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Hidden Empire #4
Bringer Of Light
Jarek Reen is trying to save a lost world. He discovered the primitive theocracy of Serenein by accident, and now he wants it to take its place in human-space. To do this he needs a shiftspace beacon - without it, there is no way to find the planet again. The beacons were made by the Sidhe, the race that originally gave humanity access to the stars - and dominated human-space for millennia, before a coalition of human rebels and Sidhe males brought the evil Sidhe females down. Most people think the Sidhe are long dead, but Jarek knows better: a renegade female Sidhe is one of his companions, and a male Sidhe gave her and her lover the special powers that made them Angels, very unusual trained assassins. Jarek's only hope is to find Aleph, the hidden system where the last Sidhe males are rumoured to live. But even if he can persuade these eccentric, introspective beings to put aside their interminable internal squabbles, he still has to persuade Serenein that joining the rest of humankind is a good thing . . . for the price of progress is likely to be high. Can he stop it turning into tragedy?
389 pages, ebook
First published August 1, 2011
3 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Jaine Fenn
44 books78 followersTruth may be stranger than fiction, but it's also far harder to track down. Jaine Fenn has had numerous short stories professionally published, some of which appear in the collection 'Downside Girls' and has won the British Science Fiction Association Short Fiction award. Her Hidden Empire space opera sequence, published by Gollancz, starts with the novel 'Principles of Angels'. Her Shadowlands science fantasy duology is published by Angry Robot.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 5, 2015
It is thought that the Sidhe, cruel rulers of humanity, are long gone. Jarek knows that they are still around and he has made it his life’s mission to expose and destroy them. The world of Serenein had been isolated from the rest of humanity by the Sidhe, and Jack feels it is time to bring them back into the arms of humanity. But there are problems there too, as the religious dictatorship that rules that planet does not want to relinquish it’s iron grip.
For them to become part of humanity again they need a beacon. To get one he must travel to a system called Aleph. This system is controlled by the male Sidhe, eternal enemies of the female Sidhe, and who were in the past allies of humanity. But things have changed since then, and assuming that they still want to help is a deadly mistake.
Fenn has managed to carry on the series with Jarek and his two companions, Taro and Nual fairly well. It does feel like it has been a little padded out though, as the book is around 80 pages longer than the previous ones, and the action takes longer to get started. But when it does start is it worth it. The plot twists and turns, there is plenty of plausible tech and it has a reasonable pace. Good stuff, 3.5 stars. Onto the next one soon.
For them to become part of humanity again they need a beacon. To get one he must travel to a system called Aleph. This system is controlled by the male Sidhe, eternal enemies of the female Sidhe, and who were in the past allies of humanity. But things have changed since then, and assuming that they still want to help is a deadly mistake.
Fenn has managed to carry on the series with Jarek and his two companions, Taro and Nual fairly well. It does feel like it has been a little padded out though, as the book is around 80 pages longer than the previous ones, and the action takes longer to get started. But when it does start is it worth it. The plot twists and turns, there is plenty of plausible tech and it has a reasonable pace. Good stuff, 3.5 stars. Onto the next one soon.
September 7, 2022
Mediocre and rather jumbled story. I know this is supposed to be science fiction but it is more fantasy and a bad one at that.
April 16, 2017
Jarek, Taro and Nual's attempts to expose and defeat the machinations of the alien Sidhe continue. In alliance with the Minister of Vellern, their latest mission takes them to Aleph, the refuge of the male Sidhe after the devastating war with the females. However, the trio's assumption that the enemy of their enemy is their friend is soon shown to be hopelessly naive. Meanwhile, on the primitive world of Serenein, other allies against the Sidhe find their attempts to keep their people safe may soon be tested...
Bringer of Light is the fourth novel in Jaine Fenn's Hidden Empire sequence, which currently stands at five books. The series so far as been varied in quality, with great ideas often battling against so-so prose and a mixed bag of characterisation (our protagonists are well-drawn, but everyone else is sketchier). The previous book ended with a left-field revelation about a threat to humanity that dwarfs the Sidhe in magnitude that was fairly horrific and executed with deft skill. Whilst that threat is not much expanded upon in Bringer of Light, the upturn in writing quality that delivered it does at least continue through this volume.
The story is bigger this time, with Fenn juggling multiple storylines featuring established characters (Jarek, Taro and Nual visiting Aleph, Urien and Kerin on Serenein) and some newcomers as well. Ifanna's storyline on Serenein is an interesting addition to the mix, less of an antagonist than a well-meaning person drawn into cross-purposes against Kerin's goals (and from Ifanna's POV, fully understandably). All of this results in a somewhat longer book than the previous ones in the series (though at 400 pages it's hardly Peter F. Hamilton territory) and Fenn does a good job of handling the larger scope.
The previous problems in the series do remain, if less prevalently. There's too much use of modern colloquialism in the language and dialogue, which doesn't really sell the idea of the story being set seven millennia hence. There's a certain casual lightness to the story that makes it feel slight, despite some of the ideas and concepts being presented being fairly dark and disturbing. However, these issues are reduced in stature. In particular, Ifanna's story has some fairly unexpected twists and a disturbing - and somewhat tragic - ending that is a step above what we've seen previously. There's also an excellent twist at the end of the book that leaves things in a very interesting place for the following volumes.
Bringer of Light (***½) is a stronger volume in the series than what has come before, continuing to show the author's talents and confidence growing. That said, the feeling remains that the series has yet to hit its full potential. The novel is available now in the UK and USA.
Bringer of Light is the fourth novel in Jaine Fenn's Hidden Empire sequence, which currently stands at five books. The series so far as been varied in quality, with great ideas often battling against so-so prose and a mixed bag of characterisation (our protagonists are well-drawn, but everyone else is sketchier). The previous book ended with a left-field revelation about a threat to humanity that dwarfs the Sidhe in magnitude that was fairly horrific and executed with deft skill. Whilst that threat is not much expanded upon in Bringer of Light, the upturn in writing quality that delivered it does at least continue through this volume.
The story is bigger this time, with Fenn juggling multiple storylines featuring established characters (Jarek, Taro and Nual visiting Aleph, Urien and Kerin on Serenein) and some newcomers as well. Ifanna's storyline on Serenein is an interesting addition to the mix, less of an antagonist than a well-meaning person drawn into cross-purposes against Kerin's goals (and from Ifanna's POV, fully understandably). All of this results in a somewhat longer book than the previous ones in the series (though at 400 pages it's hardly Peter F. Hamilton territory) and Fenn does a good job of handling the larger scope.
The previous problems in the series do remain, if less prevalently. There's too much use of modern colloquialism in the language and dialogue, which doesn't really sell the idea of the story being set seven millennia hence. There's a certain casual lightness to the story that makes it feel slight, despite some of the ideas and concepts being presented being fairly dark and disturbing. However, these issues are reduced in stature. In particular, Ifanna's story has some fairly unexpected twists and a disturbing - and somewhat tragic - ending that is a step above what we've seen previously. There's also an excellent twist at the end of the book that leaves things in a very interesting place for the following volumes.
Bringer of Light (***½) is a stronger volume in the series than what has come before, continuing to show the author's talents and confidence growing. That said, the feeling remains that the series has yet to hit its full potential. The novel is available now in the UK and USA.
May 25, 2018
Thought I'd reread a favourite Space Opera this year.
Things I'd remembered. That this is where we start getting the revelations about how this universe got the way it was, and why it's still like that. Quite a feat for the fourth book in the series! And some large scale space opera constructions.
Things I'd forgotten. That we get a lot of updates of what's going on back on the recently discovered back-water planet. What do you do after secretly supplanting a secretive ruler? If you change the rules too quickly, you'll be discovered. If you change them too slowly, why bother replacing them? And what will you do if their friends turn up?
Things I'd remembered. That this is where we start getting the revelations about how this universe got the way it was, and why it's still like that. Quite a feat for the fourth book in the series! And some large scale space opera constructions.
Things I'd forgotten. That we get a lot of updates of what's going on back on the recently discovered back-water planet. What do you do after secretly supplanting a secretive ruler? If you change the rules too quickly, you'll be discovered. If you change them too slowly, why bother replacing them? And what will you do if their friends turn up?
August 23, 2011
Star Wars with Space Elves
Hope Jaine forgives me for that headline. I mean that in the best way possible.
Reading an ongoing book series is a change of pace from everyday life. One year between episodes would not go down well on television (my other interest) but it does when reading. You still want it earlier but the gap between books in a series let you re-read the ones you already have and good books are like really good friends, they are always there when you need them so I often do.
The Hidden Empire series by Jaine Fenn is one such. Principles of Angels, Consorts of Heaven and Guardians of Heaven has been good company while waiting on Bringer of Light. The two first are standalone to establish the characters and the third brings them together.
The series is basically about the fight against the Sidhe (the space-elf) females that rule the galaxy from behind the scenes. They once upon a time enslaved humanity but were killed off with the help of the male elves. Or at least that is what the galaxy at large believes.
Now Jarek seeks to bring the hidden world Serenein back into galactic civilization again. But he needs the help of the secretive Sidhe males to make that happen but they have their own agenda as he soon discovers. He is accompanied by the two assassins Taro and Nual, the later a rebel Sidhe female, the ancient enemies of the Sidhe males which complicate things.
But meanwhile things on Serenein heats up, the place is the Sidhes’ source of jump kernels and they won’t give that up without a fight. When not fighting off Sidhe incursions Kerin impersonates the old Sidhe ruler to keep the priesthood from getting suspicious.
It feels good to rekindle my friendship with these great characters. Jaine writes characters that are well-developed and easy to love. Especially Kerin and Taro step forward in this novel. Did I mention that Nual and Taro is in love and Jarek is married to Kerin? Love makes things more interesting.
This is still something of a journey of discovery (a thing I like). We learn more about the Sidhe males. Talk about learning making you want to learn more. Wonder what kind of evolution lead to their behavior, especially their reaction to females of the specie. Such a screwed up situation must have been developed at a RND department. That is my guess – where I work? In RND but we never screw up that much.
Jaine Fenn has done it again. Bringer of Light is an action adventure in the tradition Star Wars where a small group strikes back at the mighty Empire. Who is Leia and who is Luke? That is the question? There are no light-sabers but a lot of mental powers. Jokes aside you should read the other books in the series before this one it is not as standalone as the first two. Another warm recommendation from me. The next book Queen of Nowhere will be out next year.
Hope Jaine forgives me for that headline. I mean that in the best way possible.
Reading an ongoing book series is a change of pace from everyday life. One year between episodes would not go down well on television (my other interest) but it does when reading. You still want it earlier but the gap between books in a series let you re-read the ones you already have and good books are like really good friends, they are always there when you need them so I often do.
The Hidden Empire series by Jaine Fenn is one such. Principles of Angels, Consorts of Heaven and Guardians of Heaven has been good company while waiting on Bringer of Light. The two first are standalone to establish the characters and the third brings them together.
The series is basically about the fight against the Sidhe (the space-elf) females that rule the galaxy from behind the scenes. They once upon a time enslaved humanity but were killed off with the help of the male elves. Or at least that is what the galaxy at large believes.
Now Jarek seeks to bring the hidden world Serenein back into galactic civilization again. But he needs the help of the secretive Sidhe males to make that happen but they have their own agenda as he soon discovers. He is accompanied by the two assassins Taro and Nual, the later a rebel Sidhe female, the ancient enemies of the Sidhe males which complicate things.
But meanwhile things on Serenein heats up, the place is the Sidhes’ source of jump kernels and they won’t give that up without a fight. When not fighting off Sidhe incursions Kerin impersonates the old Sidhe ruler to keep the priesthood from getting suspicious.
It feels good to rekindle my friendship with these great characters. Jaine writes characters that are well-developed and easy to love. Especially Kerin and Taro step forward in this novel. Did I mention that Nual and Taro is in love and Jarek is married to Kerin? Love makes things more interesting.
This is still something of a journey of discovery (a thing I like). We learn more about the Sidhe males. Talk about learning making you want to learn more. Wonder what kind of evolution lead to their behavior, especially their reaction to females of the specie. Such a screwed up situation must have been developed at a RND department. That is my guess – where I work? In RND but we never screw up that much.
Jaine Fenn has done it again. Bringer of Light is an action adventure in the tradition Star Wars where a small group strikes back at the mighty Empire. Who is Leia and who is Luke? That is the question? There are no light-sabers but a lot of mental powers. Jokes aside you should read the other books in the series before this one it is not as standalone as the first two. Another warm recommendation from me. The next book Queen of Nowhere will be out next year.
September 30, 2011
I'm not the fastest of readers and this book I took slowly and have really enjoyed wandering around the world Jaine Fenn has created for her characters. In this book elements encountered earlier in the sequence start to come together in a pleasing way and I really enjoyed meeting some of the people from the other books again. It's hard not to give away the plot when writing a review but I especially enjoyed the interaction between the off worlders and Serenein and it was nice to see the Angels getting to use their powers.
Being an intelligent woman writer Jaine gives the book an enlightened edge that is really nice to encounter in a Science Fiction novel. This is her fourth book and I'm looking forward to reading a lot more by her.
I just hope it doesn't take too long for the next book, Queen of Nowhere, to arrive as I'm going to miss Taro and the gang.
Being an intelligent woman writer Jaine gives the book an enlightened edge that is really nice to encounter in a Science Fiction novel. This is her fourth book and I'm looking forward to reading a lot more by her.
I just hope it doesn't take too long for the next book, Queen of Nowhere, to arrive as I'm going to miss Taro and the gang.
June 10, 2014
I liked this, but I didn't love it. Throughout the majority of this book you are following three separate groups of characters, a chapter in one location, then next chapter in another and so on, as they each go through the story simultaneously. I really liked one group of characters, Taro, Jarek and Nual. I think these are the main characters? (I haven't read the other books in this series, only this one). But I personally would rather stick with these, as I didn't love the others in the story. For me, these characters were the most interesting and had the most excitement in their journey. I warmed up to Ifanna's character in the end, although Kerin (the Cariad) and Damaru I found a little dull at times. Had this novel focused more (or only) on Taro, Jarek and Nual, with their adventures, this would have become a much better novel!
Want to read
January 1, 2013That angry-frustrated-betrayed-by-literature feeling when you pick up a promising book that gives absolutely *no clue* that it is the third in a series on the cover or by the list of other works by the author; read a couple of chapters which feel weird; then read the GR reviews, and then google this not-a-standalone-novel to have your worst fears confirmed...that!
July 18, 2016
This was definitely better than the last two entries in the series. The novel does a very good job of bringing together the various plot threads from the first three books.
On the other hand I wasn't a big fan of the Serenein plot line and Taro remains an extremely annoying and cringeworthy character.
On the other hand I wasn't a big fan of the Serenein plot line and Taro remains an extremely annoying and cringeworthy character.
August 28, 2011
My problem with this book? I have to wait until next year for the sequel, grrr! :)
February 12, 2014
this was a good read what people call a page turner.
January 12, 2014
Another really enjoyable space opera from Jaine Fenn, the characters are as good as ever and the story and universe is advanced further. It is definitely here most confident and ambitious book yet.
October 1, 2013
I love the way Fenn links the first three books together flawlessly to bring every thread together in this, the fourth book. The fifth book is calling to me from the bookshelves…
June 28, 2014
I'm still really enjoying this series. Bloody good science fiction.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews