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Deehabta's Song
Deehabta’s Song is the story of a woman’s struggle to find herself and return home. A captive who does not consciously know she is a captive, she is forced to fight external and internal foes. With the help of others, she is set free and learns to accept the person she always was, a reality that was hidden in the dark world of her own subconscious mind. A warrior from start to finish, she acts without hesitation to fight against any powerful force, be it a tyrant or the empire itself, to protect the people of her world. Awards received by Deehabta’s Outstanding Creator Awards Thriller Reader’s Choice Book Awards Best Book for Adult (Fiction) BookFest Book Award Science Fiction- Military Literary Titan Book Award Military Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards Science Fiction Southern California Book Festival Fiction Royal Dragonfly Book Award Science Fiction & Fantasy & Paranormal
216 pages, Hardcover
Published November 22, 2020
10371 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Alder
1 book110 followersStephen Alder is a writer and author of Deehabta's Song, a science fantasy novel set in the distant future, where the inhabitants of three planets share a long history. They know their planets were settled long ago by space travelers, but they do not know how these travelers arrived or their place of origin. The book focuses on the struggles of one individual, whose own past is entangled in mystery. This is the first book in a series, and Stephen is currently working on the second book.
Born in 1952 into a military family, Stephen lived in the U.S. mainland, Hawaiian islands, and Germany while growing up. Later, he married a woman from Indonesia and made a few trips to the islands of Java and Bali, taking lots of photos. These experiences, along with his interest in ancient history and culture, helped shape the book he would eventually write.
Born in 1952 into a military family, Stephen lived in the U.S. mainland, Hawaiian islands, and Germany while growing up. Later, he married a woman from Indonesia and made a few trips to the islands of Java and Bali, taking lots of photos. These experiences, along with his interest in ancient history and culture, helped shape the book he would eventually write.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 2, 2024
When it comes to "Deehabta's Song" by Stephen Alder, imagine diving into a sci-fi tale that's like a mash-up of a high-stakes space opera and a deeply human drama, served with a side of martial arts flair. This book is like a rich, complex stew – you've got your hearty base of interstellar conflict, chunks of cultural struggle, and a generous sprinkle of personal trauma and healing.
The main character, Krissa, is essentially what you'd get if Mulan and Ip Man had a baby, and then that baby was raised in a universe where the empire is trying to stomp out her culture's very essence. She's tough, skilled, and as layered as a lasagna. She's fighting not just with her fists (and boy, can she fight), but also with her past and her identity. It's like watching someone juggle flaming swords while solving a Rubik's Cube.
The world-building is top-notch. You can almost smell the post-war despair and feel the oppressive weight of cultural assimilation. There's this real sense that the worlds of Roon and Caderyn have been lived in, loved in, and fought over. It's like walking into a house and knowing a family's entire history just from the pictures on the wall.
But let's not forget about the time-hopping. We see Krissa both as a young warrior and an older, wiser(?) version of herself. This isn't just a neat narrative trick; it's a full-on exploration of how our past selves and future selves are in this constant, silent dialogue – like two pen pals who never actually meet.
Now, the book isn't without its flaws. Some parts feel as repetitive as listening to a parrot with a one-word vocabulary. But overall, "Deehabta's Song" delivers a gripping story with enough emotional depth to drown in, in the best way possible. It’s like a roller coaster that's also somehow a deep sea dive.
If you're into stories that pack a punch both literally and figuratively, and don't mind getting a bit introspective about war, culture, and identity, then this book might just be your next weekend fling. Just be prepared – it's the kind of fling that leaves you thinking long after it's over
The main character, Krissa, is essentially what you'd get if Mulan and Ip Man had a baby, and then that baby was raised in a universe where the empire is trying to stomp out her culture's very essence. She's tough, skilled, and as layered as a lasagna. She's fighting not just with her fists (and boy, can she fight), but also with her past and her identity. It's like watching someone juggle flaming swords while solving a Rubik's Cube.
The world-building is top-notch. You can almost smell the post-war despair and feel the oppressive weight of cultural assimilation. There's this real sense that the worlds of Roon and Caderyn have been lived in, loved in, and fought over. It's like walking into a house and knowing a family's entire history just from the pictures on the wall.
But let's not forget about the time-hopping. We see Krissa both as a young warrior and an older, wiser(?) version of herself. This isn't just a neat narrative trick; it's a full-on exploration of how our past selves and future selves are in this constant, silent dialogue – like two pen pals who never actually meet.
Now, the book isn't without its flaws. Some parts feel as repetitive as listening to a parrot with a one-word vocabulary. But overall, "Deehabta's Song" delivers a gripping story with enough emotional depth to drown in, in the best way possible. It’s like a roller coaster that's also somehow a deep sea dive.
If you're into stories that pack a punch both literally and figuratively, and don't mind getting a bit introspective about war, culture, and identity, then this book might just be your next weekend fling. Just be prepared – it's the kind of fling that leaves you thinking long after it's over
April 20, 2021
This is a great book! If you like science fiction, you will enjoy the book. If you like fantasy, you will enjoy this book. If you like to read about wrongs being righted, you will enjoy the book. If you like reunions, you will enjoy the book.
January 11, 2022
A free book from Voracious Readers thank you
What a great read!
The loss of identity, interplanetary machinations, 'scientific' experiments, war, greed and a soul shaking revelation brings the characters of this story together.
A great story leaving you wanting more.
What a great read!
The loss of identity, interplanetary machinations, 'scientific' experiments, war, greed and a soul shaking revelation brings the characters of this story together.
A great story leaving you wanting more.
January 15, 2022
I Enjoyed this story!!
I Enjoyed every page!!
I Enjoyed every page!!
February 2, 2024
Chrisa is newly retired from the library in with her days off she thinks back on her life in Rome she is a trained warrior as she rethinks her life strange things keeps coming to Chrissa that she initially blows off but what it turns out to be is a fabulous read and reminded me of the frog in the boiling pot of water. I know that almost seems ridiculous to say that but if you read the book you’ll understand it is amazing how one could be so complacent in a life they didn’t even choose I found this book to be so good and so interesting I’d love to Chrissa and her friends and like always there is so much I want to say but cannot because I don’t want to give anything away if you love a great book in an alternate world Syfy and the paranormal then you’ll definitely love Deehabta’s Song by Stephen Alder I certainly did this was a fabulous fascinating book that I stayed up late into the night to finish. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
December 15, 2022
I received this book through Voracious Readers Only.
On the planet Erunanta (or "Roon," as it's more commonly known), 4 millennia after the first settlement, librarian Krissa is looking forward to retirement, and the down time to pursue her interests: martial arts, reading, and exploring more of the city where she lives. But with retirement comes a relapse in her Caderyn War Syndrome trauma disorder symptoms, threatening to tear her life apart and raising more questions than answers. Why do her memories feel more and more fake, while her delusions seem more and more like memories? Has she truly been the target of assassination attempts, or is it all just paranoia? Why is she suffering from a disorder caused by a war in which she was never involved?
I really wanted to like this book. And really, there are plenty of reasons to like it. Author Stephen Alder seems to have a knack for world building, with the universe of Deehabta's Song feeling rich and grounded and plausible, with plenty of room for growth and future storytelling. The story itself is compelling, interesting enough to keep me reading to the end.
But I just can't get past the writing. This book is comprised of bloated descriptions and passive voice, occasionally interrupted by stilted, exposition-heavy dialogue. The whole thing is written in present tense, making the frequent flashbacks disorienting. There's very little variation in sentence length or pacing, giving the battle sequences the exact same energy as the public transportation scenes. It feels like a first draft. It exists. It tells a story. It stumbles around a bit. Sometimes it gives glimpses into the rich world living in the author's mind. And then it ends. Abruptly.
There's such a full world here, but the writing kept me from getting lost in it. It's a shame, because this seems like a world worth getting lost in.
On the planet Erunanta (or "Roon," as it's more commonly known), 4 millennia after the first settlement, librarian Krissa is looking forward to retirement, and the down time to pursue her interests: martial arts, reading, and exploring more of the city where she lives. But with retirement comes a relapse in her Caderyn War Syndrome trauma disorder symptoms, threatening to tear her life apart and raising more questions than answers. Why do her memories feel more and more fake, while her delusions seem more and more like memories? Has she truly been the target of assassination attempts, or is it all just paranoia? Why is she suffering from a disorder caused by a war in which she was never involved?
I really wanted to like this book. And really, there are plenty of reasons to like it. Author Stephen Alder seems to have a knack for world building, with the universe of Deehabta's Song feeling rich and grounded and plausible, with plenty of room for growth and future storytelling. The story itself is compelling, interesting enough to keep me reading to the end.
But I just can't get past the writing. This book is comprised of bloated descriptions and passive voice, occasionally interrupted by stilted, exposition-heavy dialogue. The whole thing is written in present tense, making the frequent flashbacks disorienting. There's very little variation in sentence length or pacing, giving the battle sequences the exact same energy as the public transportation scenes. It feels like a first draft. It exists. It tells a story. It stumbles around a bit. Sometimes it gives glimpses into the rich world living in the author's mind. And then it ends. Abruptly.
There's such a full world here, but the writing kept me from getting lost in it. It's a shame, because this seems like a world worth getting lost in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2024
Deehabta's Song is the story of Krissa, newly retired librarian and martial arts enthusiast, which blends limited scifi with limited fantasy across two minimally explored worlds. This book is written entirely in present tense and with a very passive tone that undermines any sense of drama or excitement that the story tries to give us. The dialogue is incredibly stilted, the action is dull, the setting is promising but disappointing. The story itself is fine, as we follow Krissa's journey to uncover her hidden past as a soldier and leader from a war long ended. But overall I never felt engaged with any part of this book. None of the characters grabbed me, and none of the mysteries left me desperate for answers. The saccharine-sweet reunion lacked any real emotional impact- these people haven't seen or heard from Krissa in decades, and yet there's no feeling of finding the connection that was lost, no struggle to reintegrate into the world, no payoff. Overall I found this to be a rather lacklustre experience.
I received a free review copy of this book
I received a free review copy of this book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews