What do you think?
Rate this book
BattleTech Universe #74
Blood of the Isle
Sky struggles to rise from the ashes of the last Jade Falcon assault. Tara Campbell's Highlanders are limping back from battles fought all across the Prefecture. And Anastasia Kerensky's Steel Wolves have disappeared again. It's a matter of when - not if - the Falcons will renew their brutal assault, and Skye is unprepared...
On the world of Nusakan, Landgrave Jasek Kelswa-Steiner appears to be Skye's only chance for salvation. Gathering his Stormhammers, he prepares to throw his force into the teeth of the Falcon advance. But will the cure be worse than the disease? Jasek passionately advocates a return to House Steiner, a political movement his father just as passionately opposes. Unfortunately for The Republic, desperate times call for desperate alliances - and the Jade Falcon force is still spoiling for battle. Clan Jade Falcon will not rest until Sky is conquered... or reduced to a charred cinder.
On the world of Nusakan, Landgrave Jasek Kelswa-Steiner appears to be Skye's only chance for salvation. Gathering his Stormhammers, he prepares to throw his force into the teeth of the Falcon advance. But will the cure be worse than the disease? Jasek passionately advocates a return to House Steiner, a political movement his father just as passionately opposes. Unfortunately for The Republic, desperate times call for desperate alliances - and the Jade Falcon force is still spoiling for battle. Clan Jade Falcon will not rest until Sky is conquered... or reduced to a charred cinder.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
291 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 3, 2004
5 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Loren L. Coleman
107 books39 followersLoren L. Coleman (born 1968) is a science-fiction writer, born and grew up in Longview, Washington.
He is known for having written many books for series such as Star Trek, Battletech/Mechwarrior, Age of Conan, Crimson Skies, Magic: The Gathering and others. Former member of the United States Navy, he has also written game fiction and source material for such companies as FASA Corporation, TSR, Inc. and Wizards of the Coast.
In early 2010s, he began writing The ICAS Files series, science fiction short-stories. [wikipedia]
He is known for having written many books for series such as Star Trek, Battletech/Mechwarrior, Age of Conan, Crimson Skies, Magic: The Gathering and others. Former member of the United States Navy, he has also written game fiction and source material for such companies as FASA Corporation, TSR, Inc. and Wizards of the Coast.
In early 2010s, he began writing The ICAS Files series, science fiction short-stories. [wikipedia]
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 26, 2015
Another super-quick read from the MW:Dark Age series, I picked this one specifically because I wanted to try Loren Coleman's writing. This is little more than a quick-burning action novel with some Inner sphere politics thrown into the mix for interest. Even though I've been out of the miniatures game for quite some time, I still recognized a number of the names, though I think these books are just as satisfying if you're unfamiliar with the WizKids' tabletop game.
The ending to this didn't really resolve firmly, nor in deliberate fashion. However, I actually found the main ending, as well as the various characters' individual story threads, to be somewhat refreshing. Despite not caring overly much for Coleman's (numerous) action sequences and their overly-dramatized accounts with inexplicably poor decisions by various individuals, I enjoyed that he did not need to deliver a predictable and trite resolution to the story. I was actually a little on the edge of my seat to see how this would finish, and while it's not what I expected, it helped push this book from the "sell" pile to the "worth holding on to" shelf.
Quite decent enough for what it is, and a bit more politically stimulating than some of the other MW:DA novels.
The ending to this didn't really resolve firmly, nor in deliberate fashion. However, I actually found the main ending, as well as the various characters' individual story threads, to be somewhat refreshing. Despite not caring overly much for Coleman's (numerous) action sequences and their overly-dramatized accounts with inexplicably poor decisions by various individuals, I enjoyed that he did not need to deliver a predictable and trite resolution to the story. I was actually a little on the edge of my seat to see how this would finish, and while it's not what I expected, it helped push this book from the "sell" pile to the "worth holding on to" shelf.
Quite decent enough for what it is, and a bit more politically stimulating than some of the other MW:DA novels.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2016
Jasek Kelswa-Steiner. He's so dreamy. Every woman wants him.
Meanwhile, Tara Bishop dies off the page and we return to women pining for Jasek.
Blergh.
Hard to feel sympathetic for the Inner Sphere, unless that was the point?
Meanwhile, Tara Bishop dies off the page and we return to women pining for Jasek.
Blergh.
Hard to feel sympathetic for the Inner Sphere, unless that was the point?
February 17, 2019
This is the eleventh book in the Mech Warrior Dark Age series. This series is a continuation of the Battletech series. The books in this series, like the books in the original Battletech series, are by various authors. This one is by Loren L. Colman. The Republic of the Sphere has known a long period of peace and prosperity. Then the interstellar communications network a.k.a. the HPG net is destroyed by terrorists and many planets in the Republic find themselves cut off from the rest of the galaxy with communications taking weeks or even months. Unrest leads to several factions on several planets trying to overthrow the local governments and seize power for themselves.
In this one the battle for the planet Skye and domination of the IX Prefecture is far from over. The Jade Falcon Clan was defeated in the first battle for Skye by Tara Campbell and her allies, but the Jade Falcons are far from finished. They still control several planets in the IX Prefecture and are preparing for another attack against Skye. Landgrave Jasek Kelswa-Steiner, the estranged son of Skye's governor, Duke Gregory Kelswa-Steiner, is returning with his Stormhammers to help defend Skye. Malvina Hazen, leader of the Jade Falcons, is prepared to do whatever it takes to make her Clan victorious. The makings of a major battle are coming into being with only one victor at the end.
This is another great book in this series and a must-read for fans of Mech Warrior Dark Age.
In this one the battle for the planet Skye and domination of the IX Prefecture is far from over. The Jade Falcon Clan was defeated in the first battle for Skye by Tara Campbell and her allies, but the Jade Falcons are far from finished. They still control several planets in the IX Prefecture and are preparing for another attack against Skye. Landgrave Jasek Kelswa-Steiner, the estranged son of Skye's governor, Duke Gregory Kelswa-Steiner, is returning with his Stormhammers to help defend Skye. Malvina Hazen, leader of the Jade Falcons, is prepared to do whatever it takes to make her Clan victorious. The makings of a major battle are coming into being with only one victor at the end.
This is another great book in this series and a must-read for fans of Mech Warrior Dark Age.
November 28, 2021
A much better read than most of the Dark Age novels so far. Jasek is a very nicely layered character. Not likeable, but I've yet to find one that I've liked in this series. He's an enjoyable character though. Horrible womanizer, scheming double-crosser, but at least he has depth. Someone finally had the guts to kill off one of the people named Tara so we don't continue to have Tara and Tara adventures. Good. The surviving one though continues to be sort of flat. I mean she's still playing to her previous character but, ugh. She's the hero? Not much to rally behind. Same problem with the head of the Jade Falcon. Both the Republic and the JF have chosen horribly inept but lucky commanders that FORTUNATELY have better, smarter, wiser sub-commanders under them that keep saving them. Otherwise they should have died long ago.
Story has good pacing. Tries to lift the train wreck that has been the series so far back onto the rails. Does a decent job staying the course. Probably forced to keep Tara and Malvina around, so they're not his fault but they're done a bit better. Here's hoping they don't revert to mass stupidity till we get this author again.
Story has good pacing. Tries to lift the train wreck that has been the series so far back onto the rails. Does a decent job staying the course. Probably forced to keep Tara and Malvina around, so they're not his fault but they're done a bit better. Here's hoping they don't revert to mass stupidity till we get this author again.
May 3, 2023
"So You've Decided to Read Battletech: Dark Age" - Review 11
The direct sequel to Flight of the Falcon. Introduces a new favorite character!
DA Callbacks
Everyone from Flight of the Falcon returns, more or less.
Review:
Thematically similar to Flight of the Falcon: A Clan traditionalist's values clash with Melvina's "Mongol" doctrine. Being a bit of a romanticist, I readily attach to characters like Noritomo who embody classical views of honor and stand, almost hopelessly, against calloused modernity. I enjoyed following his sub-plot and was often wishing to get back to chapters centered around his perspective.
The chapters following the "good guys" were fine. Tara is the most bland she's been and she inexplicably develops feelings for new character, Jasek. Jasek is the disloyal son of Governor Gregory Kelswa-Steiner who up and ran off with Sky's militia to join up with the Lyrans. We are told many times that Jasek has a magnetic, charming personality, but I never actually felt any magnetism or charm from him. I mostly found him unlikeable. Which is fine when he's conflicting with his father, but it was hard to swallow how everyone else seemed to love him.
I caught myself tuning out as I read the fight scenes. I'd get to the bottom of the page and not recall a single thing that happened. They were described well enough. I think my lack of interest in most of the characters resulted in a lack of investment in their battlefield conflicts. I wound up skimming most of the combat scenes.
Despite all my complaining about the heroes, for whatever reason, I enjoyed this more than a great many other DA books. Though maybe it's just recency bias. I'm having a hard time fully remembering my earlier reads... All well.
Assessment:
Goodish. I though the good guys were a bit dull, but I loved Noritomo so much, he just about made up for all the rest.
Lasting Impressions
In this section, I return long after reading to give my remembered impressions. Did this book stand the test of time?
No. I recall some planet was attacked by Jade Falcon and Tara defended it and lost... that's it. Nothing to see here.
DarkAge Tier List
from favorite to least favorite
Scorpion Jar
Service For the Dead
A Silence in the Heavens
Flight of the Falcon
Target of Opportunity
Blood of the Isle
Fortress of Lies
By Temptations and By War
A Call to Arms
Truth and Shadows
Ghost War
The Ruins of Power
The direct sequel to Flight of the Falcon. Introduces a new favorite character!
DA Callbacks
Everyone from Flight of the Falcon returns, more or less.
Review:
Thematically similar to Flight of the Falcon: A Clan traditionalist's values clash with Melvina's "Mongol" doctrine. Being a bit of a romanticist, I readily attach to characters like Noritomo who embody classical views of honor and stand, almost hopelessly, against calloused modernity. I enjoyed following his sub-plot and was often wishing to get back to chapters centered around his perspective.
The chapters following the "good guys" were fine. Tara is the most bland she's been and she inexplicably develops feelings for new character, Jasek. Jasek is the disloyal son of Governor Gregory Kelswa-Steiner who up and ran off with Sky's militia to join up with the Lyrans. We are told many times that Jasek has a magnetic, charming personality, but I never actually felt any magnetism or charm from him. I mostly found him unlikeable. Which is fine when he's conflicting with his father, but it was hard to swallow how everyone else seemed to love him.
I caught myself tuning out as I read the fight scenes. I'd get to the bottom of the page and not recall a single thing that happened. They were described well enough. I think my lack of interest in most of the characters resulted in a lack of investment in their battlefield conflicts. I wound up skimming most of the combat scenes.
Despite all my complaining about the heroes, for whatever reason, I enjoyed this more than a great many other DA books. Though maybe it's just recency bias. I'm having a hard time fully remembering my earlier reads... All well.
Assessment:
Goodish. I though the good guys were a bit dull, but I loved Noritomo so much, he just about made up for all the rest.
Lasting Impressions
In this section, I return long after reading to give my remembered impressions. Did this book stand the test of time?
No. I recall some planet was attacked by Jade Falcon and Tara defended it and lost... that's it. Nothing to see here.
DarkAge Tier List
from favorite to least favorite
Scorpion Jar
Service For the Dead
A Silence in the Heavens
Flight of the Falcon
Target of Opportunity
Blood of the Isle
Fortress of Lies
By Temptations and By War
A Call to Arms
Truth and Shadows
Ghost War
The Ruins of Power
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews