The Least Favorite Child

Black Guard #1

by C.R. Daems

NEW BOOK COVER As the least favored child, it was no surprise when Rivka's father selects her, at age six, to comply with the country's conscript law. Sent away to the military to be raised and trained, she struggles to keep from falling into an abyss of despair. Only when she adopts a new friend's dream of becoming a member of the elite Black Guard does she find a new reason to live. Few make it into the Black Guard, but Rivka is determined. Yet when she makes it and is sent on her first mission, to protect a ruling family during a revolution, she discovers to her dismay that the Black Guard may not be as perfect as she had believed. Thus Rivka begins a journey that will change her and the Black Guard forever.

Genres: Science Fiction, Military Fiction, Fiction, Action

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 31, 2014

About the author

I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, and joined the military right out of high school. I served twenty-two years in the United States Air Force as a certified internal auditor. While in the military service, I lived in seven states and two foreign countries, and obtained two degrees: a BS in mathematics and an MS in computer science.

After I retired from the Air Force, I secured a position with Digital Equipment Corporation, located in Bedford, Massachusetts, as a software course developer and instructor. I worked twenty-two years at DEC and held positions as a course developer, course development manager, software engineer, and software engineering manager.

Today, I’m retired and live in Tucson, Arizona, with my wife of fifty-three years. My daughter and two grandchildren live in Maryland. I began writing several years after I retired, when I was seventy. My first two attempts remain in my desk drawer—good ideas, but poorly written. Subsequently, I co-authored, with Jeanne Tomlin, three fantasy novels: Talon of the Raptor Clan, Scales of Justice, and All My Friends Have Wings (young adults). Talon of the Raptor Clan was sold to ePress-online Books and came out in July 2009. Since then I have written two additional novels: The Laughing Hounds (urban fantasy) and The Riss Gamble (science fiction).

My hobbies for the past forty years have been kung fu and tai chi.

Reviews

[Rajalakshmi Prithviraj · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give it more stars because the story deserves much more. It was easy for me to empathize because it is akin to the life of every soldier, every warrior, albeit with subtle differences.

The story line is weaved around the female protagonist and her journey to becoming a part of the elite Black Guard. From being the least favoured child of her biological family to her journey as a sought after Black Guard dragon, the journey has not been easy. I wish I could divulge more. Sadly, I am afraid I will give away more of the story. Hence, if you want to know more then read this amazing book.

Daems is an amazing writer. The fact that I could not help but complete the story in one sitting straight speaks volumes of his mesmerising writing. The language is not complicated. Military terms have been used but they have an accompanying explanation as well. Every paragraph evokes vibrant imageries. Every sound, every scene gets captured like the reader is a part of it all. I so wish that a movie does get made inspired by this story. The book is the beginning volume in a series. Hence, the narration has ensured a cliffhanger in the end. The writing is smooth with no jerks and unwanted breaks. The best part of the author's writing style is that it leaves the reader wanting more.

The story belongs to Rivka, the female protagonist. However, all the other characters have been scripted to make the plot an interesting read. The characters exude varied emotions. Feelings of elation, helplessness, loneliness, bonding, and above all, the allegiance to one's organization like a family member, are things only those in the military services would understand.

To sum up, the story is a brilliant depiction of human grit and the ability to rise above all circumstances. It is a story I will be reading again and again every time I feel I am losing sight of my life goal. A definite must read, this journey of a Black Guard is absolutely inspirational.

P.S - Thank you Kim from SBPRA for an excellent and amazing story. This review is my honest opinion after reading it.

[Stacy B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It is similar in style to the Tazmanian Devil books. I like the strong female lead, and really enjoy how she puts the condescending males in their places. I look forward to the next book.

[Terry Marine · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I felt the author was making that common mistake in sci-fi, in which the only real scientific advancement seems to be space travel; and everything else is from the late 20th century. But then it was clear that on the various planets, available technology is varied. The story is very terse, written almost as a military report. The action is great fun; even if some of the events are implausible. The inclusion of the universal conscription, with the draftees being used as mercenaries, shows the symptoms of a dying system; even if the protagonist is all duty-bound and tradition-soaked. The Vietnam War showed that these kind of draftees would put less and less effort in winning these profit-driven wars; until there was a de facto revolt. Fun to read action, worth three stars.

[Aaron Floyed · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great intro to a new series

This is a lot like the Tasmanians series in many respects. A strong female lead, lots of eastern mysticism and a military setting. That said they are still different enough to be be both enjoyable.

At no point did I feel like I was reading a rehash of the same series in either books. The main character has a much different origin story to Jolie in the Tasmanians. The Jax are the ultimate mercenaries and the great are the best of the best. The world building is detailed and we see the Jax heading to many different planets to protect people from the bad guys.

I look forward to book two and the rest of the series as it progresses.

[Montana · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I am a fan of the author, this coming of age story is not his best. He zips through female MC from 6 year old recruit to young adult elite mercenary warrior / bodyguard rapidly.

What follows are a series of heroine adventures. In each the clients must must be wrangling into letting her and her team do the job they hired her company to do.

Apparently folks, from whole nations to warlords, don't like to be told how they must be protected. Nor by a woman.

I do highly recommend Daems' Riss series.

[Ash`En Shu-Gar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eagerly awaiting the third installment!!

I chose this rating because I was completely taken in by the masterfully written storyline entailed in the book. I have read and reread both books 1 & 2 at least five separate times while waiting for release of the next book. It is my feverent hope that Mr Daems has not decided to end the series at book number two, because it has been a long time coming so far. I recommend this book to all. Kudos for a great piece of work!

[Gordon Clason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Single Mind -- Narrow Focus

Over and over Captain Sapir has to decide what is the limits of her duty, and then ignore distraction. It would get repetitive if not for the delightfully diverse plot structures. This is a classic example of plot-driven novels. The theme is constant and repetitive, but the plot is different in every chapter. This would make it seem episodic if not for the growth and evolution of the protagonist.

[Tracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An action packed romp through the galaxy!

I can never get enough of this authors military sci-fi. I will be diving right into the next book right after I post this review. Thank you Mr. Daems for another great book!

[Volpot · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars. Juvenile writing, plot, and characterization

[Ian Denner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

An excellent story from an author worth following. This is my first book from this author and definitely not my last. Already bought the next one in the series.

[S.J.Hull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Already through book three, see book three for complete review.

[Victor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this story really appealing and inspirational; during the book we follow Rivka Sarin from the awful day that she is informed that she is to be send to the Army School due to a law that forces any family with more than two children to send one to the military to be raised and trained; during all her training and part of her service.

We see Rivka change, from a frightful 6 year old girl that study all day afraid that if she fails she will have nowhere else to go; she gradually befriends Hada that will share her dream of training to become the elite of the Jax army, A Dragon, and give her a purpose that she can work to.

I call this book inspirational because against all odds and with a lot of efort and help from her only friend she goes from having nothing to being on of the elite and from being a complete rook to being one of the most talked about in the Guard and preaching with the example she works to change an organization that has worked one way for lots of years. Adding the endearing part of the book that she is sometimes insecure and second guess herself but still does the best she can; I think we all have a little fear to fail, and that is the part that makes me feel identified with the character.

My Verdict... 4 Stars... The story is built to focus on the important parts of the life of Rivka that make her the person she is and somehow round up the character a little better. The secondary characters are a little too secondary and beside her friend we barely know anything about the other. The story is in a far future and the humans are distributed in a large amount of planets (over 100) but since the focus of the story is Rivka and she has little to do with the spaceships we barely see action on spaceships.

It seems that there will be a second part; I liked the book, I'll follow the author and see when the announce comes for the next part of this story.

[Grazzit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really a 3.5

First, don't let the blurb fool you, She goes from 5 to 18 in 3 chapters.

The story read sorta like she is writing a report, or she is a vulcan. Very cool, very calm, unless its her worry over her team members lives.

The Black Guard are Mercenary Secret Service members bred with Ninjas and given advanced weapons. Their Home world exports three branches of Mercs, Army, Navy+Commandos, the Black Guard.

I'd go to 4 star if the story was written with a little less clinical detachment.

[Bigal-sa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, which is more a collection of short stories strung together to create a whole. It follows the career of a young mercenary officer through her training and several assignments. It is a bit violent in patches.

Not sure if it's quite worth four, bit I will give it the benefit of the doubt.

[Chas. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. I decided to give it 4 because the action/strategy was well thought out. The beginning of the book gets the backstory out of the way rather quickly. The book pretty much goes from one action/strategy scene to another with only short interludes in between. It didn't quite rate 4 stars because it lacks depths.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing felt a bit repetitive and some of the word choices were awkward. An editor would be useful to break up some of the stock feeling narratives.

Its not a bad origin story into what I assume to be a multibook series detailing how an elite company in a mercenary based society evolves to meet new challenges.

[M.L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The setting of this book is interesting and unique, but there is too little meat. The writing is too rushed, making it difficult to immerse yourself in the scenes.

[Steven R. Little · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

I enjoyed this book, the choice of using the Sparta model but having both men and women in the choice, a dash of Eastern honor and a fun read and a good start