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Inheritance Trilogy #1
Abendau's Heir
First book in the trilogy. Author, Francis Knight said. "A bright and fresh new voice in the genre, brimming with imagination, subtle worldbuilding and engaging characters"
"Everyone has a plan to use Kare. His cruel mother, the Empress, demands he accepts his position as her only heir. His father's rebellion want a figurehead to stand against her. Kare just wants to avoid the horrific future foretold for him."
"Everyone has a plan to use Kare. His cruel mother, the Empress, demands he accepts his position as her only heir. His father's rebellion want a figurehead to stand against her. Kare just wants to avoid the horrific future foretold for him."
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2015
16 people are currently reading
483 people want to read
About the author
Jo Zebedee
25 books108 followersI write dark sci fi and fantasy with kick-ass pace. Edgy voices and sexy space pilots. And people, conflicted and sometimes half-mad, but always written so closely you could be them.
If you want to keep up to date with what I'm up to, get exclusive short stories and information about launches, sign up at: http://jozebedee.com/newsletter/ (I promise not to spam anyone!)
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If you want to keep up to date with what I'm up to, get exclusive short stories and information about launches, sign up at: http://jozebedee.com/newsletter/ (I promise not to spam anyone!)
‘
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 15, 2016
This audiobook was provided by the author at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Boom.
DNF at 27%. The story was okay, if a little elementary, but the narration was the worst I've ever heard in an audiobook. It's so bad that this book is going into the abandoned book pile.
DNF at 27%. The story was okay, if a little elementary, but the narration was the worst I've ever heard in an audiobook. It's so bad that this book is going into the abandoned book pile.
April 14, 2015
This is the first novel by writer Jo Zebedee and published by the small independent publisher with big aspirations, Tickety Boo Press. As with previous publications there is nothing wrong with the presentation of the book and it would happily fit on the shelves of any reader, or indeed bookshop where it is already finding a home.
Abendau’s Heir is the first part of an epic space opera, the Inheritance trilogy and to say that she has done herself proud is an understatement. For a first novel this is something that should be celebrated.
As far as space opera’s go this is very much a face paced tale, but that just makes it an enticing and entertaining read, the shorter chapters allowing the reader to zip through the pages at quite a rate. It has an engaging style that keeps you wanting to read more, which, of course, means that the story is a good one too.
In many ways, like so many science fiction novels these days, there are many familiar tropes in play, and as always it is the way in which they are executed, the story is told and the way those tropes are used that can make or break the novel.
Here we are introduced to an Empire, one ruled with a cruel iron fist of its Empress. There re of course a desperate band (or Banned) or rebels fighting to bring the empire down. This could easily be the blueprint of many space opera, but as with any good work there are extra elements added, those that give the story its unique flavour, those that can make it sink or swim. Here it is the introduction of certain powers, basically psychic in nature but executed with a style and flair that really make the story sing.
The Empress uses them to control her empire in a way that is, to say the least, disturbing. Various other characters have them to different degrees, and it is the way they are used throughout that give a lot more to the book. In places the powers themselves make the reading frustrating – but it is the very nature of the writing that makes it work. You get frustrated for all the right reasons.
It is also not afraid to make hard choices. Characters are not as safe as you would like them to be, which gives you, the reader that sense of unease that the hero, or one of the characters might not be as invulnerable as you would like them to be. Indeed on at least two occasions Zebedee manages to spring an unwanted surprise. Just when you think you have worked out how the book is going to go, the rug is whipped out from under your feet and you have to start your conceptions all over again.
That too speaks volumes. If you start to care for the characters and liking or disliking them, then something else is being done right. If you find yourself trying to squeeze more reading time into the day then you can virtually accept that the book you are reading is an excellent one, and in every criteria I can think of Abendau’s Heir ticks the boxes.
That being said I do not want to give the impression that this is a perfect novel. It isn’t, but for a first novel it is exceptional, showing the amount of time, effort, blood, sweat and telepathic powers that have been squeezed into it. In places disturbing, exciting and fast paced and always a good read this is well worth a look.
In order to be completely honest I have to admit that I do know the author as an online presence, but my review is not biased by this. In fact I did not think I was going to like the book as much as I did.
If it was possible, where ratings are given, I’d have given the book 4 ½ stars, but with rigid figures I rounded up.
Give it a go. If you like your space opera fast and furious, where the only torture is that written on the page, where you can cheer for the heroes and fear that the outcome is not certain then pick it up[. You won’t be disappointed.
Abendau’s Heir is the first part of an epic space opera, the Inheritance trilogy and to say that she has done herself proud is an understatement. For a first novel this is something that should be celebrated.
As far as space opera’s go this is very much a face paced tale, but that just makes it an enticing and entertaining read, the shorter chapters allowing the reader to zip through the pages at quite a rate. It has an engaging style that keeps you wanting to read more, which, of course, means that the story is a good one too.
In many ways, like so many science fiction novels these days, there are many familiar tropes in play, and as always it is the way in which they are executed, the story is told and the way those tropes are used that can make or break the novel.
Here we are introduced to an Empire, one ruled with a cruel iron fist of its Empress. There re of course a desperate band (or Banned) or rebels fighting to bring the empire down. This could easily be the blueprint of many space opera, but as with any good work there are extra elements added, those that give the story its unique flavour, those that can make it sink or swim. Here it is the introduction of certain powers, basically psychic in nature but executed with a style and flair that really make the story sing.
The Empress uses them to control her empire in a way that is, to say the least, disturbing. Various other characters have them to different degrees, and it is the way they are used throughout that give a lot more to the book. In places the powers themselves make the reading frustrating – but it is the very nature of the writing that makes it work. You get frustrated for all the right reasons.
It is also not afraid to make hard choices. Characters are not as safe as you would like them to be, which gives you, the reader that sense of unease that the hero, or one of the characters might not be as invulnerable as you would like them to be. Indeed on at least two occasions Zebedee manages to spring an unwanted surprise. Just when you think you have worked out how the book is going to go, the rug is whipped out from under your feet and you have to start your conceptions all over again.
That too speaks volumes. If you start to care for the characters and liking or disliking them, then something else is being done right. If you find yourself trying to squeeze more reading time into the day then you can virtually accept that the book you are reading is an excellent one, and in every criteria I can think of Abendau’s Heir ticks the boxes.
That being said I do not want to give the impression that this is a perfect novel. It isn’t, but for a first novel it is exceptional, showing the amount of time, effort, blood, sweat and telepathic powers that have been squeezed into it. In places disturbing, exciting and fast paced and always a good read this is well worth a look.
In order to be completely honest I have to admit that I do know the author as an online presence, but my review is not biased by this. In fact I did not think I was going to like the book as much as I did.
If it was possible, where ratings are given, I’d have given the book 4 ½ stars, but with rigid figures I rounded up.
Give it a go. If you like your space opera fast and furious, where the only torture is that written on the page, where you can cheer for the heroes and fear that the outcome is not certain then pick it up[. You won’t be disappointed.
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May 12, 2015
Abendau’s Heir is author Jo Zebedee’s debut novel. And I’d like to put it out there before you get any further in this review: this was an excellent book. It may be her first release, but Zebedee proves that she can easily go toe-to-toe with many of the pros out there today.
A powerful empress who controls multiple planets, and holds sway over most of the major families is seeking an heir to take her place. She finds a mate who has powers like her own in order to assure that the offspring are granted the same abilities as the parents. But she has love for neither the father or the children. In her eyes both are just a means to an end. Their father is the opposite. Unlike the empress, he loves his children dearly and escapes with them to return to the major resistance to the Empire, a group called the Banned. When he does return, he and the twins are turned away since the Banned, at the time, would be no match for the empresses’ forces.
Abendau’s Heir spans over the course of a few decades, and there is a point where the male twin, Kare, has nowhere else to go and returns to the Banned. As the years have passed, the group has become stronger, and their main base is more than sufficient to withstand attacks from the Empire. But what they see in Kare is also a tool and an opportunity. They plan to use him, and groom him into the next emperor, but an emperor under their control. Kare is hard not to love, and soon the military and the politicians who intended to take advantage of him learn this has well. Over the years he wins the hearts, trust, and loyalty of the Banned. Oh, and his psyche abilities are strong as hell, too.
The story is very character driven, and I found myself drawn to all of them. Lichio, the youngest of siblings who excel in the military and politics, and is forced into the former. Silom, the loyal cousin who is more like a brother. And Sonly, who at first intends to use Kare to further strengthen the Banned but falls in love with him.
Abendau’s Heir has exactly what I was looking for: well developed characters, shocking plot twists, and some great action. Last but not least, there were some heartbreaking moments. Literally, at one point, I messaged the author and said: You broke my heart. I can’t imagine that this is the last of the story. Mostly because it’s called the Inheritance Trilogy. I look forward to Zebedee’s next release. Do yourself a favor, pick up this book and give it a read.
A powerful empress who controls multiple planets, and holds sway over most of the major families is seeking an heir to take her place. She finds a mate who has powers like her own in order to assure that the offspring are granted the same abilities as the parents. But she has love for neither the father or the children. In her eyes both are just a means to an end. Their father is the opposite. Unlike the empress, he loves his children dearly and escapes with them to return to the major resistance to the Empire, a group called the Banned. When he does return, he and the twins are turned away since the Banned, at the time, would be no match for the empresses’ forces.
Abendau’s Heir spans over the course of a few decades, and there is a point where the male twin, Kare, has nowhere else to go and returns to the Banned. As the years have passed, the group has become stronger, and their main base is more than sufficient to withstand attacks from the Empire. But what they see in Kare is also a tool and an opportunity. They plan to use him, and groom him into the next emperor, but an emperor under their control. Kare is hard not to love, and soon the military and the politicians who intended to take advantage of him learn this has well. Over the years he wins the hearts, trust, and loyalty of the Banned. Oh, and his psyche abilities are strong as hell, too.
The story is very character driven, and I found myself drawn to all of them. Lichio, the youngest of siblings who excel in the military and politics, and is forced into the former. Silom, the loyal cousin who is more like a brother. And Sonly, who at first intends to use Kare to further strengthen the Banned but falls in love with him.
Abendau’s Heir has exactly what I was looking for: well developed characters, shocking plot twists, and some great action. Last but not least, there were some heartbreaking moments. Literally, at one point, I messaged the author and said: You broke my heart. I can’t imagine that this is the last of the story. Mostly because it’s called the Inheritance Trilogy. I look forward to Zebedee’s next release. Do yourself a favor, pick up this book and give it a read.
July 3, 2015
From tentative purchase to 'wow!': Abendau's Heir is a best buy.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I should say that I 'know' Jo Zebedee (in that vague internet sense), through both of us being members of the same online forum; I've also done a bit of early beta-reading on a couple of her other projects.
So, I bought this book reasonably confident of her ability to write, and intrigued, if not entirely convinced, by the blurb. I am very glad I did, for this has turned out to be one of my better purchases of the year. If you like Nancy Kress or Charles Stross, or space opera in general, this is definitely worth a look.
Abendau's Heir is a well-crafted story, with complex characters. The protagonist is complex, racked with survivor's guilt; confident, even cocksure, on the surface but with doubts running deep. The characters around him are brought to life with a deft touch, each of them shown to be multi-faceted. The antagonist is not written without sympathy: she believes she acts for the best interest of others, scarred by her own past.
The story itself runs at a good pace, keeping this reader involved and always wanting to know what was going to happen next.
So, all in all, a very good book, and one I have no hesitation to give 9/10 for. That said, it is not perfect. I remain unconvinced by the opening - it didn't flow quite as well as the rest of the book; there were also a couple of sections later on which I think could have been expanded and improved by an extra paragraph of exposition - although I recognise that this is also an area of personal preference, so take that with a pinch of salt.
However, considering this is a debut novel, by an obviously gifted writer with hopefully many years to produce more such work, all I can say is: Buckle up, this looks like it's going to be a good ride!
In the spirit of full disclosure, I should say that I 'know' Jo Zebedee (in that vague internet sense), through both of us being members of the same online forum; I've also done a bit of early beta-reading on a couple of her other projects.
So, I bought this book reasonably confident of her ability to write, and intrigued, if not entirely convinced, by the blurb. I am very glad I did, for this has turned out to be one of my better purchases of the year. If you like Nancy Kress or Charles Stross, or space opera in general, this is definitely worth a look.
Abendau's Heir is a well-crafted story, with complex characters. The protagonist is complex, racked with survivor's guilt; confident, even cocksure, on the surface but with doubts running deep. The characters around him are brought to life with a deft touch, each of them shown to be multi-faceted. The antagonist is not written without sympathy: she believes she acts for the best interest of others, scarred by her own past.
The story itself runs at a good pace, keeping this reader involved and always wanting to know what was going to happen next.
So, all in all, a very good book, and one I have no hesitation to give 9/10 for. That said, it is not perfect. I remain unconvinced by the opening - it didn't flow quite as well as the rest of the book; there were also a couple of sections later on which I think could have been expanded and improved by an extra paragraph of exposition - although I recognise that this is also an area of personal preference, so take that with a pinch of salt.
However, considering this is a debut novel, by an obviously gifted writer with hopefully many years to produce more such work, all I can say is: Buckle up, this looks like it's going to be a good ride!
June 1, 2015
I don't normally read this genre, I am certainly glad I did. The Author's confidence in her world allowed me to step beyond my comfort zone and sink into Kare's reality.
It is well written making it visually and emotionally rich as we follow Kare through a world ruled by a less than benign Empress.
It might well be a debut, and from a small press but neither fact impacts the narrative or presentation of the book. The use of familiar tropes is the balance against unexpected events dealt out to the characters.
While it's not my 'normal' read, I will be buying the next instalment.
It is well written making it visually and emotionally rich as we follow Kare through a world ruled by a less than benign Empress.
It might well be a debut, and from a small press but neither fact impacts the narrative or presentation of the book. The use of familiar tropes is the balance against unexpected events dealt out to the characters.
While it's not my 'normal' read, I will be buying the next instalment.
May 16, 2019
Abendau's Heir (The Inheritance Trilogy Book 1) by Jo Zebedee
This is one of those novels that I wanted to really like maybe even love. It has that potential. And yet, in my enthusiasm I kept stumbling through the first chapters with this odd feeling of disconnect that confused me. I had to read through a second time to try to figure out what my problem was. Style choices the author made might have resonated with me in a rather unusual way. I would have to definitely recommend that others not take my judgment without trying to first read the novel. And then, if you do find some trouble as I did, you might want to tough it through; because eventually you'll get used to way the author writes and you can better appreciate the story.
This is a dark story, which was a bit unexpected: to me. It's a tragedy wrapped in a dark world. It reminded me of a discussion recently about GrimDark being a genre and someone’s argument that it was meant to be an ironic or satirical comment about certain over the top writing. I should qualify that I think it's a valid and respectable label these days; so when I say that this novel is GrimDark I mean it in a good sense. Jo Zebedee's world and universe is a dark universe that is lorded over by an evil Empress. But more so than that it's an unforgiving universe where every action has its consequence and, though some may have potential for good outcomes, the reader quickly discovers it pays to keep those consequences in mind; because they will show up like a bad penny.
If you read the prologue carefully you'll have everything you need to know. Ealyn is a seer and the Empress is evil. The Empress forces Ealyn to look at the prism and see her future, but not just her future; his too. The Empress has powers to delve into other minds so she too can see what he sees. Ealyn resists; because he knows there are great consequences to what he does when he Seers. But what he sees is that somehow the Empress is now pregnant with his and her children and that between their two powers she means to create ultimate power for herself. He sees the result in the cold adult faces of their powerful children and is horrified. After the Empress leaves his cell Ealyn is once more drawn into a vision; but this time he sees himself free and then he sees his children now happy and free. Energized with that vision he throws caution to the wind and despite knowing there will be everlasting consequences he's determined to find out how to make the second vision a reality and will seek the answer through his visions.
The first chapter brings us eight years in advance to a point where Ealyn and his children, Kare and Karia, are in a tenuous life aboard a spaceship trying to get by while the Empress pursues them and the rebels deny them full access to the rebel base because of the danger the Empress and her relentless pursuit represents. Ealyn is stuck between a rock and a hard place; because of all the time he spent doing visions he can see that some horrible future is overtaking him no matter which direction he goes and soon Kare will have to be trained to control any tendency to Seer. In a feeble effort to train Kare, Ealyn goes too far and is sucked into a trance like state to the worst of futures. The only hope for help to bring him out of this is to go to the rebel base where they will eventually be ejected again. All through these chapters it is for some reason very difficult for me as a reader to get close to the characters; but that turns out to be a blessing since people are about to die.
Eventually Kare will be left alone with relatives-more people who would rather not have the object of the Empress search in their home. Again we fast forward ten years and from here this becomes the story of Kare's tragic life in his efforts to elude his mother and stay alive. Kare doesn't get many breaks and every decision he makes has consequence, some of those not apparent to him until after he makes them. This does keep the tension high in the story and in some part helps the reader understand the final outcome to some degree. But let's get back to figuring out which part of my personal preference interferes with the style choices in this novel.
When I looked back through the second read I realized that the author loves long sentences and has a fixation on commas. This is not all bad. I love long sentences and enjoy the ones that are properly punctuated. The problem comes in some of the medium size sentences that almost appear to be long sentences that were shortened to vary the beat. The problem with that is that there is that beat or rhythm of the sentences in a paragraph and the more internal beat of the individual sentences that you start punctuating with commas and semicolons.
In the first paragraph this sentence…-
His captors knew him well enough to use subtle things to torment him: the sound of water, so blessed on the hot, dry, Abendau; the prism on its thin chain catching sunlight from a small window and sending rainbows darting; the slow build of pain in muscles held firm, a pain that went deep, full of despair.
Zebedee, Jo (2015-03-29). Abendau's Heir (The Inheritance Trilogy Book 1) (Kindle Locations 29-31). Tickety Boo Press Ltd. Kindle Edition.
…Begins to highlight both the skill of the author and the beginning of a pattern that threw me off just a bit.
This part--so blessed on the hot, dry, Abendau;--creates a distinct staccato effect separating out Hot- Dry - Abendau; giving it an intended beat and alone it seems quite harmless, but quickly it shows up again and again until it's like a pattern. Often there are separate sentences engineered into incomplete thoughts that get chained by commas while ignoring conjunctions to create the same distinct separation that might just as well have been short separate sentences; though those would once again interfere with the rhythm.
For me though this created a second problem because the narrator often was this shifting close third POV that unfortunately always has the same quirk and that tended to overshadow the character development and I had difficulty separating the characters from one another. The irony is that they are distinct characters once I get past that peculiar distracting consistent beat. The dropping or ignoring of conjunctions to create the beat creates a distinct narrator voice that becomes hard to separate from the close third POV.
The writing is good and tight and sometimes even a bit too sparse. There are only about a handful of sentences where I felt words were missing and they usually were stuck within these bits of beats as though necessary verbs were thrown away (I have no idea if that was by accident or on purpose.)
The plot is tight and as I have said quite dark.
If as a reader you like stories that balance upbeat with the down then this might not be for you. Not to say there are no upbeat moments, just that those usually follow major decisions and then there seems to be a need to show the consequences. If you are a reader who likes happy endings then I would stay away from this one. This is a tragedy in many ways and perhaps because the author intends to have more novels in this series she creates several tragedies at the end that drag the whole into a downward spiral. And those follow the major tragedy of the story pertaining to the primary protagonist.
All of the tragedies at the end, after the primary (concerning Kare), seem either to be part of a summation of what happened afterwards and the consequences; or they act as a prelude to the next story. I really find it ambiguous in that respect and probably could have stopped at the primary tragic choice without the extra added summations after; which could have been left to my imagination and for the next story. As a whole it just made the story that much darker.
This is okay SSF light on the science heavy fantasy and great for those who love GrimDark tragedies. And if you love novels that delve thickly into the consequences of the character's actions this is going to be a treat.
J.L. Dobias
This is one of those novels that I wanted to really like maybe even love. It has that potential. And yet, in my enthusiasm I kept stumbling through the first chapters with this odd feeling of disconnect that confused me. I had to read through a second time to try to figure out what my problem was. Style choices the author made might have resonated with me in a rather unusual way. I would have to definitely recommend that others not take my judgment without trying to first read the novel. And then, if you do find some trouble as I did, you might want to tough it through; because eventually you'll get used to way the author writes and you can better appreciate the story.
This is a dark story, which was a bit unexpected: to me. It's a tragedy wrapped in a dark world. It reminded me of a discussion recently about GrimDark being a genre and someone’s argument that it was meant to be an ironic or satirical comment about certain over the top writing. I should qualify that I think it's a valid and respectable label these days; so when I say that this novel is GrimDark I mean it in a good sense. Jo Zebedee's world and universe is a dark universe that is lorded over by an evil Empress. But more so than that it's an unforgiving universe where every action has its consequence and, though some may have potential for good outcomes, the reader quickly discovers it pays to keep those consequences in mind; because they will show up like a bad penny.
If you read the prologue carefully you'll have everything you need to know. Ealyn is a seer and the Empress is evil. The Empress forces Ealyn to look at the prism and see her future, but not just her future; his too. The Empress has powers to delve into other minds so she too can see what he sees. Ealyn resists; because he knows there are great consequences to what he does when he Seers. But what he sees is that somehow the Empress is now pregnant with his and her children and that between their two powers she means to create ultimate power for herself. He sees the result in the cold adult faces of their powerful children and is horrified. After the Empress leaves his cell Ealyn is once more drawn into a vision; but this time he sees himself free and then he sees his children now happy and free. Energized with that vision he throws caution to the wind and despite knowing there will be everlasting consequences he's determined to find out how to make the second vision a reality and will seek the answer through his visions.
The first chapter brings us eight years in advance to a point where Ealyn and his children, Kare and Karia, are in a tenuous life aboard a spaceship trying to get by while the Empress pursues them and the rebels deny them full access to the rebel base because of the danger the Empress and her relentless pursuit represents. Ealyn is stuck between a rock and a hard place; because of all the time he spent doing visions he can see that some horrible future is overtaking him no matter which direction he goes and soon Kare will have to be trained to control any tendency to Seer. In a feeble effort to train Kare, Ealyn goes too far and is sucked into a trance like state to the worst of futures. The only hope for help to bring him out of this is to go to the rebel base where they will eventually be ejected again. All through these chapters it is for some reason very difficult for me as a reader to get close to the characters; but that turns out to be a blessing since people are about to die.
Eventually Kare will be left alone with relatives-more people who would rather not have the object of the Empress search in their home. Again we fast forward ten years and from here this becomes the story of Kare's tragic life in his efforts to elude his mother and stay alive. Kare doesn't get many breaks and every decision he makes has consequence, some of those not apparent to him until after he makes them. This does keep the tension high in the story and in some part helps the reader understand the final outcome to some degree. But let's get back to figuring out which part of my personal preference interferes with the style choices in this novel.
When I looked back through the second read I realized that the author loves long sentences and has a fixation on commas. This is not all bad. I love long sentences and enjoy the ones that are properly punctuated. The problem comes in some of the medium size sentences that almost appear to be long sentences that were shortened to vary the beat. The problem with that is that there is that beat or rhythm of the sentences in a paragraph and the more internal beat of the individual sentences that you start punctuating with commas and semicolons.
In the first paragraph this sentence…-
His captors knew him well enough to use subtle things to torment him: the sound of water, so blessed on the hot, dry, Abendau; the prism on its thin chain catching sunlight from a small window and sending rainbows darting; the slow build of pain in muscles held firm, a pain that went deep, full of despair.
Zebedee, Jo (2015-03-29). Abendau's Heir (The Inheritance Trilogy Book 1) (Kindle Locations 29-31). Tickety Boo Press Ltd. Kindle Edition.
…Begins to highlight both the skill of the author and the beginning of a pattern that threw me off just a bit.
This part--so blessed on the hot, dry, Abendau;--creates a distinct staccato effect separating out Hot- Dry - Abendau; giving it an intended beat and alone it seems quite harmless, but quickly it shows up again and again until it's like a pattern. Often there are separate sentences engineered into incomplete thoughts that get chained by commas while ignoring conjunctions to create the same distinct separation that might just as well have been short separate sentences; though those would once again interfere with the rhythm.
For me though this created a second problem because the narrator often was this shifting close third POV that unfortunately always has the same quirk and that tended to overshadow the character development and I had difficulty separating the characters from one another. The irony is that they are distinct characters once I get past that peculiar distracting consistent beat. The dropping or ignoring of conjunctions to create the beat creates a distinct narrator voice that becomes hard to separate from the close third POV.
The writing is good and tight and sometimes even a bit too sparse. There are only about a handful of sentences where I felt words were missing and they usually were stuck within these bits of beats as though necessary verbs were thrown away (I have no idea if that was by accident or on purpose.)
The plot is tight and as I have said quite dark.
If as a reader you like stories that balance upbeat with the down then this might not be for you. Not to say there are no upbeat moments, just that those usually follow major decisions and then there seems to be a need to show the consequences. If you are a reader who likes happy endings then I would stay away from this one. This is a tragedy in many ways and perhaps because the author intends to have more novels in this series she creates several tragedies at the end that drag the whole into a downward spiral. And those follow the major tragedy of the story pertaining to the primary protagonist.
All of the tragedies at the end, after the primary (concerning Kare), seem either to be part of a summation of what happened afterwards and the consequences; or they act as a prelude to the next story. I really find it ambiguous in that respect and probably could have stopped at the primary tragic choice without the extra added summations after; which could have been left to my imagination and for the next story. As a whole it just made the story that much darker.
This is okay SSF light on the science heavy fantasy and great for those who love GrimDark tragedies. And if you love novels that delve thickly into the consequences of the character's actions this is going to be a treat.
J.L. Dobias
October 11, 2017
I was lucky enough to read the Abendau trilogy as a beta reader. I can see since how much work Jo has put into the final versions. Ignore the negative reviews from people expecting a hard sci-fi - this isn't that and I don't believe it's been marketed as such. Abendau's Heir is a space opera - if you want to read stories about *people* in a world you can escape to, then this is for you. Strong writing and great characters, particularly Lichio who became my favourite.
April 13, 2017
I didn't buy into the world and the characters as strongly as I did for Innish Carraig (Jo's other book that I've read) but I still enjoyed it. The plot pulled me along and I found myself reading far past 'lights-out' time. I have bought the other two books in the trilogy and will be reading them soon. Have to know how it all pans out!
September 9, 2015
Abendau's Heir is the first in a trilogy (The Inheritance Trilogy) by first time author Jo Zebedee, although you wouldn't believe it to be a first time effort. The general gist of the story is that there is an 'Evil Empire' vs 'Rebels' war in progress. Our hero, Kare, is the key to the future, to victory for one side over the other. His Mother is The Empress, his Father the leader of The Rebellion. They both want Kale on their side but what Kale really wants is to survive.
Just from that synopsis you will get the idea that this is very Star Wars like in concept so you know what you are getting but the characters and story are much deeper than you would expect, so, certainly not a Star Wars clone. One aspect of the story I really appreciated was that the characters are not all cut and dried Good Guys and Bad Guys. Prepare yourself to be wrong footed every now and again is all I will say on that matter ;-)
This is Space Opera done right, in my opinion, plenty of action, entertaining story and not too much deep science. I do sometimes find that some Space Opera novels leave you wishing you had a degree in the sciences so you could understand just what is going on - with Abendau's Heir this is not the case. It isn't Space Opera Lite but neither is it brain boggling stuff, just a well told space romp.
As for the book itself - I ordered a copy from Waterstones and have to say, this is a really well produced, high quality book. Tickety Boo Press, the publishers have made something that is a pleasure to own.
I've been torn as to what score to give Abendau's Heir ( it kept me well entertained on a recent beach holiday). Everything about it worked for me so I was going to give it 5* but, I just have a feeling that the next in the series is going to up the ante even more so I've decided to split the score (don't worry, it'll all make sense)
Story - 4/5* (just because I need to be able to go upwards with the next volume)
The Physical Copy - 5/5* (a really well put together book)
Abendau's Heir total -9/10*
Just from that synopsis you will get the idea that this is very Star Wars like in concept so you know what you are getting but the characters and story are much deeper than you would expect, so, certainly not a Star Wars clone. One aspect of the story I really appreciated was that the characters are not all cut and dried Good Guys and Bad Guys. Prepare yourself to be wrong footed every now and again is all I will say on that matter ;-)
This is Space Opera done right, in my opinion, plenty of action, entertaining story and not too much deep science. I do sometimes find that some Space Opera novels leave you wishing you had a degree in the sciences so you could understand just what is going on - with Abendau's Heir this is not the case. It isn't Space Opera Lite but neither is it brain boggling stuff, just a well told space romp.
As for the book itself - I ordered a copy from Waterstones and have to say, this is a really well produced, high quality book. Tickety Boo Press, the publishers have made something that is a pleasure to own.
I've been torn as to what score to give Abendau's Heir ( it kept me well entertained on a recent beach holiday). Everything about it worked for me so I was going to give it 5* but, I just have a feeling that the next in the series is going to up the ante even more so I've decided to split the score (don't worry, it'll all make sense)
Story - 4/5* (just because I need to be able to go upwards with the next volume)
The Physical Copy - 5/5* (a really well put together book)
Abendau's Heir total -9/10*
June 1, 2015
Jo Zebedee should be proud of her debut scifi novel, Abendau's Heir. From the first page the reader can feel her love of the genre and her love of the characters that inhabit her universe. It’s clear that she has been percolating the story for many years as the depth in the characters and subtle nuances that they display, in a continually shifting plot, are impressive.
Abendau’s Heir is not a book that I would normally pick-up off the shelf and it’s not for the faint-hearted. It’s a dark universe where the reader is immediately confronted with a torture scene that underpins the interactions of many of the characters throughout the book.
The main character, Kare, is on a personal quest of redemption to prove himself to those around him while not being controlled by those same people. The author’s skill in navigating this difficult knife’s edge is evident as Kare grows into a character that you love, pity and admire.
Once you buy-in to the author’s unusual grammatical style you will find Abendau’s Heir difficult to put down. There is one particular scene where Kare is discussing some of the things that had happened to him with another character. Without giving away any spoilers the sensitivity in which the author handled the incredibly tense conversation was worth the read alone.
Although lacking in the typical scifi technical gizmos, Abendau’s Heir more than makes up for this with some quite amazing psionic powers. Some of the powers reminded me of Julian May’s “Exiles saga” and John Wyndham’s “The Crysalids”. Two of my favourite authors.
By the end of the story the author has setup an intriguing scenario for the final two books in the series. This combined with the characters working through multiple personal crisis has me hooked to find out what’s going to happen next. I’m looking forward to the second and third instalments in “The Inheritance Trilogy”.
Well done Ms Zebedee! For a debut novel you are up there with some of the best!
Abendau’s Heir is not a book that I would normally pick-up off the shelf and it’s not for the faint-hearted. It’s a dark universe where the reader is immediately confronted with a torture scene that underpins the interactions of many of the characters throughout the book.
The main character, Kare, is on a personal quest of redemption to prove himself to those around him while not being controlled by those same people. The author’s skill in navigating this difficult knife’s edge is evident as Kare grows into a character that you love, pity and admire.
Once you buy-in to the author’s unusual grammatical style you will find Abendau’s Heir difficult to put down. There is one particular scene where Kare is discussing some of the things that had happened to him with another character. Without giving away any spoilers the sensitivity in which the author handled the incredibly tense conversation was worth the read alone.
Although lacking in the typical scifi technical gizmos, Abendau’s Heir more than makes up for this with some quite amazing psionic powers. Some of the powers reminded me of Julian May’s “Exiles saga” and John Wyndham’s “The Crysalids”. Two of my favourite authors.
By the end of the story the author has setup an intriguing scenario for the final two books in the series. This combined with the characters working through multiple personal crisis has me hooked to find out what’s going to happen next. I’m looking forward to the second and third instalments in “The Inheritance Trilogy”.
Well done Ms Zebedee! For a debut novel you are up there with some of the best!
November 2, 2015
Jo Zebedee doesn't pull many punches with this, her first novel, first in a trilogy, and one of Tickety Boo Books's flagship titles. Right from the off the reader is hit with imprisonment, torture, prophecy-induced PTSD, and a stark line in the sand - major characters will die. This is bravura plotting, and the promise of a climactic confrontation does not disappoint.
It would be easy to flag Abendau's Heir as a grimdark cousin to Dune and Star Wars - the scope is just as epic, but battles flash past in the background while the focus tightens on Kare's struggle to be his own man and escape the remote but growing influence of his mother. Kare is Paul Atreides and Luke Skywalker in one, forced into action by farsight prophecies, attempting to evade his destiny by embracing it. Cleverly, he's anchored to his father's instructions as much as his mother's desires.
Such assured plotting does suffer a little from a few hiccups in pace - the jumps forward in time take some of the sting from Kare's arc forward, the fight scenes feel just a bit underwritten. But Kare's story is compelling and Jo Zebedee propels the reader through the few slow moments to make sure you always want to read the next chapter.
On this evidence - and to judge from the waves she's since made with her second (unrelated) book, Inish Carraig - the next volume in the Inheritance Trilogy will be an absolute stormer.
It would be easy to flag Abendau's Heir as a grimdark cousin to Dune and Star Wars - the scope is just as epic, but battles flash past in the background while the focus tightens on Kare's struggle to be his own man and escape the remote but growing influence of his mother. Kare is Paul Atreides and Luke Skywalker in one, forced into action by farsight prophecies, attempting to evade his destiny by embracing it. Cleverly, he's anchored to his father's instructions as much as his mother's desires.
Such assured plotting does suffer a little from a few hiccups in pace - the jumps forward in time take some of the sting from Kare's arc forward, the fight scenes feel just a bit underwritten. But Kare's story is compelling and Jo Zebedee propels the reader through the few slow moments to make sure you always want to read the next chapter.
On this evidence - and to judge from the waves she's since made with her second (unrelated) book, Inish Carraig - the next volume in the Inheritance Trilogy will be an absolute stormer.
June 14, 2015
Abendau’s Heir
This review is tough. I really wish we could give fractions of stars—most of the book was three stars for me. But the ending transcended that and deserves four.
I have reservations. The story starts in the POV of the father, and his character is so vivid that his son (the main POV character) never quite came into focus the same way. On the other hand, the son spent most of the story trying to live up to his father. And in that case, it could very well have been intentional on the part of the author. If so, it was brilliantly done.
I skimmed over the darker parts because they did not hold back, and that’s more than I want from entertainment. But I’m well aware that others disagree.
I wish the story could have been told with fewer time jumps, because they were off-putting to me. But the characters were well-drawn and three-dimensional, and I found myself caring about them.
The writing itself was clean and elegant; I never got thrown out of the story due to the manner in which it was told.
For those who like stories with very dark passages and who are serious science fiction fans, they would probably consider this a solid four star read.
This review is tough. I really wish we could give fractions of stars—most of the book was three stars for me. But the ending transcended that and deserves four.
I have reservations. The story starts in the POV of the father, and his character is so vivid that his son (the main POV character) never quite came into focus the same way. On the other hand, the son spent most of the story trying to live up to his father. And in that case, it could very well have been intentional on the part of the author. If so, it was brilliantly done.
I skimmed over the darker parts because they did not hold back, and that’s more than I want from entertainment. But I’m well aware that others disagree.
I wish the story could have been told with fewer time jumps, because they were off-putting to me. But the characters were well-drawn and three-dimensional, and I found myself caring about them.
The writing itself was clean and elegant; I never got thrown out of the story due to the manner in which it was told.
For those who like stories with very dark passages and who are serious science fiction fans, they would probably consider this a solid four star read.
October 5, 2016
I realise I started this book in June at the start of the summer and made good progress with it, it is very dark at the start with Kare’s sister, this really took me aback and I thoroughly enjoyed the writing, which kept me going fast.
I flew through Kare’s training with the Banned but then I started to stall: I found it hard to believe in the love story between Sonly and Kare, it just was too easy and I think this is about the time where I closed the book to move on to a new one.
Then about a week ago, September time, I thought I would give the story another go, I do not like giving up on books, especially when I know the author is local!
I am glad I did, it was worthwhile discovering the world of Omendegon, it is a dark one though. They were twists in the plot that kept me going but while I read Sci-Fi I am not keen on all the military/ strategy descriptions. I can deal with them if I really get fond of the characters but for some reasons, I did not get attached enough to this lot. So, for now, I will take a break from the trilogy before I decide to revisit it.
I flew through Kare’s training with the Banned but then I started to stall: I found it hard to believe in the love story between Sonly and Kare, it just was too easy and I think this is about the time where I closed the book to move on to a new one.
Then about a week ago, September time, I thought I would give the story another go, I do not like giving up on books, especially when I know the author is local!
I am glad I did, it was worthwhile discovering the world of Omendegon, it is a dark one though. They were twists in the plot that kept me going but while I read Sci-Fi I am not keen on all the military/ strategy descriptions. I can deal with them if I really get fond of the characters but for some reasons, I did not get attached enough to this lot. So, for now, I will take a break from the trilogy before I decide to revisit it.
October 14, 2016
I've been 'Abendau'd'!
While not as strong as my all-time favourite space opera, Dune, Jo Zebedee's first ever offering is grand enough to have me chomping at the bit to get the other two books in this trilogy under my belt.
Abendau's Heir is a roller-coaster ride of emotions from start to finish; sensitive readers may want to skim over or skip the darker bits as they really are quite distressing. I found the world (universe?)-building a bit lacking, but that's just me - I like an in-depth cultural and physical background to place the characters in - but you can't please everyone. The characters are believable: complex enough to be intriguing, yet 'everyday' enough to be relatable.
The writing is strong and solid; and highly recommended to fans of this genre.
I was pleased to receive a mobi review copy from the publishers, Tickety Boo Press, in exchange for an honest review.
While not as strong as my all-time favourite space opera, Dune, Jo Zebedee's first ever offering is grand enough to have me chomping at the bit to get the other two books in this trilogy under my belt.
Abendau's Heir is a roller-coaster ride of emotions from start to finish; sensitive readers may want to skim over or skip the darker bits as they really are quite distressing. I found the world (universe?)-building a bit lacking, but that's just me - I like an in-depth cultural and physical background to place the characters in - but you can't please everyone. The characters are believable: complex enough to be intriguing, yet 'everyday' enough to be relatable.
The writing is strong and solid; and highly recommended to fans of this genre.
I was pleased to receive a mobi review copy from the publishers, Tickety Boo Press, in exchange for an honest review.
November 12, 2016
I struggled with the first few chapters but once Kare got older the booked flowed along nicely.
Kare, brought up in secret by his aunt after the death of his father and his twin sister finds his life turned upside down when his mother the empress discovers where he is. Along with his cousin Silom, he flees to the Banned. It brings back a lot of bad memories for Kare, they turned his father and twins away leading to the death of his father and twin. He had to stay, his only protection from the empress. He and Silom are conscripted into to the army. Kare a fugitive, his mother's heir , she is determined to either control or destroy him. The Banned, see him as a figure head a pawn in their fight against the empress.
A Space opera with a fantasy flavour
Kare, brought up in secret by his aunt after the death of his father and his twin sister finds his life turned upside down when his mother the empress discovers where he is. Along with his cousin Silom, he flees to the Banned. It brings back a lot of bad memories for Kare, they turned his father and twins away leading to the death of his father and twin. He had to stay, his only protection from the empress. He and Silom are conscripted into to the army. Kare a fugitive, his mother's heir , she is determined to either control or destroy him. The Banned, see him as a figure head a pawn in their fight against the empress.
A Space opera with a fantasy flavour
August 1, 2016
This story is, I think, Space Opera not SF; indeed the hard 'show-me-the-equations' SF fan will not be happy with several aspects of this tale (e.g. small spaceships that can be piloted by chilren, do interstellar travel and also land on planets). Indeed this story could very easily be transposed to a secondary world fantasy setting as it is a classic coming-of-age, taking up powers and responsibility tale. It's strength lies in the well-drawn characters and their interactions and this is where it deserves the 4 star rating.
July 22, 2015
LOVED THIS BOOK! I haven't been "stuck" in a book like this one in awhile. I really didn't want to put it down.
November 23, 2016
Didn't care for the narrator's sing-song voice.
September 28, 2016
I reviewed the audiobook on Audible; great read, and I've already started reading 'Sunset over Abendau'. :)
November 2, 2016
I loved Inish-Carraig and hope this would be just as gripping. The start certainly was, but for me the story extends over too many years as Kare grows up. I began to lose track of his friends and his motives.
Jo Zebedee writing is outstanding, and I'm sure a huge number of readers will love Abendau's heir, unfortunately it didn't make 5 stars for me.
Jo Zebedee writing is outstanding, and I'm sure a huge number of readers will love Abendau's heir, unfortunately it didn't make 5 stars for me.
August 13, 2023
An interesting story rather but I got absolutely no sense of the universe in which it was set. It was the equivalent of actors saying their lines with no stage set. The writing style favours dialogue over any attempt at description.
August 6, 2016
"First ScFi Book I could not finish..."
I hate to admit it, but this is the first science fiction book I was unable to finish for many different reasons which I hope to touch on in the following review.
I really liked the premise and was hoping that things would improve, but over halfway though I could no longer continue. The book had some redeeming qualities, however it was like a bad day of golfing where you cannot hit the ball at all and then you hit one good ball and want to keep playing this great game; golfers know what I mean. I wanted to stop listening to the book earlier, but just about the time I gave up, a nugget of storyline kept me engaged and it would carry me to the next point of stopping.
I would say the story was like mixing Star Wars, Star Trek, and Stormship Troopers along with a having psy powers. Sounds great, right? It did for me also and with narration issues and story problems it did not meet my high-level of expectations.
One of the main things that turned me off was the frequent use of modern-day vulgar/slang language for this faraway space opera. Every time a vulgar word was used, it would pull me out of the story and make me think I'm instead listening to sailors or truckers talking; no offense to sailors or truckers but most know what I mean when use this analogy. Such words cheapen the story as the author was unable to come up with any other words to express the character's strong nature or their expressiveness. Again, it seemed to just pull me out of the story and I wonder why the author resorted to these words for this type of story. I think this also limits the audience as the book is not geared towards YA audiences, if you are adverse to vulgar language, but could have easily filled this role if the language was more limited or removed; in most cases the words were not necessary to make a point.
I will say that I liked the few periods where the author surprised me with the direction the story went or shocked me with specific outcomes. There were times I felt deep emotion while listening, but other times I could not say focused as the story seemed to wander and not have any real direction. I also enjoyed that the author tied in aspects of the story in various points along the way. An object or item introduced at the beginning of the book was referenced a few other times and it brought me back to the earlier time. These were some of my favorite parts of the book.
I have not read or listened to other material by this author , but I would be interested in reviewing some of her other works unless they are like this one.
As this review is done for the audiobook version, I think narration is an important reason I was unable to finish the book. There were a few different narrators, however I thought the main narrator was often monotone and did not reflect the events of the story as he read them. The female voice was not as bad, but this voice was used infrequently in the fist half of the book. There were volume issues and also points of editing that should have been removed from the final version. In a few spots, the narrator would say something like "He cleared his throat" and then perform the action instead of doing one or the other. Just seemed strange from other audiobooks I have ever listened to. For me it seemed the narrators did not have the passion or knowledge of the book they were reading. I really wanted to at least finish the story, but was unable too.
Was the book worth listening too? I have to say both yes and no. Like I said above, there were those little story gems that made me think the story was going to improve, but these were so few and far between that I could not finish the book. If I did not have a queue of other material to listen to I may have given this book a longer chance than I did.
Disclaimer: This book was provided to the reviewer by either the author, narrator, or publisher in exchange for posting a non-bias review.
I hate to admit it, but this is the first science fiction book I was unable to finish for many different reasons which I hope to touch on in the following review.
I really liked the premise and was hoping that things would improve, but over halfway though I could no longer continue. The book had some redeeming qualities, however it was like a bad day of golfing where you cannot hit the ball at all and then you hit one good ball and want to keep playing this great game; golfers know what I mean. I wanted to stop listening to the book earlier, but just about the time I gave up, a nugget of storyline kept me engaged and it would carry me to the next point of stopping.
I would say the story was like mixing Star Wars, Star Trek, and Stormship Troopers along with a having psy powers. Sounds great, right? It did for me also and with narration issues and story problems it did not meet my high-level of expectations.
One of the main things that turned me off was the frequent use of modern-day vulgar/slang language for this faraway space opera. Every time a vulgar word was used, it would pull me out of the story and make me think I'm instead listening to sailors or truckers talking; no offense to sailors or truckers but most know what I mean when use this analogy. Such words cheapen the story as the author was unable to come up with any other words to express the character's strong nature or their expressiveness. Again, it seemed to just pull me out of the story and I wonder why the author resorted to these words for this type of story. I think this also limits the audience as the book is not geared towards YA audiences, if you are adverse to vulgar language, but could have easily filled this role if the language was more limited or removed; in most cases the words were not necessary to make a point.
I will say that I liked the few periods where the author surprised me with the direction the story went or shocked me with specific outcomes. There were times I felt deep emotion while listening, but other times I could not say focused as the story seemed to wander and not have any real direction. I also enjoyed that the author tied in aspects of the story in various points along the way. An object or item introduced at the beginning of the book was referenced a few other times and it brought me back to the earlier time. These were some of my favorite parts of the book.
I have not read or listened to other material by this author , but I would be interested in reviewing some of her other works unless they are like this one.
As this review is done for the audiobook version, I think narration is an important reason I was unable to finish the book. There were a few different narrators, however I thought the main narrator was often monotone and did not reflect the events of the story as he read them. The female voice was not as bad, but this voice was used infrequently in the fist half of the book. There were volume issues and also points of editing that should have been removed from the final version. In a few spots, the narrator would say something like "He cleared his throat" and then perform the action instead of doing one or the other. Just seemed strange from other audiobooks I have ever listened to. For me it seemed the narrators did not have the passion or knowledge of the book they were reading. I really wanted to at least finish the story, but was unable too.
Was the book worth listening too? I have to say both yes and no. Like I said above, there were those little story gems that made me think the story was going to improve, but these were so few and far between that I could not finish the book. If I did not have a queue of other material to listen to I may have given this book a longer chance than I did.
Disclaimer: This book was provided to the reviewer by either the author, narrator, or publisher in exchange for posting a non-bias review.
November 19, 2020
The first novel in a trilogy, Zebedee's influences are clear, sci fi fans will find a lot of familiar ideas and some new ones mingled in with a galaxy-spanning story.
March 28, 2017
The story in Abendau’s Heir, written by Jo Zebedee, takes place in an unforgiving universe where very bad things happen to good people. There is much suffering, both physical and emotional, in-store for the author’s nicely-realized characters; we like and root for many of the folks portrayed in the book, and this makes the pain..the startling losses that so many suffer very difficult at times to experience. The main character, Kare, in particular suffers--in a number of scenes--in ways that seem to me to be particularly graphic for this sort of genre, but that are also remarkably effective because of this (wow, there are some scenes where you heart is breaking for him, and where his pain is almost unbearable to read of).
The author displays a clear love of good old-fashioned space opera. We have an evil Empress whose ruthless generals inflict her will upon the masses she rules with a cold heartlessness. There are rebels, and heroes. There are spaceship chases, and battles between rebellious forces and soldiers of the empire. There is a lot of excitement to go along with the loss in this novel.
The writing is very solid throughout. I think the opening is very good...very effective. And the ending third of the book seems particularly strong to me; some of the scenes between the protagonist and his love interest are heartbreaking. I think the middle third of the book is just a bit slow, but the ending easily makes up for this.
This is, to me, a quite good, and a very promising first novel.
The author displays a clear love of good old-fashioned space opera. We have an evil Empress whose ruthless generals inflict her will upon the masses she rules with a cold heartlessness. There are rebels, and heroes. There are spaceship chases, and battles between rebellious forces and soldiers of the empire. There is a lot of excitement to go along with the loss in this novel.
The writing is very solid throughout. I think the opening is very good...very effective. And the ending third of the book seems particularly strong to me; some of the scenes between the protagonist and his love interest are heartbreaking. I think the middle third of the book is just a bit slow, but the ending easily makes up for this.
This is, to me, a quite good, and a very promising first novel.
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