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The Dominion #1
Sacred Planet
Humanity teeters on the brink of galactic war.
Only one woman can stop it. Only one man can save her.
After centuries of expansion into the galaxy and no contact with intelligent, extra-terrestrial life, humanity is split into three superpowers, each dominating one of the spiral arms closest to Earth: Orion, Carina, and Sagittarius. Divided along political, cultural, and religious lines, these galactic mega-states have grown alien to each other over time. Inter-arm relations have eroded. Minor differences have become dangerous disparities.
Now a ruthless religious faction threatens to plunge the galaxy into a catastrophic war.
Conflict sparks when Sierra Falco, the Carinian prime minister's daughter, is attacked on her space yacht by a powerful and shadowy enemy. As a popular advocate for peace, Sierra's loss destabilizes the fragile balance of the galaxy. But her attackers' plans are disrupted when a rugged band of scavengers stumble across the yacht and jump at the opportunity to make a profit. Davin, captain of the scavenger ship, is caught between the lure of fabulous wealth and the nag of conscience as he is dragged into a conspiracy bigger than he can imagine.
A race begins between those who seek to prevent war and the secretive forces who want to escalate it-apparently with Earth in their crosshairs.
In this universe, Earth-the Sacred Planet, the epicenter of human civilization-holds the coveted key to victory.
Whoever controls Earth controls the galaxy.
Only one woman can stop it. Only one man can save her.
After centuries of expansion into the galaxy and no contact with intelligent, extra-terrestrial life, humanity is split into three superpowers, each dominating one of the spiral arms closest to Earth: Orion, Carina, and Sagittarius. Divided along political, cultural, and religious lines, these galactic mega-states have grown alien to each other over time. Inter-arm relations have eroded. Minor differences have become dangerous disparities.
Now a ruthless religious faction threatens to plunge the galaxy into a catastrophic war.
Conflict sparks when Sierra Falco, the Carinian prime minister's daughter, is attacked on her space yacht by a powerful and shadowy enemy. As a popular advocate for peace, Sierra's loss destabilizes the fragile balance of the galaxy. But her attackers' plans are disrupted when a rugged band of scavengers stumble across the yacht and jump at the opportunity to make a profit. Davin, captain of the scavenger ship, is caught between the lure of fabulous wealth and the nag of conscience as he is dragged into a conspiracy bigger than he can imagine.
A race begins between those who seek to prevent war and the secretive forces who want to escalate it-apparently with Earth in their crosshairs.
In this universe, Earth-the Sacred Planet, the epicenter of human civilization-holds the coveted key to victory.
Whoever controls Earth controls the galaxy.
- GenresScience Fiction
366 pages, Paperback
Published August 18, 2016
24 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
September 1, 2016
I am just stunned and amazed that this is Austin Rogers first novel. From the opening sentences to the final pages, this is a professional job from start to finish. I was first drawn in by the beautiful artwork on the cover; however, once I started reading, I was immediately caught up in an intriguing scifi world that just swept me away.
As the story unfolded, I found myself at odds with wanting to read as fast as I could, and yet savor each page of this engaging drama. In the best tradition of scifi such as the new Battlestar Galactica or Star Trek, each character and their world was a thrill to discover. The world building was phenomenal, since I think that's one of the hardest things to achieve in scifi. I also thought the interplay between characters and factions was perfect, and the human drama kept me just as riveted to the page as the stellar action scenes. Austin Rogers is most definitely going on my list of authors to read as soon as a new book is released.
**I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review**
As the story unfolded, I found myself at odds with wanting to read as fast as I could, and yet savor each page of this engaging drama. In the best tradition of scifi such as the new Battlestar Galactica or Star Trek, each character and their world was a thrill to discover. The world building was phenomenal, since I think that's one of the hardest things to achieve in scifi. I also thought the interplay between characters and factions was perfect, and the human drama kept me just as riveted to the page as the stellar action scenes. Austin Rogers is most definitely going on my list of authors to read as soon as a new book is released.
**I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review**
September 7, 2016
SACRED PLANET is a quintessential space opera that features a likable cast of characters, conflicts small and large, space battles, drama, intrigue, and political machinations. What makes it unique are the well-drawn philosophical and religious underpinnings that give the story a sophistication that some space operas lack. In his debut novel, Rogers does an exemplary job of creating a unique universe populated with a familiar (but not too familiar) character set that drives the story forward. While the book can get a bit "politicky" at times, the story always gets back to action--and dynamic action at that. What I appreciated most about SACRED PLANET were the more tender moments when crusty / hardened characters reveal their softer sides. Rogers handles these deftly. Emotional nuance isn't easy to carry off, but Rogers does it with deft ease.
If you like smarter SF with heart, SACRED PLANET is going to keep you entertained from the opening chapter to the final sentence, and leave you hungry for more! I'm already looking forward to reading the next installment.
The author offered me a free review copy of SACRED PLANET but I purchased one myself as it looked like a good book. I'm glad I did--this one is a great read.
If you like smarter SF with heart, SACRED PLANET is going to keep you entertained from the opening chapter to the final sentence, and leave you hungry for more! I'm already looking forward to reading the next installment.
The author offered me a free review copy of SACRED PLANET but I purchased one myself as it looked like a good book. I'm glad I did--this one is a great read.
August 27, 2016
Not being a huge sci-fi fan, this book is still very engaging. It's fast paced action scenes will have you flipping pages to find out what happens to your favorite characters. The story revolves around three main people: 1. Davin- swashbuckling space pirate with an appetite for cash, struggling with his own morality. 2. Sierra- the stranded prime minister's daughter who is admirable, caring, and a total hottie. 3. Kastor- the hardened warrior who is torn between orders and his own desires.
My favorite part of the book is how talented the writing is. The author writes with such eloquence; it takes the book to a new level. Here is one of my favorite parts of the book when Kastor is reflecting and grieving about past choices:
"A thick haze slowed his thoughts, numbed his senses. Weakness and exhaustion held him in stasis. In the silence, a diaphanous voice trickled into his mind from impossibly far away. A delicate voice. Skittish. If he concentrated on it, the words went away, so he relaxed his mind and sank into it like listening to a heartbeat against someone’s chest.
'You don’t ever worry, do you? You should. Perhaps the queen will send me to a faraway planet. Perhaps I’ll die in the line of service.' Her words echoed cruel and sweet in his head, teasing more profoundly now than they did then. A forlorn reminiscence of a bygone life....And like that, her voice disappeared into the ether, as if just thinking Pollaena’s name banished her from his presence. A newfound quiet engulfed him, a silence so searching and so complete that it crushed him under its weight."
SPOILER ALERT: Kastor loses someone near and dear to him in the book and is haunted by her memory throughout. It is the necessary humanization of Kastor, which makes him much more interesting and relatable to the reader. Yes, he is a god-like warrior, but a god-like warrior with feelings.
Overall, this book is sure to draw in an audience, especially with those who enjoy space operas revolving around politics, action sequences, and even a little romance. It's a fine piece of work, and I know I won't be the only one eagerly awaiting the next installment of the Dominion Series.
My favorite part of the book is how talented the writing is. The author writes with such eloquence; it takes the book to a new level. Here is one of my favorite parts of the book when Kastor is reflecting and grieving about past choices:
"A thick haze slowed his thoughts, numbed his senses. Weakness and exhaustion held him in stasis. In the silence, a diaphanous voice trickled into his mind from impossibly far away. A delicate voice. Skittish. If he concentrated on it, the words went away, so he relaxed his mind and sank into it like listening to a heartbeat against someone’s chest.
'You don’t ever worry, do you? You should. Perhaps the queen will send me to a faraway planet. Perhaps I’ll die in the line of service.' Her words echoed cruel and sweet in his head, teasing more profoundly now than they did then. A forlorn reminiscence of a bygone life....And like that, her voice disappeared into the ether, as if just thinking Pollaena’s name banished her from his presence. A newfound quiet engulfed him, a silence so searching and so complete that it crushed him under its weight."
SPOILER ALERT: Kastor loses someone near and dear to him in the book and is haunted by her memory throughout. It is the necessary humanization of Kastor, which makes him much more interesting and relatable to the reader. Yes, he is a god-like warrior, but a god-like warrior with feelings.
Overall, this book is sure to draw in an audience, especially with those who enjoy space operas revolving around politics, action sequences, and even a little romance. It's a fine piece of work, and I know I won't be the only one eagerly awaiting the next installment of the Dominion Series.
February 14, 2017
Sacred Planet is lavish with description, personalities and plot. It is an expertly played four-sided game of threat, innuendo, deceit, love, honor, venality and greed. I loved it.
Mankind has outbred into the entire galaxy with startling differences. The Sagittarians have reserved DNA manipulation as a tool for the nobility to subjugate the commoners. The Carinians have a monopoly on this religion thing (and is thus less convincing with its syncretism). The Orionians are just trying to run a business. It was a fun read with an arrogant scavenger/pirate/kidnapper (De la Fossa), a young untried ‘princess,’ enough of a venal crew to make the ship gritty and real.
There is enough swash and buckle to satisfy the most depraved among us. The language is lush and smart, allowing you to taste the air of a volcanic world-arena and the smell of blood in the morning. Characters are explored from inside and out, from a young attaché to the foxlike emperor. It is almost overpowering.
Yet, at the end of it, I wonder if this should not have been set in the Levant during 13th century. There was enough blood, betrayal and romance there to fill a galactic arm. However, as classic space opera, the story works along the lines of Flash Gordon. The problem with space operas is that you need to keep the action moving. For that you need FLT. The one sort of counteracts the other and you have an inkling that the thing could be staged in McArthur Park, as the old movie Mogul said.
This is book one of a fairly large series and thus the story arc is a downer, hopefully to be retrieved by later books.
Final recommendation? Definitely a BUY not just for itself but the promise of more to come.
Mankind has outbred into the entire galaxy with startling differences. The Sagittarians have reserved DNA manipulation as a tool for the nobility to subjugate the commoners. The Carinians have a monopoly on this religion thing (and is thus less convincing with its syncretism). The Orionians are just trying to run a business. It was a fun read with an arrogant scavenger/pirate/kidnapper (De la Fossa), a young untried ‘princess,’ enough of a venal crew to make the ship gritty and real.
There is enough swash and buckle to satisfy the most depraved among us. The language is lush and smart, allowing you to taste the air of a volcanic world-arena and the smell of blood in the morning. Characters are explored from inside and out, from a young attaché to the foxlike emperor. It is almost overpowering.
Yet, at the end of it, I wonder if this should not have been set in the Levant during 13th century. There was enough blood, betrayal and romance there to fill a galactic arm. However, as classic space opera, the story works along the lines of Flash Gordon. The problem with space operas is that you need to keep the action moving. For that you need FLT. The one sort of counteracts the other and you have an inkling that the thing could be staged in McArthur Park, as the old movie Mogul said.
This is book one of a fairly large series and thus the story arc is a downer, hopefully to be retrieved by later books.
Final recommendation? Definitely a BUY not just for itself but the promise of more to come.
November 21, 2016
Although “Sacred Planet” is described as “'Game of Thrones in space’”, I didn’t get that vibe at all, and I mean that in a good way. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is weighed down by the trappings of epic fantasy, which makes it almost completely inaccessible to me. There’s a cast of thousands, there’s entirely too much time spent on minutiae, and there’s a hard push to make things simultaneously parallel Earth while being fantastic.
Fortunately, “Sacred Planet” doesn’t suffer from these qualities.
“Sacred Planet” is a space opera that has more parallels to Star Wars and its antecedents (the Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon serials) and subsequent derivative works (“Firefly” and the like) than to GoT. But I think even that sells the book short on influences. I’ll try to explain.
The novel focuses on several characters, but the core characters are Davin (something of a scruffy nerf herder who captains over a quirky crew of roguish vagabonds), the Carinian “princess” Sierra (daughter of a hereditary prime minister), the egotistical and almost bumbling warrior noble Kastor and to a lesser extent his rival Guarin, and finally Morvan the Minister of Arms. Oh, and the various powers qualify as a character in my eyes. There are three “powers” at play: the anachronistic Sagittarians (dressed in advanced armor, wielding hyper-modernized melee weapons, zipping through space in huge ships, etc.); the religious lunatic Carinians; and the libertarian Orionites.
For me, the main characters boiled down to Davin (the narcissistic Orionite), Kastor (the bull in a china shop, blunt, and bloodthirsty noble Sagittarian), and to a lesser extent Sierra (the authentic, decent, and naïve Carinian). The story largely revolves around their actions and decisions, especially in Davin and Kastor’s cases. But we’re given a look at not just these characters but their families and cultures, and that’s where I think “Sacred Planet” shines. Not every Orionite is a greedy, self-absorbed jerk who thinks it’s every citizen for him or herself. In fact, we follow a specific subplot to show there’s a shred of civic decency and intelligence among the Orionites and that the decisions made by those characters will come at a heavy cost. With Kastor, we see the result of barbaric and brutal cultural rigidity and the price paid for the arrogance behind that structure. And with the Carinians, we see the dark plotting and scheming of the warlike leaders of a religious society. Each character has an arc that mirrors in some way the growth or collapse of their own culture.
This leads me to my earlier point about influences. Rogers pulls off some really clever narrative flourishes to make the setting come alive. When reading Davin’s story, it felt like I was reading a good Star Wars novel. When reading the Carinian pieces, there was a subtle shift between what I’ll call "standard science fiction" and more melodramatic fantasy works. And while reading the Sagittarian story, it felt like I was looking at updated versions of Moorcock’s Dorian Hawkmoon pulp fantasy/science fiction and E. R. Eddison’s “The Worm Ouroboros”, along with the previously mentioned pulp serial elements. It’s not that the writing style changes dramatically but that what’s going on does. This could be jarring for some readers, so it’s a brave approach, and I feel it’s nicely executed.
Holding all of this together are some evocative and energetic battle sequences and some great descriptions of the assorted worlds.
If you’re looking for rip-roaring action, intrigue, and adventure set in an engaging galaxy, give Austin Rogers's “Sacred Planet” a try. You won’t be sorry.
Fortunately, “Sacred Planet” doesn’t suffer from these qualities.
“Sacred Planet” is a space opera that has more parallels to Star Wars and its antecedents (the Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon serials) and subsequent derivative works (“Firefly” and the like) than to GoT. But I think even that sells the book short on influences. I’ll try to explain.
The novel focuses on several characters, but the core characters are Davin (something of a scruffy nerf herder who captains over a quirky crew of roguish vagabonds), the Carinian “princess” Sierra (daughter of a hereditary prime minister), the egotistical and almost bumbling warrior noble Kastor and to a lesser extent his rival Guarin, and finally Morvan the Minister of Arms. Oh, and the various powers qualify as a character in my eyes. There are three “powers” at play: the anachronistic Sagittarians (dressed in advanced armor, wielding hyper-modernized melee weapons, zipping through space in huge ships, etc.); the religious lunatic Carinians; and the libertarian Orionites.
For me, the main characters boiled down to Davin (the narcissistic Orionite), Kastor (the bull in a china shop, blunt, and bloodthirsty noble Sagittarian), and to a lesser extent Sierra (the authentic, decent, and naïve Carinian). The story largely revolves around their actions and decisions, especially in Davin and Kastor’s cases. But we’re given a look at not just these characters but their families and cultures, and that’s where I think “Sacred Planet” shines. Not every Orionite is a greedy, self-absorbed jerk who thinks it’s every citizen for him or herself. In fact, we follow a specific subplot to show there’s a shred of civic decency and intelligence among the Orionites and that the decisions made by those characters will come at a heavy cost. With Kastor, we see the result of barbaric and brutal cultural rigidity and the price paid for the arrogance behind that structure. And with the Carinians, we see the dark plotting and scheming of the warlike leaders of a religious society. Each character has an arc that mirrors in some way the growth or collapse of their own culture.
This leads me to my earlier point about influences. Rogers pulls off some really clever narrative flourishes to make the setting come alive. When reading Davin’s story, it felt like I was reading a good Star Wars novel. When reading the Carinian pieces, there was a subtle shift between what I’ll call "standard science fiction" and more melodramatic fantasy works. And while reading the Sagittarian story, it felt like I was looking at updated versions of Moorcock’s Dorian Hawkmoon pulp fantasy/science fiction and E. R. Eddison’s “The Worm Ouroboros”, along with the previously mentioned pulp serial elements. It’s not that the writing style changes dramatically but that what’s going on does. This could be jarring for some readers, so it’s a brave approach, and I feel it’s nicely executed.
Holding all of this together are some evocative and energetic battle sequences and some great descriptions of the assorted worlds.
If you’re looking for rip-roaring action, intrigue, and adventure set in an engaging galaxy, give Austin Rogers's “Sacred Planet” a try. You won’t be sorry.
August 28, 2016
There is no more fun and relaxing read than a good, old-fashioned space opera. And “Sacred Planet” is space opera on steroids: a huge, sweeping saga, with epic settings and a cast of thousands. Maybe too much so, but we’ll get to that later.
As with all good epics, this tale covers the story from the general to the specific: from the decisions of the mighty in the seats of power all the way down to the struggles of the little people trying to survive. And we see them all, from alliances of hundreds of systems, through single planets and single cities to a rickety spaceship with a crew of four.
Who just happen to be on hand right after a treacherous attack on the luxury space yacht of a Very Important Heroine. They rescue her and are on the run for the rest of the book. In parallel, we have the story of a genetically created warrior who desperately tries to reconcile his sense of what is right with his drive to fulfill his destiny as the leader of an empire.
These two plotlines are set against a backdrop of political intrigue at the highest level, with detailed descriptions of a myriad of settings and planets, spaceships and battles at all levels as well. You can never get too much of too much in a space opera.
Well, not quite. For my liking, in this novel we spend too much time with the faceless bureaucrats and power brokers at the upper levels, and not enough time with the down-to-earth main characters. If you’ve seen Joss Wheedon’s “Serenity/Firefly” series, you’ll know what I mean. Davin the scavenger captain, Sierra the princess, and warrior antagonists Kastor the Eagle and Guarin the Swan are fully rounded characters with great internal and external conflicts, a real bonus in space opera. But there it stops. The upper levels of society get little individualization and less emotional connection. Even the other members of the scavenger crew are only roughly sketched in.
And along similar lines, this story jumps all over the galaxy about every third chapter. In each case, the opening of the chapter treats us to a wonderful description of the new setting. However, it doesn’t clue us in as to what part of the story we are viewing. Often there is only the name of one character, who we haven’t seen for ten chapters. So, instead of enjoying the description, we jump through it, saying, “Who is this person, and where the heck are we?”
Apart from this personal preference, I find Sacred Planet a great read, with incredible scope and detail. And I’m going to have to read the next book in the series, because this one ends on a cliffhanger.
As with all good epics, this tale covers the story from the general to the specific: from the decisions of the mighty in the seats of power all the way down to the struggles of the little people trying to survive. And we see them all, from alliances of hundreds of systems, through single planets and single cities to a rickety spaceship with a crew of four.
Who just happen to be on hand right after a treacherous attack on the luxury space yacht of a Very Important Heroine. They rescue her and are on the run for the rest of the book. In parallel, we have the story of a genetically created warrior who desperately tries to reconcile his sense of what is right with his drive to fulfill his destiny as the leader of an empire.
These two plotlines are set against a backdrop of political intrigue at the highest level, with detailed descriptions of a myriad of settings and planets, spaceships and battles at all levels as well. You can never get too much of too much in a space opera.
Well, not quite. For my liking, in this novel we spend too much time with the faceless bureaucrats and power brokers at the upper levels, and not enough time with the down-to-earth main characters. If you’ve seen Joss Wheedon’s “Serenity/Firefly” series, you’ll know what I mean. Davin the scavenger captain, Sierra the princess, and warrior antagonists Kastor the Eagle and Guarin the Swan are fully rounded characters with great internal and external conflicts, a real bonus in space opera. But there it stops. The upper levels of society get little individualization and less emotional connection. Even the other members of the scavenger crew are only roughly sketched in.
And along similar lines, this story jumps all over the galaxy about every third chapter. In each case, the opening of the chapter treats us to a wonderful description of the new setting. However, it doesn’t clue us in as to what part of the story we are viewing. Often there is only the name of one character, who we haven’t seen for ten chapters. So, instead of enjoying the description, we jump through it, saying, “Who is this person, and where the heck are we?”
Apart from this personal preference, I find Sacred Planet a great read, with incredible scope and detail. And I’m going to have to read the next book in the series, because this one ends on a cliffhanger.
February 6, 2017
This is an interesting SF novel. The writing is fair, but the story is well told and nicely layered. There's lots of action, a detailed universe, and a twisty plot with some depth to it. The characters are varied, and the leading actors are at least rounded, if not complex - although Davin and Sierra are very well developed; also, perhaps, Morvan. The pace is good throughout, and the story moves along nicely.
Against these strengths are a tendency to use some cliches, and action that suffers from an impression of sameness and therefore feels a little 'flat', especially in the longer battle scenes. A few of the characters' choices and motivations seem a little questionable, but the majority are in line with their personalities and situations. I also noticed a few instances where I felt that the author might have made more effort to find alternative phrasing in order to avoid 20th or 21st century colloquialisms.
Once more on the positive side, the author has taken some trouble to insert many minor references to future technology, some of them quite original. The political structures of the various galactic factions are thoughtfully constructed and generally plausible, and the novel as a whole is fairly successful in offering an ambitious new SF creation to discover.
Against these strengths are a tendency to use some cliches, and action that suffers from an impression of sameness and therefore feels a little 'flat', especially in the longer battle scenes. A few of the characters' choices and motivations seem a little questionable, but the majority are in line with their personalities and situations. I also noticed a few instances where I felt that the author might have made more effort to find alternative phrasing in order to avoid 20th or 21st century colloquialisms.
Once more on the positive side, the author has taken some trouble to insert many minor references to future technology, some of them quite original. The political structures of the various galactic factions are thoughtfully constructed and generally plausible, and the novel as a whole is fairly successful in offering an ambitious new SF creation to discover.
September 8, 2016
Not being a "SciFi" fan, I wasn't sure if I would like this book, but learning what a "Space Opera" means, I can highly recommend this book! Beautiful writing, very descriptive, good storytelling. I got wrapped up in the characters and story line, the intrigue builds and the main characters are interesting and believable (as humans we all have good and bad sides). I confess I took notes on the characters since there are quite a few and printed out the space map in color to help me visualize the story line. I am truly looking forward to Book 2 in the Dominion series coming out this spring, 2017!
January 30, 2017
“Sacred Planet” eBook was published in 2016 and was written by Austin Rogers. This is Mr. Rogers first publication. This is the first novel in his “Dominion” series.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence, Mature Language and Mature Situations. The story is set in the far future. Humanity has spread throughout the stars. There are several principal characters in this story, though the young woman Sierra Falco seems to be the most central.
Falco is the daughter of the Carinian Prime Minister. The Republic of Carina is one of the principal forces in the galaxy. The spacecraft Falco is traveling on is attacked and she is the only survivor. She is rescued by Davin the small crew of his salvage vessel. They are chased by those within the Carinian government that want war with the Sagittarians. While she is with them, she and Davin begin to develop feelings for one another.
The story also follows events that are playing out within the Sagittarian Regnum. There are political and military actions taking place within their borders and on worlds within the adjoining Voluntarist Network of planets.
Then there is Earth and the Terran Confederacy. Earth has become the religious pilgrimage point for the galaxy. For some, Earth is considered the key to controlling the universe.
I enjoyed the nearly 11 hours I spent reading this 366 page Science Fiction novel. Because of the scope of characters and the political intrigue involved it reminds me of the “Game of Thrones” and “The Wheel of Time” series. Even with the large scope of the novel, the story was fast paced. I enjoyed the story, though the writing was not quite as good as that produced by more experienced authors. The cover art is very SciFi and I like it, but does not really relate to the majority of the story. I give this novel a 4.4 (rounded down to a 4) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence, Mature Language and Mature Situations. The story is set in the far future. Humanity has spread throughout the stars. There are several principal characters in this story, though the young woman Sierra Falco seems to be the most central.
Falco is the daughter of the Carinian Prime Minister. The Republic of Carina is one of the principal forces in the galaxy. The spacecraft Falco is traveling on is attacked and she is the only survivor. She is rescued by Davin the small crew of his salvage vessel. They are chased by those within the Carinian government that want war with the Sagittarians. While she is with them, she and Davin begin to develop feelings for one another.
The story also follows events that are playing out within the Sagittarian Regnum. There are political and military actions taking place within their borders and on worlds within the adjoining Voluntarist Network of planets.
Then there is Earth and the Terran Confederacy. Earth has become the religious pilgrimage point for the galaxy. For some, Earth is considered the key to controlling the universe.
I enjoyed the nearly 11 hours I spent reading this 366 page Science Fiction novel. Because of the scope of characters and the political intrigue involved it reminds me of the “Game of Thrones” and “The Wheel of Time” series. Even with the large scope of the novel, the story was fast paced. I enjoyed the story, though the writing was not quite as good as that produced by more experienced authors. The cover art is very SciFi and I like it, but does not really relate to the majority of the story. I give this novel a 4.4 (rounded down to a 4) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
September 17, 2016
This is a fantastic First Book for a new young author. I'm a great fan of Steven King and this had the feel of his level of story telling without the paranormal or horror subject matter. No, this is a Sci Fi novel that is very complex and broad in scope. In fact, as I was reading, and knowing that I was going to write a review, I often pondered how I was going to rate this work. The writing and the story clearly deserve five-stars. However, the complexity, scope and significantly different character views & traits made it occasionally difficult to follow along. I've already suggested to the author that I would have benefited from a "Who's Who", what some authors call a "Dramatis Personnae". He has indicated he wishes he had included one here and will in his second book.
I'm also a fan of James Michner and this book reminded me of his story telling style also. With so many characters, locations, cultures and objectives, there are many events occurring simultaneously requiring a lot of changes in settings and events. I had less trouble keeping up with Michner's changes but, that was with a 35 year old versus a 70 year old mind. That "Who's Who" would have helped me with this as well.
I find I'm comparing this new author to two very experienced writers. I'm honestly surprised to find any new author of any age, with the skills of Austin Rogers. He doesn't rely on Evil Aliens as there is ample evil and other character traits in the far flung humans inhabiting many different Solar Systems in our little Galaxy spread across hundreds of Light Years. He does use a combination of FTL speeds and "Space Gates" to jump across vast distances. I especially liked his use of what I think are hi-tech forms of Ceremonial Weapons as well as the more common-place Blasters, Stun-guns, Laser-rifles and cannons, Particle-Beam weapons, etc..
The same Character Traits predominant throughout history are still the driving forces; "Good and Evil", Altruism and Self-Serving, Greed and Compassion, Power, Prestige and Humility. The future cultures are influenced by many of the traditional Religious beliefs, history and values while being tempered by advances in Science, Genetics and Technology. Fortunately human emotions have survived as another driving influence. I don't like to either give things away or attempt to summarize any story with a HS Book Report style review (the authors provide these if you want) but I will say; I was shocked at the loss of some of the characters. It takes guts on the part of an author to do this. As long as Austin keeps writing, I'll keep reading. I believe he'll be a very successful writer and I'm glad to have seen his beginning works.
Review by THE HOLEY ONE
I'm also a fan of James Michner and this book reminded me of his story telling style also. With so many characters, locations, cultures and objectives, there are many events occurring simultaneously requiring a lot of changes in settings and events. I had less trouble keeping up with Michner's changes but, that was with a 35 year old versus a 70 year old mind. That "Who's Who" would have helped me with this as well.
I find I'm comparing this new author to two very experienced writers. I'm honestly surprised to find any new author of any age, with the skills of Austin Rogers. He doesn't rely on Evil Aliens as there is ample evil and other character traits in the far flung humans inhabiting many different Solar Systems in our little Galaxy spread across hundreds of Light Years. He does use a combination of FTL speeds and "Space Gates" to jump across vast distances. I especially liked his use of what I think are hi-tech forms of Ceremonial Weapons as well as the more common-place Blasters, Stun-guns, Laser-rifles and cannons, Particle-Beam weapons, etc..
The same Character Traits predominant throughout history are still the driving forces; "Good and Evil", Altruism and Self-Serving, Greed and Compassion, Power, Prestige and Humility. The future cultures are influenced by many of the traditional Religious beliefs, history and values while being tempered by advances in Science, Genetics and Technology. Fortunately human emotions have survived as another driving influence. I don't like to either give things away or attempt to summarize any story with a HS Book Report style review (the authors provide these if you want) but I will say; I was shocked at the loss of some of the characters. It takes guts on the part of an author to do this. As long as Austin keeps writing, I'll keep reading. I believe he'll be a very successful writer and I'm glad to have seen his beginning works.
Review by THE HOLEY ONE
September 3, 2016
I received a copy of this book directly from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I’m making a strange sort of exception with this book that I wouldn’t normally make. Here’s the thing: I didn’t like it—but I’m going to give it three stars anyway. Don’t worry, I’ll explain.
Technically speaking, this book was exceptionally well written. There were no obvious typos or grammatical errors. The writing was clean and easy to follow. I have zero complaints about the writing itself.
The characters were colorful and interesting—the crew of the Fossa being by far, my favorite characters of the book. They acted and spoke like real people, and as a whole, were very well crafted. I especially liked Sierra and Davin, and found myself gravitating towards their chapters as the story wore on.
The world building was intricate. I honestly can’t remember the last time I read a book with so much thought put into the politics, the religion, the customs and slang and… well, everything.
But… I was bored—and that’s not the author’s fault. The book shifted characters constantly. There were chapters full of religion and political intrigue. There were space battles and distrust.. and a whole bucket-full of amazing scenes filled with grand imagery… and those are all things I just don’t enjoy. I like character driven fiction. I’m bored by war and politics. It’s not anything the author or the book did wrong or offended me with—it’s just that this particularly well crafted book, wasn’t my cup of tea. I honestly wanted to stop reading about the time the third chapter rolled around (but I stuck with it), and it was a slog the entire time.
So even though I really didn’t like the book (and normally would have given it one or two stars), I’m going to give it three, because I do think it was a very well written book, and I’m positive that there are science fiction readers out there that will absolutely love it… but for someone who spends most of their year reading the Romance genre and YA fiction, this just wasn’t a great fit.
If you enjoy science fiction, particularly Sci-Fi with lots of intrigue and political machinations, I encourage you to pick up a copy. It is a very well crafted book.
I’m making a strange sort of exception with this book that I wouldn’t normally make. Here’s the thing: I didn’t like it—but I’m going to give it three stars anyway. Don’t worry, I’ll explain.
Technically speaking, this book was exceptionally well written. There were no obvious typos or grammatical errors. The writing was clean and easy to follow. I have zero complaints about the writing itself.
The characters were colorful and interesting—the crew of the Fossa being by far, my favorite characters of the book. They acted and spoke like real people, and as a whole, were very well crafted. I especially liked Sierra and Davin, and found myself gravitating towards their chapters as the story wore on.
The world building was intricate. I honestly can’t remember the last time I read a book with so much thought put into the politics, the religion, the customs and slang and… well, everything.
But… I was bored—and that’s not the author’s fault. The book shifted characters constantly. There were chapters full of religion and political intrigue. There were space battles and distrust.. and a whole bucket-full of amazing scenes filled with grand imagery… and those are all things I just don’t enjoy. I like character driven fiction. I’m bored by war and politics. It’s not anything the author or the book did wrong or offended me with—it’s just that this particularly well crafted book, wasn’t my cup of tea. I honestly wanted to stop reading about the time the third chapter rolled around (but I stuck with it), and it was a slog the entire time.
So even though I really didn’t like the book (and normally would have given it one or two stars), I’m going to give it three, because I do think it was a very well written book, and I’m positive that there are science fiction readers out there that will absolutely love it… but for someone who spends most of their year reading the Romance genre and YA fiction, this just wasn’t a great fit.
If you enjoy science fiction, particularly Sci-Fi with lots of intrigue and political machinations, I encourage you to pick up a copy. It is a very well crafted book.
November 5, 2016
Watch this new Sci-fi star author
It is incredibly difficult to write comprehensible battle scenes of complicated wars spanning galaxies, to say nothing of setting them in a distant future that readers can't recognize. Many writers fall far short.
Austin Rogers never disappoints. He keeps the names easy to pronounce, the politics discernable, and the characters believable and likable.
Sacred Planet doesn't disappoint for even a paragraph. It's a great read with serious film potential. The most surprising fact is that Rogers is a new author.
I heartily recommend this book to any Sci-fi fan. I am excited to read the next chapter in the saga.
It is incredibly difficult to write comprehensible battle scenes of complicated wars spanning galaxies, to say nothing of setting them in a distant future that readers can't recognize. Many writers fall far short.
Austin Rogers never disappoints. He keeps the names easy to pronounce, the politics discernable, and the characters believable and likable.
Sacred Planet doesn't disappoint for even a paragraph. It's a great read with serious film potential. The most surprising fact is that Rogers is a new author.
I heartily recommend this book to any Sci-fi fan. I am excited to read the next chapter in the saga.
September 17, 2016
Great book! The author is an excellent storyteller, which I want and expect in science fiction or fantasy, but this story also contains strong action, intrigue and strains of romance. I thought it was a superb combination that engaged me on multiple levels. The story is fairly fast-paced throughout that drew me in and kept me interested to know what was next. I am definitely looking forward to book 2 to see where the author takes it.
August 28, 2017
Well written with intricate world building and likable, believable characters. I loved it. Smart SF for the win!
January 3, 2017
This is a must read for any Star Wars fans. It is a well written, creative, cohesive and complex intergalactic tale. In addition to very descriptive and vivid battle scenes, it is filled with political intrigue along with subtle religious overtones (all religions - not preachy).
This is the first book in the series so the reader needs to invest some time in the terminology and characters. The characters are well developed, but you cannot really discern the good guys from the bad guys – sometimes I found myself rooting for a character, only to find he/she has some fatal flaws that might cast them on the side of the villains. There is no clear hero or heroine, but most characters have some redeeming qualities.
This is not my normal genre, but I did enjoy it. It took me a while to read it because of the complexities made it a bit difficult to follow. The short chapters make it easy to keep on hand and read a chapter when you have a few minutes.
Book 2 is supposed to be out in 2017. Look for it.
This is the first book in the series so the reader needs to invest some time in the terminology and characters. The characters are well developed, but you cannot really discern the good guys from the bad guys – sometimes I found myself rooting for a character, only to find he/she has some fatal flaws that might cast them on the side of the villains. There is no clear hero or heroine, but most characters have some redeeming qualities.
This is not my normal genre, but I did enjoy it. It took me a while to read it because of the complexities made it a bit difficult to follow. The short chapters make it easy to keep on hand and read a chapter when you have a few minutes.
Book 2 is supposed to be out in 2017. Look for it.
December 29, 2016
Austin Rogers is a fantastic story teller. This was the first book I have ever read by Rogers and I was not disappointed. I won't spoil the story by giving away all the plot points but I will tell you that if you like writers such as John Ringo and David Weber you will like Austin Rogers. The characters are developed in such a way as to make them relatable and believable. There is enough action to keep the story interesting until the last page. The political drama isn't boring and is the pivot point around which the rest of the story revolves. I like it.
September 6, 2016
There’s a lot going on in this book. You have your normal run-of-the-mill scavenger by the name of Davin de la Fossa, who Captain’s the scavenger ship HCC Fossa. He has a crew of three, Strange, Jabron, and Jai. You’ll eventually get to know each one although the character building is really centered around Davin. Right now he’s focused on making money, keeping alive and staying away from the authorities, more or less in that order.
He, his crew and ship have just came upon a rather large derelict ship. His mind starts to thinking about all that scrap metal he might be able to scavenge on this run. So far, he’s the only scavenger in the area so he has to work quickly to pick through the remains of what appears to have been a very fancy space yacht. He doesn’t see anything living in the junk floating around, at first. It appears that the ship had some kind of horrendous on-board explosion, but on further look, it now appears that some kind of weapon went right through the major part of this ship. Davin’s out looking for junk when one of his crewmen reports having found a preserve bag with a body inside. Now the fun really starts.
Meanwhile, were flung to another far reach of space to Triumph, the capital of the Sagittarian Regnum. Here, Kastor is in combat with Guarin. There combat is really only a contest in front of the Grand Lumis of Sagittarius. Grand Lumis, as you’ll come to understand, means something like Grand King or Great King. He controls the entire Sagittarius arm of the Milky Way Galaxy. Kastor and Guarin are competing to become the Grand Lumis’ Champion. You would suppose that would be something anyone would want to achieve. The Grand Lumis’ Champion will live in splendor with unimaginable wealth while answering only to the Grand Lumis. Well, someone must not have told these two about the last Grand Lumis Champion, because the price they have to pay, aside from winning this massive contest, is much, much to high, as one is about to find out.
And then finally, we’re flung back to another arm of the Milky Way galaxy to the Carina arm and it’s capital, Baha’runia. Here the Prime Minister Elan Falco has something terrible on his mind. Reports have just come in that they yacht his beautiful daughter, Sierra, was a passenger on, has been destroyed with no survivors. Gloom settles over the entire Carina arm. But, others within the close circle of the Prime Minister are vowing that someone must pay for this outrage. And, that someone is the Grand Lumis of Sagittarius. Is war coming?
Oh, yeah, the Sacred Planet. Well, come to find out we’re living on it. Seems like it’s a mecca for all religions in the Milky Way. But, don’t get excited. The Sacred Planet has a very minor part in this book. Strange that the author chose that as the title of this book. Wonder if he has something more in store for the "Sacred Planet"?
So, you got political intrigue, a couple of guys you can kind of relate to in Davin and Kastor, or maybe Guarin, a lot of land and space battles and some pretty gory scenes. Great stuff! Davin and Kastor have good character details in the book so you can really see where they are coming from. The author has also installed a unique mating arrangement for the nobles, cradle mates! Sounds very interesting. Of course, the nobles of the ruling class all have genetic enhancements which makes everyone almost perfect. Still, you get to dislike a few of these perfect people.
I thought the book was well written and edited. I stayed very interested all the way through. Most of the main character names and names for other things were pronounceable. I just hate it when I almost have to learn a new language just to read a book. Finally, this is the start of the Dominion Series and it has to be because the story certainly didn’t finish. Too many loose ends were left hanging and I will be waiting for the next book which according to the author won’t be out until Spring of 2017. Hurry, please!
He, his crew and ship have just came upon a rather large derelict ship. His mind starts to thinking about all that scrap metal he might be able to scavenge on this run. So far, he’s the only scavenger in the area so he has to work quickly to pick through the remains of what appears to have been a very fancy space yacht. He doesn’t see anything living in the junk floating around, at first. It appears that the ship had some kind of horrendous on-board explosion, but on further look, it now appears that some kind of weapon went right through the major part of this ship. Davin’s out looking for junk when one of his crewmen reports having found a preserve bag with a body inside. Now the fun really starts.
Meanwhile, were flung to another far reach of space to Triumph, the capital of the Sagittarian Regnum. Here, Kastor is in combat with Guarin. There combat is really only a contest in front of the Grand Lumis of Sagittarius. Grand Lumis, as you’ll come to understand, means something like Grand King or Great King. He controls the entire Sagittarius arm of the Milky Way Galaxy. Kastor and Guarin are competing to become the Grand Lumis’ Champion. You would suppose that would be something anyone would want to achieve. The Grand Lumis’ Champion will live in splendor with unimaginable wealth while answering only to the Grand Lumis. Well, someone must not have told these two about the last Grand Lumis Champion, because the price they have to pay, aside from winning this massive contest, is much, much to high, as one is about to find out.
And then finally, we’re flung back to another arm of the Milky Way galaxy to the Carina arm and it’s capital, Baha’runia. Here the Prime Minister Elan Falco has something terrible on his mind. Reports have just come in that they yacht his beautiful daughter, Sierra, was a passenger on, has been destroyed with no survivors. Gloom settles over the entire Carina arm. But, others within the close circle of the Prime Minister are vowing that someone must pay for this outrage. And, that someone is the Grand Lumis of Sagittarius. Is war coming?
Oh, yeah, the Sacred Planet. Well, come to find out we’re living on it. Seems like it’s a mecca for all religions in the Milky Way. But, don’t get excited. The Sacred Planet has a very minor part in this book. Strange that the author chose that as the title of this book. Wonder if he has something more in store for the "Sacred Planet"?
So, you got political intrigue, a couple of guys you can kind of relate to in Davin and Kastor, or maybe Guarin, a lot of land and space battles and some pretty gory scenes. Great stuff! Davin and Kastor have good character details in the book so you can really see where they are coming from. The author has also installed a unique mating arrangement for the nobles, cradle mates! Sounds very interesting. Of course, the nobles of the ruling class all have genetic enhancements which makes everyone almost perfect. Still, you get to dislike a few of these perfect people.
I thought the book was well written and edited. I stayed very interested all the way through. Most of the main character names and names for other things were pronounceable. I just hate it when I almost have to learn a new language just to read a book. Finally, this is the start of the Dominion Series and it has to be because the story certainly didn’t finish. Too many loose ends were left hanging and I will be waiting for the next book which according to the author won’t be out until Spring of 2017. Hurry, please!
November 17, 2016
Commendable First Effort, But Fails In Many Ways
"Sacred Planet: Book One of the Dominion Series," is a commendable effort by a new author. Unfortunately, it failed in many ways, that can be easily rectified in future works.
The short storyline has many moving parts: Many centuries in the future, millennia in fact, humanity has spread throughout the nearby arms of the Milky Way Galaxy. One arm is controlled by a somewhat puritanical mishmash of various religious sects in a Cromwellian parliamentary government, another by an ancient style of Persian/Roman ruler (one "Grand Lumis," many lords, lots of vassals, and even more mascara), a Earth-centric confederation based on religious tourism, and finally, the Voluntarist Network, an entrepreneurial based anarchy. Everyone is technologically advanced, peasants, serfs, indentured servitude abound, and everyone is at each other's throat.
A scavenger, maybe more "pirate-lite" crew happens upon a destroyed ship, rescue the one survivor, become involved in interstellar intrigue, and try to figure out how to make a profit from the rescue. The big super powers are moving towards open warfare, and the little powers are frantic to stay out of the way.
The writing is not up to the task of handling the main plot, and the great number of subplots in the narrative. There is so much going on, that it devolves to quantity over quality. Good narratives die of neglect. Characters who are the only ones remotely likable, appear too infrequently. A supporting character, who kills the love of his life, in order to get ahead, becomes a lead character, morose and annoying. The author also uses "...BANG...," "...BOOM...," "...CRACK...," with many other similar comic style utterances, to describe sounds during combat. The use of "...bulbous...," twice or more, indicates there must by some sort of eBook SciFi writers guild thesaurus making the rounds, as that word has appeared more and more, in numerous recent eBooks. Science is farcical, to wit: character has his descent "husk" destroyed prior to planetary entry from orbit. He grabs wreckage of the door, holds onto its plastic [sic] handles, and does a "dead reckoning" orbital insertion, "surfing" through atmosphere, to land close to his original target. Oh, he makes a river landing, no chutes, nor any type of retros, rockets, etc. Spoiler: he survives with just some "charring" of his lower armor. Really?
There is much to like about the attempts made in this eBook, but too much just makes it wholly indigestible. An thorough scrub, by a competent editor, would likely make it palatable .
Some readers may enjoy this eBook, and as such, it is a "neutral" recommendation. It was fully read via Kindle Unlimited.
"Sacred Planet: Book One of the Dominion Series," is a commendable effort by a new author. Unfortunately, it failed in many ways, that can be easily rectified in future works.
The short storyline has many moving parts: Many centuries in the future, millennia in fact, humanity has spread throughout the nearby arms of the Milky Way Galaxy. One arm is controlled by a somewhat puritanical mishmash of various religious sects in a Cromwellian parliamentary government, another by an ancient style of Persian/Roman ruler (one "Grand Lumis," many lords, lots of vassals, and even more mascara), a Earth-centric confederation based on religious tourism, and finally, the Voluntarist Network, an entrepreneurial based anarchy. Everyone is technologically advanced, peasants, serfs, indentured servitude abound, and everyone is at each other's throat.
A scavenger, maybe more "pirate-lite" crew happens upon a destroyed ship, rescue the one survivor, become involved in interstellar intrigue, and try to figure out how to make a profit from the rescue. The big super powers are moving towards open warfare, and the little powers are frantic to stay out of the way.
The writing is not up to the task of handling the main plot, and the great number of subplots in the narrative. There is so much going on, that it devolves to quantity over quality. Good narratives die of neglect. Characters who are the only ones remotely likable, appear too infrequently. A supporting character, who kills the love of his life, in order to get ahead, becomes a lead character, morose and annoying. The author also uses "...BANG...," "...BOOM...," "...CRACK...," with many other similar comic style utterances, to describe sounds during combat. The use of "...bulbous...," twice or more, indicates there must by some sort of eBook SciFi writers guild thesaurus making the rounds, as that word has appeared more and more, in numerous recent eBooks. Science is farcical, to wit: character has his descent "husk" destroyed prior to planetary entry from orbit. He grabs wreckage of the door, holds onto its plastic [sic] handles, and does a "dead reckoning" orbital insertion, "surfing" through atmosphere, to land close to his original target. Oh, he makes a river landing, no chutes, nor any type of retros, rockets, etc. Spoiler: he survives with just some "charring" of his lower armor. Really?
There is much to like about the attempts made in this eBook, but too much just makes it wholly indigestible. An thorough scrub, by a competent editor, would likely make it palatable .
Some readers may enjoy this eBook, and as such, it is a "neutral" recommendation. It was fully read via Kindle Unlimited.
September 10, 2016
I was honestly torn between giving this book three or four stars but the action and adventure won out and it get a well deserved four star rating. Why the debate you (may) ask? One of my biggest, most annoying pet peeves is when an author starts telling you a story until you're deeply and fully engrossed in it and then *bampf!* You're in a whole other part of the story, location, characters, everything. . . and then just as you're given in and are getting really into that part of the story *pow!* the author does it again, either as in this book's case a third part and view of the story then you never know when, well, when the story starts getting really good you can be sure you're about to switch view points.
There's a bit on 'old' Earth religions and how they influence and control the people which I found somewhat annoying having just finished another book with a bit too much religion (not related in any way to this). There's more sections though still fairly few with political maneuvering and discussion and endless yacking and yacking. Luckily they don't last too long and the real star of the novel the action, the fighting, the violence, it's a little reminiscent of Dune wearing armor, fighting with swords (that get really, really hot!) but the battles and fights are so incredibly well written I found myself staying up long past wanting to get to sleep just to find out what happened next.
Still not crazy about the hoping from one viewpoint to the next and the next and never knowing when you're going to get back to when you were really interested. Could also have lived without the religious and political diatribes but the fever pitch to the action makes up for any slow parts of the book. I honestly and looking forward to the next installment and hope it keeps me on the edge of my seat like this novel did. The cast you're supposed to like were likable and fairly developed as were those people who were created for you to dislike. There were very few cardboard cutouts. The cast was well developed and interesting.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my review.
There's a bit on 'old' Earth religions and how they influence and control the people which I found somewhat annoying having just finished another book with a bit too much religion (not related in any way to this). There's more sections though still fairly few with political maneuvering and discussion and endless yacking and yacking. Luckily they don't last too long and the real star of the novel the action, the fighting, the violence, it's a little reminiscent of Dune wearing armor, fighting with swords (that get really, really hot!) but the battles and fights are so incredibly well written I found myself staying up long past wanting to get to sleep just to find out what happened next.
Still not crazy about the hoping from one viewpoint to the next and the next and never knowing when you're going to get back to when you were really interested. Could also have lived without the religious and political diatribes but the fever pitch to the action makes up for any slow parts of the book. I honestly and looking forward to the next installment and hope it keeps me on the edge of my seat like this novel did. The cast you're supposed to like were likable and fairly developed as were those people who were created for you to dislike. There were very few cardboard cutouts. The cast was well developed and interesting.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my review.
December 5, 2016
After centuries of expansion into space, humanity is divided into three groups; Orion, Carina, and Sagittarius; that have grown apart from each other. A radical religious faction on Carina is threatening to plunge the galaxy into war. The only thing standing in their way is Sierra Falco, the Carinian prime minister’s daughter, a staunch advocate for peace. The faction plots to kill her by attacking her space ship, but she’s saved by a rag tag bunch of space scavengers, led by Davin, captain of the scavenger vessel, Fossa. Motivated by profit, Davin finds himself at war with his conscience as he grows close to Sierra. His feelings for her propel him into the midst of a galactic struggle, and only Earth, the sacred planet, holds the key to peace.
Sacred Planet by Austin Rogers is a wide-ranging, epic tale of intergalactic struggle between powerful empires, with only a few valiant individuals who must fight to keep the peace. An interesting story, it is difficult to follow in places as it switches from faction to faction. The cast of characters is to vast to keep track of, and the ending leaves the reader in suspense.
This is the first book in a series, and I hope the author will tie up many of the loose ends in subsequent offerings. Some interesting action and human interest, but it’s just too busy for me. I received a free copy of this book, and was only mildly disappointed in it. I give it three stars.
Sacred Planet by Austin Rogers is a wide-ranging, epic tale of intergalactic struggle between powerful empires, with only a few valiant individuals who must fight to keep the peace. An interesting story, it is difficult to follow in places as it switches from faction to faction. The cast of characters is to vast to keep track of, and the ending leaves the reader in suspense.
This is the first book in a series, and I hope the author will tie up many of the loose ends in subsequent offerings. Some interesting action and human interest, but it’s just too busy for me. I received a free copy of this book, and was only mildly disappointed in it. I give it three stars.
September 12, 2016
Interesting and well-developed characters. Engaging story with multiple plots from the POV of the different characters. Congrats on your debut, Austin!
October 2, 2016
Austin Rogers hasn't been shy in describing this as Game of Thrones in space, and that's an apt description. It switches between different characters who never meet, at least not in this book. There are power struggles, betrayals and, of course, bloodshed. The only thing missing is gratuitous nudity. I will say that what works for Game of Thrones works for Sacred Planet. The story is suitably epic in scope, and if you like GoT you'll like this. It's also pretty darn well-written and Rogers has a way with prose.
However, Sacred Planet also suffers from the same problem as GoT: too many characters. A lot of faces pop up in this book and I had a hard time keeping tabs on who was who, particularly in scenes that focus on ancillary characters.
Still, I consider that a minor quibble. I enjoyed Sacred Planet and have no problem recommending it.
However, Sacred Planet also suffers from the same problem as GoT: too many characters. A lot of faces pop up in this book and I had a hard time keeping tabs on who was who, particularly in scenes that focus on ancillary characters.
Still, I consider that a minor quibble. I enjoyed Sacred Planet and have no problem recommending it.
December 28, 2016
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The book started out a little stiffly.
That's not to say the prose is not good. It is; or that the characters are not well defined. They are.
But it felt somewhat like a writing project in a seminar. Reminiscent of the Expanse series, down to the composition of the crew of the Fossa (=Rocinante). As if Rogers said to himself: "I want to write something like that".
However, the book grew on me and it grew more cohesive as I went along.
I give it 3 stars but the next - which I intend to read - well, I think the next could be a 4 star.
And there are worse things than trying to write another Expanse series. Especially as it is clear that Rogers did a very decent job with his first book.
The book started out a little stiffly.
That's not to say the prose is not good. It is; or that the characters are not well defined. They are.
But it felt somewhat like a writing project in a seminar. Reminiscent of the Expanse series, down to the composition of the crew of the Fossa (=Rocinante). As if Rogers said to himself: "I want to write something like that".
However, the book grew on me and it grew more cohesive as I went along.
I give it 3 stars but the next - which I intend to read - well, I think the next could be a 4 star.
And there are worse things than trying to write another Expanse series. Especially as it is clear that Rogers did a very decent job with his first book.
December 24, 2016
Sacred Planet by Rogers. I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it. I was disappointed with the way the book was arranged as each chapter did not flow to the next one. My grip on the characters almost came to grief as I was reading it on Kindle. Whenever Davin was mentioned then I knew I was with the scavengers. So the other main characters anchored me to the various stories. I liked the character of Strange and found it refreshing that a lesbian was inserted into the story. Kastor was a man of action but not always on top. I don't think I was to like Guerin. Finally, there were shades of Christianity and Muslim or did I miss something?
September 9, 2016
I was asked to read this story for an honest review
Battles, intrigue and action are part of this complex science-fiction novel. It has many layers set within a fantasy world and a cast of realistic characters.
I never give spoilers, so I only give overall impressions in my reviews, but will say that this a well put together and interesting story.
Battles, intrigue and action are part of this complex science-fiction novel. It has many layers set within a fantasy world and a cast of realistic characters.
I never give spoilers, so I only give overall impressions in my reviews, but will say that this a well put together and interesting story.
December 3, 2016
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
I usually like nothing better than a good space opera but unfortunately this was not it!
There were just too many characters for me which lacked depth.
The story also jumped from one place to another with no real explanation.
I usually like nothing better than a good space opera but unfortunately this was not it!
There were just too many characters for me which lacked depth.
The story also jumped from one place to another with no real explanation.
December 18, 2016
Sierra’s a pawn in the middle of a human galaxy war, and Davin’s ship happened to be in the right place at the right time to rescue her. There is a mixture of characters, weapons, ships, and politics. What follows is a shot them up and chase scenes all across the galaxies. This is the first book in the series. There is a messy end with many unknowns.
September 9, 2016
Interesting start
Well this book will keep you reading, the action is none stop going from one planet to another. I am sure that we will see a lot more shocks in the next book. Looking forward to reading.
Well this book will keep you reading, the action is none stop going from one planet to another. I am sure that we will see a lot more shocks in the next book. Looking forward to reading.
February 18, 2025
Good space opera
A good first book, with a lot going on as the different characters and factions are introduced. Well written with good pacing, it's good space opera with a good dose of political intrigue. I'll be following up with the rest of the series.
A good first book, with a lot going on as the different characters and factions are introduced. Well written with good pacing, it's good space opera with a good dose of political intrigue. I'll be following up with the rest of the series.
January 26, 2017
Excellent book
I really enjoyed this book. It has a good plot, good character development and a lack of distracting misspellings. I am eager to read the next book in the series .
I really enjoyed this book. It has a good plot, good character development and a lack of distracting misspellings. I am eager to read the next book in the series .
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