ives returned to the Level a decorated war hero, with civilians and naval captains both lauding her name. But her newfound popularity doesn’t extend to the Admiralty. There are those who’d be more than happy to see her sink into obscurity, and they’re willing to sacrifice her ship, her crew, her officers, and everyone who was loyal to her to make sure that happens. Pulled from active duty and surrounded by enemies in the navy, Hollis’s only chance to save her ship and her crew may be an alliance with Mad Dog—and Hollis knows full well how very dangerous that can be.

My Review

Man, what do I say about this one! I nearly had a heart attack MANY times!

Silas and the crew of Sweet Jenny are assigned to the Verity, but it’s not captained by Hollis now. The Captain and the First Officer are both appointed directly by someone in the Admiralty that wants both Hollis’ crew and the crew of the Sweet Jenny dead.

As an ex naval officer, Silas is baited by the officers loyal to the captain, who are determined to see him and his division dead.

Admiral Usher has bowed to pressure to advance her own agendas. Hollis and Foster are both grounded with empty medals and no assignments but when Mad Dog comes to them with a proposition that could get Hollis and Foster back to the Verity, they agree to bait the spy in the ranks of the Admiralty.

But the spy is more canny than they think and they have eyes everywhere.

Gods, I was so so anxious for Silas and the crew, like I was yelling MUTINY! at my kindle as I read, even though I know how dangerous that was. Also, someone should shoot Admiral White in the head.

All the politicking on the Level, while Silas and the crew struggle for survival, were all well done. I loved this book. By the end, I was ready to throw my kindle across the room. Good thing I didn’t have to.

Can’t wait to read the next book!

Ghost Ships (Book 5) Blurb

A deadly mystery in the depths of space…

Level ships of the line have been going missing; destroyed or taken completely by ghosts and no one left alive to tell the tale. When Admiral of the Fleet Judith Usher personally requests Captain Hollis Ives take the Verity and find out why, Hollis knows damn well this won’t be a simple mission. To make matters worse, Mad Dog Gracie Madox will be shipping with the Verity, and Hollis has more than enough experience to know how dangerous the former pirate captain can be. But with the cloud of suspicion currently hanging over herself and her crew, Hollis desperately needs a successful mission.

Former officer-come-pirate Silas Hunt is chafing under Hollis Ives’s command. He was raised to serve in the navy, but after watching far too many friends and crewmates shot down months previous, he’s no longer willing to simply keep quiet and go along with orders—regardless of the consequences of disobedience. But when the Verity arrives at the place where Level ships have been going missing, simply keeping himself and the former crew of the Sweet Jenny alive long enough for him to face those consequences might be more than Silas can manage.

Treasure Island meets Master and Commander with a science-fiction twist in R.M. Olson’s thrilling series, The Devil and the Dark.

My Review

Fuck! If something had happened to my baby Lawrence, I would have burned the world down. Seriously.

That said, if something had happened to anyone I like, I would kill everyone and then myself.

Level ships have been going missing at a certain place and Hollis and the Verity is sent to investigate and gather information.

Silas is still reeling from the incidents of the previous book and is being self-destructive while protecting everyone else.

Gracie has found influence and the deadly game of chess she’s involved with Admiral Usher seems to be at a stalemate.

When the crew of the Verity discover a deadly secret that can change the course of the war, can they survive long enough to take information back?

I haven’t said this before, but I love the concept of ghosts in this world of R.M. Olson’s. They’re completely different from the traditional concept of ghosts, and Olson makes their existence scientific without going into the realms of the metaphysical.

The fear of ghosts that everyone has, and the fact that THREE ghosts are more than enough to kill off a division, that no matter how many sparkers they have, it’s still not enough, are all brought out so well, and we feel the fear on a visceral level.

As with all other books in this series, this book too had me fighting anxiety because I couldn’t see how they were going to get out of this one. I love how the stakes keep getting bigger, the problems more alarming, and while Olson extricates their characters with surprising ingenuity from one problem, there is another, even larger one, looming.

And that’s why I’m off to read the next book.

Dead Calm (Book 6) Blurb

A mission turned deadly, and no hope of rescue.

Captain Hollis Ives and the Verity have been assigned to a blockade on an enemy shipping route on the fringes of Level-controlled space. It’s supposed to be a simple mission, but Hollis has been hearing rumours in the ranks—Rosette ships that have been shot down rather than surrender, whispers of a secret Rosette plan against the Level. When the Verity is attacked on route in a place where no enemy ships should be, Hollis discovers there may be something behind the rumours after all—and whatever it is, she and the Verity are in the centre of it.

Pirate-turned-naval-officer Silas Hunt knows damn well how precarious his position in the navy is. It’s a badly kept secret that he was involved in a mutiny, and rumours about his insubordinate talk are already filtering back to the Admiralty. So when Ives offers him his first naval command—bringing a captured enemy ship back to the Level—he knows it’s his best chance to redeem himself in the eyes of Naval High Command. But the ship is damaged and the ship’s captured crew sullen and defiant, and they outnumber Silas’s crew three to one. And with no working comm system and far from assistance, Silas soon realizes that the important question isn’t whether he can carry out his first command honourably. It’s whether he and his sailors will survive it at all.

Treasure Island meets Master and Commander with a science-fiction twist in R.M. Olson’s thrilling series, The Devil and the Dark.

My Review

Omg! Silas and Ari! What the fuck! If something happens to my babies, Imma kill everyone here and then myself.

News of Rossette ships fighting harder than they should and refusing to surrender has come, but no one knows why. When they come into contact with one such ship, and Silas and his party successfully board and imprison the crew, Hollis commands Silas to take it to the Level.

But as one thing after another goes wrong, and the captain and officers of the ship fight every inch, the ship is dead in space, with all systems failing one by one. When Silas discovers a terrible secret hidden in the ship, he has to choose to stay behind to get word to Verity while helping his crew escape the death trap of a ship.

A critically injured Ari is the only companion he has, and with communication and life support failing, they don’t even know if their sacrifice made any difference.

Hollis and the Verity have their own problems as they chase a Rosette ship into an asteroid field in a deadly game of tag. They can’t allow the ship to escape, but with their own ship’s shields failing, they have to find a way to stop it without dying themselves.

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again. Each book just keeps getting better and the stakes just keep increasing. The characters just can’t catch a break!

Gracie is manoeuvring her own pieces while keeping Admiral Usher in the dark about her intentions. Admiral Usher is torn between keeping an eye on the war front and keeping an eye on Gracie.

Did I say I hate Admiral Usher? I do. She can go die. I don’t care what her reasons are. I want the LEVEL TO BURN.

I know it’s not going to happen in the next book, but I need to read it!

Hostile Territory (Book 7) Blurb

Captured on an enemy planet with a vital secret and thousands of lives in the balance…

Silas Hunt, former pirate and current naval officer, has been taken captive, along with his friend, fellow officer, and sometimes lover, Ari. The Rosette navy clearly think he knows something and is willing to torture him to get him to confess. The problem is, he has no damn idea what he’s supposed to know. But as he begins to put the clues together, he realizes two things: first, the Rosette navy is planning a surprise attack that will cripple the Level. And second, the attack will start at the blockade where the Verity, with all his friends and crewmates onboard, is currently posted. He and Ari are the only ones who could possibly warn them, and locked in a prison on an enemy-held planet light-years away from the Level fleet, injured and with no knowledge of the language, it might be more of a mission than even he and Ari can pull off.

Serving in a blockade fleet on the far reaches of Level space has turned out to be much more eventful than Captain Hollis Ives had hoped. But things only get more hazardous when word comes through that Mad Dog, former pirate captain now serving in the Admiralty, has requested transfer to the fleet—to the Verity, specifically. Both Hollis and her first officers are certain she’s there to enact revenge over what happened to her former crew members Silas and Ari. But when she arrives, Hollis realizes what Mad Dog may be after something much more dangerous.

Treasure Island meets Master and Commander with a science-fiction twist and a diverse cast in R.M. Olson’s thrilling series, The Devil and the Dark.

My Review

Imma kill this author. WHERE IS THE NEXT BOOK?

Silas and Ari are prisoners of war, but Silas is being tortured for information. While the torture is not at the levels Gracie has been subjected to, it’s still serious enough that Ari is worried.

Back on the Verity, Hollis and her crew think Silas and Ari are dead, and when they hear the news that Gracie is coming to their ship, Hollis believes it is to kill her.

On the Level, Admiral Usher allows Gracie to go to the Verity to negotiate the prisoner exchange, but the Rosette are dragging their feet.

When Silas and Ari discover something that could change the course of the war, they have to find a way to break out of the prison and warn Verity.

When the Verity is surrounded by Rosette ships, Hollis and Foster has to leave the ship in Gracie’s hands while they go to the Rosette ship, pretending to be Rosette officers.

Oh man, there are so many threads and sub plots and each are more interesting than the other. I’m awed by Olson’s ability to keep everything straight because I would have been completely LOST. As always Olson lands their characters in one frying pan after another, with a fire to add some spice.

I want this war done. And I want the Level to BURN. I also want the Rosette navy to burn. In fact, I want everything except the common people and the Verity and Sweet Jenny’s crews to burn. And Lawrence. He should live. Everyone else can die.

WHERE IS MY NEXT BOOK?