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Beyond the Wall, #3
A Shroud of Night and Tears
If war shapes the universe, truth destroys it.
A criminal becomes a leader, hiding a tiny colony of survivors from the savagery of twisted men.
A smuggler harbours refugees from a brutal attack on their defenceless village.
A young boy, wracked by loss, now seeks revenge.
A servant of the Magistratus, a lawman who once believed in justice, searches for the truth behind the planet his masters will kill to hide.
A stim-addicted navigator, haunted by her past, wants answers. Why she was chosen to ride with a salvage crew destined to die in a remote, nameless part of space.
And a spy is blackmailed into informing against those he serves. What he knows could bring about the end of the Republic.
All will be drawn together by hidden forces, and their lives shattered by cataclysmic events they can neither predict... nor escape.
A criminal becomes a leader, hiding a tiny colony of survivors from the savagery of twisted men.
A smuggler harbours refugees from a brutal attack on their defenceless village.
A young boy, wracked by loss, now seeks revenge.
A servant of the Magistratus, a lawman who once believed in justice, searches for the truth behind the planet his masters will kill to hide.
A stim-addicted navigator, haunted by her past, wants answers. Why she was chosen to ride with a salvage crew destined to die in a remote, nameless part of space.
And a spy is blackmailed into informing against those he serves. What he knows could bring about the end of the Republic.
All will be drawn together by hidden forces, and their lives shattered by cataclysmic events they can neither predict... nor escape.
466 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2015
18 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Lucas Bale
17 books95 followersLucas Bale writes intense, thought-provoking science-fiction thrillers that dig into what makes us human and scrape at the darkness which hides inside every one of us.
His debut novel, The Heretic, is the gateway to the award-winning Beyond the Wall series, an epic space opera with an edge of hard science fiction about the future of humanity and the discovery of the truth of its past.
He wasn't always a writer. He was a criminal lawyer for fifteen years before he discovered crime doesn't pay and turned to something that actually pays even less. No one ever said he was smart, but at least he's happy.
His debut novel, The Heretic, is the gateway to the award-winning Beyond the Wall series, an epic space opera with an edge of hard science fiction about the future of humanity and the discovery of the truth of its past.
He wasn't always a writer. He was a criminal lawyer for fifteen years before he discovered crime doesn't pay and turned to something that actually pays even less. No one ever said he was smart, but at least he's happy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
July 9, 2015
Excellent third book in the Beyond the Wall series. This one got incredibly more complex, tying the many characters and storylines from the first two books into a cohesive thread that impacts the entire known universe. The twists and turns are a wonder to read, and the way Mr. Bale ties the events together is fantastic.
Can't wait for the final book in this series!
Can't wait for the final book in this series!
February 9, 2016
After I finished
Defiance
at the end of January, a couple of conversations took place on various social media in which Bale informed me that Book 3 contained a couple more vicious twists and that I totally had no idea what was coming.
It didn't take me long to discover that he wasn't kidding.
I was lying awake last night brainstorming for this review (#writerproblems) and trying to think of a way to describe the structure of this series. The best example I could think of was a wishbone. The Heretic and Defiance brought us two separate stories with different characters, and Shroud slowly brings those stories together. But the game still isn't over. If anything, it's just now actually beginning.
I was a little surprised to find that the book started out by introducing yet another character and story arc with Gant and his band of survivors, but after the way Defiance ended, I could tell this new arc was going to become relevant very quickly. Gant and Weaver and Natasha's storylines were all on a collision course. Characters who had previously been lone wolves - so to speak - were suddenly forced to form alliances and trust one another in order to face a common enemy, and I always love when that sort of thing happens.
I confess to not being totally shocked by a couple of the aforementioned "vicious twists" because once I actually reached them, I realized everything had been flowing so naturally toward the revelations that I was more satisfied than surprised. Most of my predictions were dead wrong, though - I truly didn't have any idea what was coming. The continuation of Gant's story in particular was something I totally wasn't expecting to see, but thinking back to certain details in the previous books, it seems so obvious and inevitable now. The reader finally gets answers to some of the questions they may have had throughout the series, but many of these answers only spawn new questions.
I did have a little bit of trouble keeping track of who was on what side and who had betrayed who, but this was apparently the intention. There's a lot of double-crossing going on and characters are trying to figure out what side they're on. It will be interesting to see what choices they end up making in Book 4.
And speaking of the characters, I've gotten to where I really love the core group in this series. I've always liked anti-hero characters who didn't want to be thrown into the role of hero, so in that sense I've loved Shepherd from the beginning. The preacher remains a mystery, and I love that; some of his dialogue and one-liners crack me up. Natasha is as strong and resourceful as ever, but she's a very damaged person and her problems are starting to catch up to her. I liked seeing a softer-but-still-resilient side of her in this story. Then there's Weaver. In discussing him with Bale upon finishing the book, he mentioned that Weaver's character arc is probably his favorite, and I think I'd have to agree. He has come so far in just a short time; in Defiance , he knew he'd have to make certain choices and do certain things, and there'd be no turning back. Now he's caught up in everything, and he's in this until the end, whether he likes it or not.
It might also be worth it to mention that I tend to fan-cast characters in my head, regardless of what I'm reading. When Weaver was first introduced in Defiance , I saw someone in his mid-to-late 40s but had trouble putting a face to him. As the story progressed and we got a few more physical descriptions, I started seeing something along the lines of Ezio Auditore circa Assassin's Creed: Revelations - a little bit older guy with some gray in his hair and beard, but still strong and capable. Then he was described several times as being tall, and about halfway through Shroud, it hit me: Liam Neeson. Give him Qui-Gon's beard and maybe Bryan Mills's hair, and he'd be perfect. I mentioned this to Bale, and it turns out Liam Neeson is more or less the "official" in-the-author's-head fan-cast for Weaver too. I guess that's just a testament to how well the character is described and written. This happened recently with another character in another book as well, and I applaud authors for writing their characters so well that readers have THAT clear of a picture.
The stakes are higher than ever in the Beyond the Wall series now, and I can't wait to see how it all ends. I was told that the final paragraph of Shroud would be killer, and it was.
It didn't take me long to discover that he wasn't kidding.
I was lying awake last night brainstorming for this review (#writerproblems) and trying to think of a way to describe the structure of this series. The best example I could think of was a wishbone. The Heretic and Defiance brought us two separate stories with different characters, and Shroud slowly brings those stories together. But the game still isn't over. If anything, it's just now actually beginning.
I was a little surprised to find that the book started out by introducing yet another character and story arc with Gant and his band of survivors, but after the way Defiance ended, I could tell this new arc was going to become relevant very quickly. Gant and Weaver and Natasha's storylines were all on a collision course. Characters who had previously been lone wolves - so to speak - were suddenly forced to form alliances and trust one another in order to face a common enemy, and I always love when that sort of thing happens.
I confess to not being totally shocked by a couple of the aforementioned "vicious twists" because once I actually reached them, I realized everything had been flowing so naturally toward the revelations that I was more satisfied than surprised. Most of my predictions were dead wrong, though - I truly didn't have any idea what was coming. The continuation of Gant's story in particular was something I totally wasn't expecting to see, but thinking back to certain details in the previous books, it seems so obvious and inevitable now. The reader finally gets answers to some of the questions they may have had throughout the series, but many of these answers only spawn new questions.
I did have a little bit of trouble keeping track of who was on what side and who had betrayed who, but this was apparently the intention. There's a lot of double-crossing going on and characters are trying to figure out what side they're on. It will be interesting to see what choices they end up making in Book 4.
And speaking of the characters, I've gotten to where I really love the core group in this series. I've always liked anti-hero characters who didn't want to be thrown into the role of hero, so in that sense I've loved Shepherd from the beginning. The preacher remains a mystery, and I love that; some of his dialogue and one-liners crack me up. Natasha is as strong and resourceful as ever, but she's a very damaged person and her problems are starting to catch up to her. I liked seeing a softer-but-still-resilient side of her in this story. Then there's Weaver. In discussing him with Bale upon finishing the book, he mentioned that Weaver's character arc is probably his favorite, and I think I'd have to agree. He has come so far in just a short time; in Defiance , he knew he'd have to make certain choices and do certain things, and there'd be no turning back. Now he's caught up in everything, and he's in this until the end, whether he likes it or not.
It might also be worth it to mention that I tend to fan-cast characters in my head, regardless of what I'm reading. When Weaver was first introduced in Defiance , I saw someone in his mid-to-late 40s but had trouble putting a face to him. As the story progressed and we got a few more physical descriptions, I started seeing something along the lines of Ezio Auditore circa Assassin's Creed: Revelations - a little bit older guy with some gray in his hair and beard, but still strong and capable. Then he was described several times as being tall, and about halfway through Shroud, it hit me: Liam Neeson. Give him Qui-Gon's beard and maybe Bryan Mills's hair, and he'd be perfect. I mentioned this to Bale, and it turns out Liam Neeson is more or less the "official" in-the-author's-head fan-cast for Weaver too. I guess that's just a testament to how well the character is described and written. This happened recently with another character in another book as well, and I applaud authors for writing their characters so well that readers have THAT clear of a picture.
The stakes are higher than ever in the Beyond the Wall series now, and I can't wait to see how it all ends. I was told that the final paragraph of Shroud would be killer, and it was.
November 1, 2015
[Note: I received a copy of this book from the author for review. I have also collaborated with Lucas Bale on the anthology, No Way Home.]
One of the great joys in discovering a fresh, new voice early on in their career is being able to watch and read how they have developed as an author over time. When I met Lucas Bale a year ago on KBoards and became familiar with his work via The Heretic, his first release, I was impressed with the crisp writing and clear authorial voice, as well as an engaging story that held so much promise for future works. I was eager to see where he would go, and I absolutely loved his second book, Defiance. And I’m not saying all this because I consider Lucas a friend, nor because we’ve worked together in the past and will again in the near-future. I’m approaching these works as a reader, first and foremost, as well as, now, a fan.
As such, I hope it is with a measure of trust between us, dear reader, when I say that A Shroud of Night and Tears is by far his most accomplished work. In fact, I feel somewhat urged to not give this book five stars, simply because Bale gets better and better with each work. I could rightly give this title four starts knowing full-well that, in all due likelihood, his next book will top this. If I keep giving him five stars, where the hell does he go from there? This is likely a problem many of his fans face, as well, so perhaps there is some commiseration to be had. Still, I’m giving it those coveted 5-stars because it’s easily one of the best sci-fi titles I’ve read this year, and one of the strongest space opera books I’ve read in ages. It is, in short, phenomenal!
Those readers that were disappointed by the sudden change in characters in Defiance and the brief pause to tell a new story with the lawman, Weaver, and his prey, Natasha, will be heartened to know that Shepherd, Jordi, and the preacher from The Heretic all make their return here, in addition to those fresh, new faces introduced in the previous book.
A Shroud of Night and Tears provides an awesome landscape in which to unite these disparate figures, pitting them together in a scenario that remarkably shifts the series’ overarching threat into something far grander than I had initially expected at the outset of Beyond The Wall. I know this sounds vague, but I’m trying to avoid spoilers, because there is such a huge plot development in this penultimate work that twists everything I thought I knew about what was happening into something very, very different.
In addition to elevating this developing story to a higher plane, Bale also manages to up the ante on a personal level, as well. There are threats galore, and back-stabbings aplenty, in addition to attempted murder by backpack bombs, and a few other surprises that I shall not spoil. Let’s just say that uniting all these various personalities from the prior two books under the umbrella of a larger, looming nightmare does not make everything all hunky-dory. These are characters with conflicting personalities and personal agendas of their own, which provides a strong, tense backdrop to the proceedings. I really liked the espionage-like tone that Weaver’s mission took on in the book’s latter half, giving it a sort of Mission: Impossible vibe that I truly dug.
So, there’s one more book to go in this Beyond The Wall series, and I fully expect it to be wrought with peril and adventure. How Bale will tie everything up is the big question, and I can only hope there isn’t too long of a wait.
One of the great joys in discovering a fresh, new voice early on in their career is being able to watch and read how they have developed as an author over time. When I met Lucas Bale a year ago on KBoards and became familiar with his work via The Heretic, his first release, I was impressed with the crisp writing and clear authorial voice, as well as an engaging story that held so much promise for future works. I was eager to see where he would go, and I absolutely loved his second book, Defiance. And I’m not saying all this because I consider Lucas a friend, nor because we’ve worked together in the past and will again in the near-future. I’m approaching these works as a reader, first and foremost, as well as, now, a fan.
As such, I hope it is with a measure of trust between us, dear reader, when I say that A Shroud of Night and Tears is by far his most accomplished work. In fact, I feel somewhat urged to not give this book five stars, simply because Bale gets better and better with each work. I could rightly give this title four starts knowing full-well that, in all due likelihood, his next book will top this. If I keep giving him five stars, where the hell does he go from there? This is likely a problem many of his fans face, as well, so perhaps there is some commiseration to be had. Still, I’m giving it those coveted 5-stars because it’s easily one of the best sci-fi titles I’ve read this year, and one of the strongest space opera books I’ve read in ages. It is, in short, phenomenal!
Those readers that were disappointed by the sudden change in characters in Defiance and the brief pause to tell a new story with the lawman, Weaver, and his prey, Natasha, will be heartened to know that Shepherd, Jordi, and the preacher from The Heretic all make their return here, in addition to those fresh, new faces introduced in the previous book.
A Shroud of Night and Tears provides an awesome landscape in which to unite these disparate figures, pitting them together in a scenario that remarkably shifts the series’ overarching threat into something far grander than I had initially expected at the outset of Beyond The Wall. I know this sounds vague, but I’m trying to avoid spoilers, because there is such a huge plot development in this penultimate work that twists everything I thought I knew about what was happening into something very, very different.
In addition to elevating this developing story to a higher plane, Bale also manages to up the ante on a personal level, as well. There are threats galore, and back-stabbings aplenty, in addition to attempted murder by backpack bombs, and a few other surprises that I shall not spoil. Let’s just say that uniting all these various personalities from the prior two books under the umbrella of a larger, looming nightmare does not make everything all hunky-dory. These are characters with conflicting personalities and personal agendas of their own, which provides a strong, tense backdrop to the proceedings. I really liked the espionage-like tone that Weaver’s mission took on in the book’s latter half, giving it a sort of Mission: Impossible vibe that I truly dug.
So, there’s one more book to go in this Beyond The Wall series, and I fully expect it to be wrought with peril and adventure. How Bale will tie everything up is the big question, and I can only hope there isn’t too long of a wait.
May 27, 2015
I had the very great honor of being able to alpha read this book, but my review is based on the finished product. I absolutely had to read it again once I received the final version because it is THAT good.
I can't really say anything about Bale's writing that hasn't already been said. You guys, he is the real deal. I feel like I somehow met Asmiov, or Bradbury, or Clarke, or any of the sci-fi greats, before they got famous. Honestly I am kind of getting chills thinking about it. Bale's writing is incredible. If you want gorgeous landscapes, breathtaking action, deep characters with incredible growth, and a true, intimate connection with a story, you can not go wrong with any of his work.
This 3rd BTW book is a little hard to review because there is a mega-huge surprise that I cannot spoil for you. Seriously, everything you knew about Bale's world suddenly gets turned upside down. The intensity intensifies, if you will.
The first act was wonderfully well-written, and by the time I got to the end of it, I was shocked (pleasantly so) at how much book I had left. The climax of this first act was such a doozy, I felt like it could easily hold an entire book on its own. But wait, there's more!
One of my favorite parts was the action sequence in the second act, which happens in smaller bursts from each POV, as the "team" (I use team loosely) has all split up and is doing different things. So you get a bit of A, a bit of B, a bit of C, then back to A, and so on. I really loved the way Bale handled this because it felt like a heist movie. You saw little bits and pieces falling together, but only at the end did you get to see and appreciate the genius planning. It was like playing mental Tetris, a bit, fitting it all together--again, in a good way! I was having an absolute blast reading this!
The best part is that there are more books to come! Put Lucas Bale on every "to watch" list you have. Pay attention to that name. It's going places.
I can't really say anything about Bale's writing that hasn't already been said. You guys, he is the real deal. I feel like I somehow met Asmiov, or Bradbury, or Clarke, or any of the sci-fi greats, before they got famous. Honestly I am kind of getting chills thinking about it. Bale's writing is incredible. If you want gorgeous landscapes, breathtaking action, deep characters with incredible growth, and a true, intimate connection with a story, you can not go wrong with any of his work.
This 3rd BTW book is a little hard to review because there is a mega-huge surprise that I cannot spoil for you. Seriously, everything you knew about Bale's world suddenly gets turned upside down. The intensity intensifies, if you will.
The first act was wonderfully well-written, and by the time I got to the end of it, I was shocked (pleasantly so) at how much book I had left. The climax of this first act was such a doozy, I felt like it could easily hold an entire book on its own. But wait, there's more!
One of my favorite parts was the action sequence in the second act, which happens in smaller bursts from each POV, as the "team" (I use team loosely) has all split up and is doing different things. So you get a bit of A, a bit of B, a bit of C, then back to A, and so on. I really loved the way Bale handled this because it felt like a heist movie. You saw little bits and pieces falling together, but only at the end did you get to see and appreciate the genius planning. It was like playing mental Tetris, a bit, fitting it all together--again, in a good way! I was having an absolute blast reading this!
The best part is that there are more books to come! Put Lucas Bale on every "to watch" list you have. Pay attention to that name. It's going places.
May 22, 2015
This third volume in the Beyond the Wall series brings characters from the preceding two together and gives the reader a bigger picture. This is a longer book than its predecessors and a really exciting and meaty read. Lucas Bale doesn’t merely tell you about his settings, he has the ability to take you there. We have followed several groups of people, been let into the politics of the group and their repressive ‘Republic’ and we’ve felt the desire they have to be free. They are all fitted with implants and heavily monitored by security cameras and gunships. It’s all a bit grim.
There are several brilliant revelatory moments in this book. I felt as if I’d been gazing at my navel then suddenly looked up. The author has the ability to change your view of his world in a sentence or two and it happens here more than once. I soon tire of the kind of science fiction which is just one relentless war after another but this is all driven by people. It’s like studying something at a cellular level and I’m left wanting to know what’s going to happen now. This is intelligently conceived and elegantly written science fiction and I’ve found this series getting better with each book.
I received an advance copy for review.
There are several brilliant revelatory moments in this book. I felt as if I’d been gazing at my navel then suddenly looked up. The author has the ability to change your view of his world in a sentence or two and it happens here more than once. I soon tire of the kind of science fiction which is just one relentless war after another but this is all driven by people. It’s like studying something at a cellular level and I’m left wanting to know what’s going to happen now. This is intelligently conceived and elegantly written science fiction and I’ve found this series getting better with each book.
I received an advance copy for review.
May 27, 2015
I'm not sure where to start with this. I'm running out of great things to say about Lucas Bale and his Beyond the Wall series of books. I've been a huge fan from the very beginning. I've waited on tender hooks for every subsequent release and have never been disappointed. This one was no different. Better even. I would go as far as to say this one is his best for. I can't recommend this book highly enough if you're a fan of Sci-Fi. I would say though that you need to read the first 2 books before starting on this one. It just makes the experience all the better.
May 22, 2015
This book picked up right where the second left off with lots of action. This series has continuously improved--I enjoyed the second book much more than the first, and I enjoyed this one even more. There are some nice surprises here, and some of the longstanding questions I have had throughout the series are finally answered here. Also, we get a convergence of character arcs that had been separated between books one and two. The big plot twist is truly intriguing (though I won't spoil it here) and leaves us knowing that some amazing things are going to happen next, even if we can only guess at the direction it will go. I can't wait for the fourth book!
September 1, 2015
The third installment in the Beyond the Wall series advances deeper into the universe giving it vast scale. Exciting, well-written, and obviously well thought out, it is definitely worth picking up. I had a few issues in the middle and towards the end but they are more about my own individual preferences when reading action/adventure.
The novel advances the story of the protagonists in the first and second novels. We learn that the Preacher is part of a vast conspiracy attempting to free humanity from the Magistratus, only it is not from mere oppression. Shepherd is still a reluctant participant in the conspiracy, while Jordi, the boy who saw his brother hanged, thirsts for revenge.
From the second novel, we learn Weaver, an agent of the Magistratus, and Natasha, a wanted murderer, are stranded on the same remote planet. Also there is Gant, the leader of a small group of survivors all sent there as bait in some sort of brutal training exercise. The Peacekeepers seem to be training a bizarre and vicious unit known as the chukiri, training them by having them hunt ex-cons like Gant. The three find themselves on the same side of a hunt, all desperately trying to survive and get off the planet.
All of their stories collide with Elias, the servant of one of the top leaders in the Magistratus, and many others. Humanity is heading towards an apocalypse and somehow all of these characters have to work together if the species is going to survive.
Shroud of Night and Tears combines great action with the feel of a spy thriller, all set in a futuristic dystopia ruled by a faceless menace called the Magistratus. While one of the leaders is called Preacher, there is no religious angle to the conflict. It is much more about survival than faith or revolution. Politics plays into some of the scenes but I wouldn't classify this one as a political intrigue or thriller.
The best tags for it are space opera and sci-fi adventure.
The plot is very complex with most of it coming from the distant third person perspective of six different characters. It is a lot of keep track of but everything fits and works well together. The world building is fairly straightforward and Bale spends little time on technical details, all positives in my book.
What drives the story is the various perspectives of and reactions to interstellar events. The characters come from different backgrounds and all struggle to cope with the threat of apocalypse. In the end, they decide to join the conspiracy, some more directly than others. The dynamic is interesting with the different personalities forming a jagged and unholy alliance. There is little trust or understanding.
While interesting, I struggled a little with the dynamic in the second half of the book. First, there are a lot of characters so it took some patience and thought to keep up. Second, the interaction among the characters was pretty monotonous: "I dont trust you", "yeah well I don't trust you either", "we don't need to like each other to work together", and so on. The repetitive dialogue diluted some of the uniqueness of the various characters.
The antagonists, the Magistratus and their Peacekeepers, are pure evil. They are aggressive, ruthless, and obsessed with power. There are only short glimpses of the leadership. There is no subtlety or redeeming qualities in any of them from what I can tell. Generally I prefer a little bit of nuance and development of the antagonist but other readers may not.
The plot also expands dramatically in scale and excitement. While there was plenty of action in the first two novels, this one sends you to several worlds and explores new problems and technologies. Bale doesn't get technical but he introduces many new elements. As a result, the novels in the series are not balanced at all, making it unpredictable. For the most part, I like unpredictable. I can honestly say I have no idea where this series is going.
There are some quirks to the prose itself. Bale uses apostrophes instead of quotation marks, not sure why. The descriptions are very interesting and forced me to extend my vocabulary a bit. This might annoy some readers but it was not a problem for me. The ending is open-ended but lays out everything nicely for the next one. It is exactly what was needed after the second novel answered virtually none of the questions from the first.
A Shroud of Night and Tears is a very entertaining and satisfying middle novel of a series. Beyond the Wall really comes together with this one. The frequent shifts in POV and perspectives and repetitive dialogue took a little away for me. It also has some structural quirks but overall I really enjoyed this one and recommend it for nearly all science fiction fans.
The novel advances the story of the protagonists in the first and second novels. We learn that the Preacher is part of a vast conspiracy attempting to free humanity from the Magistratus, only it is not from mere oppression. Shepherd is still a reluctant participant in the conspiracy, while Jordi, the boy who saw his brother hanged, thirsts for revenge.
From the second novel, we learn Weaver, an agent of the Magistratus, and Natasha, a wanted murderer, are stranded on the same remote planet. Also there is Gant, the leader of a small group of survivors all sent there as bait in some sort of brutal training exercise. The Peacekeepers seem to be training a bizarre and vicious unit known as the chukiri, training them by having them hunt ex-cons like Gant. The three find themselves on the same side of a hunt, all desperately trying to survive and get off the planet.
All of their stories collide with Elias, the servant of one of the top leaders in the Magistratus, and many others. Humanity is heading towards an apocalypse and somehow all of these characters have to work together if the species is going to survive.
Shroud of Night and Tears combines great action with the feel of a spy thriller, all set in a futuristic dystopia ruled by a faceless menace called the Magistratus. While one of the leaders is called Preacher, there is no religious angle to the conflict. It is much more about survival than faith or revolution. Politics plays into some of the scenes but I wouldn't classify this one as a political intrigue or thriller.
The best tags for it are space opera and sci-fi adventure.
The plot is very complex with most of it coming from the distant third person perspective of six different characters. It is a lot of keep track of but everything fits and works well together. The world building is fairly straightforward and Bale spends little time on technical details, all positives in my book.
What drives the story is the various perspectives of and reactions to interstellar events. The characters come from different backgrounds and all struggle to cope with the threat of apocalypse. In the end, they decide to join the conspiracy, some more directly than others. The dynamic is interesting with the different personalities forming a jagged and unholy alliance. There is little trust or understanding.
While interesting, I struggled a little with the dynamic in the second half of the book. First, there are a lot of characters so it took some patience and thought to keep up. Second, the interaction among the characters was pretty monotonous: "I dont trust you", "yeah well I don't trust you either", "we don't need to like each other to work together", and so on. The repetitive dialogue diluted some of the uniqueness of the various characters.
The antagonists, the Magistratus and their Peacekeepers, are pure evil. They are aggressive, ruthless, and obsessed with power. There are only short glimpses of the leadership. There is no subtlety or redeeming qualities in any of them from what I can tell. Generally I prefer a little bit of nuance and development of the antagonist but other readers may not.
The plot also expands dramatically in scale and excitement. While there was plenty of action in the first two novels, this one sends you to several worlds and explores new problems and technologies. Bale doesn't get technical but he introduces many new elements. As a result, the novels in the series are not balanced at all, making it unpredictable. For the most part, I like unpredictable. I can honestly say I have no idea where this series is going.
There are some quirks to the prose itself. Bale uses apostrophes instead of quotation marks, not sure why. The descriptions are very interesting and forced me to extend my vocabulary a bit. This might annoy some readers but it was not a problem for me. The ending is open-ended but lays out everything nicely for the next one. It is exactly what was needed after the second novel answered virtually none of the questions from the first.
A Shroud of Night and Tears is a very entertaining and satisfying middle novel of a series. Beyond the Wall really comes together with this one. The frequent shifts in POV and perspectives and repetitive dialogue took a little away for me. It also has some structural quirks but overall I really enjoyed this one and recommend it for nearly all science fiction fans.
October 5, 2015
Warning: this review contains major spoilers. If you’re interested in my thoughts on this book, just take a look at the star rating (4/5 if you’re reading this on my blog) and then read the book first. Which you’re doubtless going to, if you’ve made it this far already. This review is more of a discussion for anyone who’s already read it.
Let’s forget how I never cared for the title of this book much. Even if you agree with me that it doesn’t sound consistent with the other titles in the series and ‘tears’ makes it a little effusive, it was irrelevant once I started reading, and a few pages in decided that Lucas Bale has already won this year’s prize for the funniest paragraph I’ve read:
(Apologies for censoring stars if you’re reading this review on Amazon.) I had to explain to someone at work why I was laughing at this line when I read it on my break. All I said was I’d found the kind of sci-fi joke that makes other authors jealous.
So to the serious stuff then: this is the book that brings the characters of Heretic and Defiance together, tying their stories up for a common purpose: and there’s some interesting use of a variation on early on in the book. Some readers have criticised the series saying that the hard science either isn’t hard enough or is just simply wrong, but my argument is that I’m reading science fiction rather than science fact, and Lucas Bale’s twisting of such ideas is part of the meat that’s often added to the bones in this increasingly complex and lengthy series - and I’ll take a moment of ego trip here and say that I called this in my review of Heretic. What started as a fast paced narrative with a seemingly simple setup has now slowed (albeit only very slightly) and become the foundations and first floor of full on space opera. There’s potential here for this series to snowball, and I’d like it if it did go for Hamilton-esque scale in several more books, even though I’m only aware of one forthcoming title. The economy of Bale’s style that I praised before is still here though, and I expect it will all be wrapped up in a neat package in his forthcoming book.
Some characters develop in this book and others stay the same. I personally liked this: not every character is meant to change, and with an ever increasing cast it’s far better to have these changes only when they’re natural and fitting with what’s going on. They always are.
I could afford very much the same praise given to the first two books. The one thing stopping this from being a five star review is that I simply didn’t get the same addiction to it that I got from the first two books combined. It was rather like the reading equivalent of getting used to a new and more powerful car: it’s like a rocket for the first few drives but once you’re used to the speed you’re already saying ‘Come on come on!’ when your foot’s on the floor. I got this in the last 3rd of the book but for the first 2 things ran out of pace a little bit. This shouldn’t matter though - it’s a fair trade for the complexity of plot and diverse locations now coming into play. I look forward to the next book.
Let’s forget how I never cared for the title of this book much. Even if you agree with me that it doesn’t sound consistent with the other titles in the series and ‘tears’ makes it a little effusive, it was irrelevant once I started reading, and a few pages in decided that Lucas Bale has already won this year’s prize for the funniest paragraph I’ve read:
(Apologies for censoring stars if you’re reading this review on Amazon.) I had to explain to someone at work why I was laughing at this line when I read it on my break. All I said was I’d found the kind of sci-fi joke that makes other authors jealous.
So to the serious stuff then: this is the book that brings the characters of Heretic and Defiance together, tying their stories up for a common purpose: and there’s some interesting use of a variation on early on in the book. Some readers have criticised the series saying that the hard science either isn’t hard enough or is just simply wrong, but my argument is that I’m reading science fiction rather than science fact, and Lucas Bale’s twisting of such ideas is part of the meat that’s often added to the bones in this increasingly complex and lengthy series - and I’ll take a moment of ego trip here and say that I called this in my review of Heretic. What started as a fast paced narrative with a seemingly simple setup has now slowed (albeit only very slightly) and become the foundations and first floor of full on space opera. There’s potential here for this series to snowball, and I’d like it if it did go for Hamilton-esque scale in several more books, even though I’m only aware of one forthcoming title. The economy of Bale’s style that I praised before is still here though, and I expect it will all be wrapped up in a neat package in his forthcoming book.
Some characters develop in this book and others stay the same. I personally liked this: not every character is meant to change, and with an ever increasing cast it’s far better to have these changes only when they’re natural and fitting with what’s going on. They always are.
I could afford very much the same praise given to the first two books. The one thing stopping this from being a five star review is that I simply didn’t get the same addiction to it that I got from the first two books combined. It was rather like the reading equivalent of getting used to a new and more powerful car: it’s like a rocket for the first few drives but once you’re used to the speed you’re already saying ‘Come on come on!’ when your foot’s on the floor. I got this in the last 3rd of the book but for the first 2 things ran out of pace a little bit. This shouldn’t matter though - it’s a fair trade for the complexity of plot and diverse locations now coming into play. I look forward to the next book.
June 24, 2015
Lucas Bale has Jumped to my Favorite Authors List
I thought Heretic was exciting, Defiance the best space opera I have read this decade, but A Shroud of Night and Tears, the third in the Beyond the Wall series surpassed even that. It raised the entire series to classic level. Space Opera just doesn't get better than this.
Not only are there multiple levels of military black ops, there is the blackmarket, revolutionaries, spies, diverse intelligent life from outer space , counter espionage, and traitors all working diverse ends in all of it.
To get the most out of these books, you have to pay attention. No skimming! There are a lot of insidious plots, many notable and heinous characters, no lack of points of view, enough action, future tech and suspense to thrill the biggest junkie, and all of this adds up to 3/4 of this incomparable series. If the fourth book continues the trend, it will be so incredible that people will be unable to review it.
Mr. Bale has a way of perfectly blending themes, similar to the way a Mozart and Beethoven would have blended musical motifs within a Symphony to create the different movements, yet still tie them all together into a single, cohesive piece. Bale works with moral themes, personal choice themes, as well as themes regarding power and blends them together with the actions that people carry out to achieve the goals that achieve these themes. The result is a highly orchestrated symphony of a story that has each character acting out a moral imperative on many different levels ( physical, psychological, spiritual, political) that fits loosely into one of these themes in the form of a goal. Their actions then drive the action, as crises, hatred, new enemies and changing conditions all play into ever adapting actions.
In the end, if you refine the playing field, you must reassess your goals and your actions. This is where many characters find themselves in this third book. At different points, the rug is pulled out from under one character after another. How each deals with this new epiphany determines everything moving forward. Past priorities fall by the wayside, while the new reality takes center stage. A single question remains: what does this mean now? The answer to this question separates the men from the boys, and may determine if you are alive for book four.
Lucas Bale, publish book four immediately! After reading three books, I cannot wait to find out how Weaver saves people, and Preacher gets a new flock. Skyork finally gets his butt kicked. Gant continues the war he started. Jordi grows up on a new planet. Natasha gets clean and Shepherd gets his freighter back. Different factions of Aliens decide to help or harm the humans.
These three books aren't just HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! They are on the level of:
Just Buy the Bloody Books Already...
Bravo Mr. Bale.
I thought Heretic was exciting, Defiance the best space opera I have read this decade, but A Shroud of Night and Tears, the third in the Beyond the Wall series surpassed even that. It raised the entire series to classic level. Space Opera just doesn't get better than this.
Not only are there multiple levels of military black ops, there is the blackmarket, revolutionaries, spies, diverse intelligent life from outer space , counter espionage, and traitors all working diverse ends in all of it.
To get the most out of these books, you have to pay attention. No skimming! There are a lot of insidious plots, many notable and heinous characters, no lack of points of view, enough action, future tech and suspense to thrill the biggest junkie, and all of this adds up to 3/4 of this incomparable series. If the fourth book continues the trend, it will be so incredible that people will be unable to review it.
Mr. Bale has a way of perfectly blending themes, similar to the way a Mozart and Beethoven would have blended musical motifs within a Symphony to create the different movements, yet still tie them all together into a single, cohesive piece. Bale works with moral themes, personal choice themes, as well as themes regarding power and blends them together with the actions that people carry out to achieve the goals that achieve these themes. The result is a highly orchestrated symphony of a story that has each character acting out a moral imperative on many different levels ( physical, psychological, spiritual, political) that fits loosely into one of these themes in the form of a goal. Their actions then drive the action, as crises, hatred, new enemies and changing conditions all play into ever adapting actions.
In the end, if you refine the playing field, you must reassess your goals and your actions. This is where many characters find themselves in this third book. At different points, the rug is pulled out from under one character after another. How each deals with this new epiphany determines everything moving forward. Past priorities fall by the wayside, while the new reality takes center stage. A single question remains: what does this mean now? The answer to this question separates the men from the boys, and may determine if you are alive for book four.
Lucas Bale, publish book four immediately! After reading three books, I cannot wait to find out how Weaver saves people, and Preacher gets a new flock. Skyork finally gets his butt kicked. Gant continues the war he started. Jordi grows up on a new planet. Natasha gets clean and Shepherd gets his freighter back. Different factions of Aliens decide to help or harm the humans.
These three books aren't just HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! They are on the level of:
Just Buy the Bloody Books Already...
Bravo Mr. Bale.
July 29, 2018
When I read the first two books of this series, The Heretic and Defiance, I immediately fell in love. The story and characters were fantastic, and I knew I had stumbled across something epic. To my delight, things only became more epic in this third installment. A Shroud of Night and Tears is brilliantly crafted, with countless twists and turns I didn’t see coming, but which still made perfect sense after the fact. The story is filled with betrayal and double-crossing, which are some of my very favorite things in stories - especially when you don’t see it coming. The plot becomes increasingly more complex and intriguing as different storylines are expertly woven together so that there is never a dull moment.
Shroud starts off by introducing us to another new set of characters and storyline, though it becomes evident early on that this will tie into events from the previous books pretty quickly. We soon see the return of Natasha, Weaver, Shepherd, and other familiar characters as they are all forced to work together, whether they like it or not. The stakes are raised for all of them, and it’s interesting to see how each of them deals with the situation differently. After finishing the book last night, I was trying to think of who my favorite character in the series is, and I honestly can’t pick one. I love Gant’s devotion to protecting his people at all costs. I love the contrast in Natasha’s character; she’s had a hard life and is obviously damaged as a result, but she still has a softer, caring side. I love Shepherd’s stubbornness and automatic resistance to everything and everyone. I love watching Weaver’s inner transformation, which we saw a lot of in Defiance and continues here. All of the characters feel so real and are fantastically written.
And speaking of the writing, I’m still just kind of in awe of how good the writing is. The descriptions provide a clear picture of everything that’s happening and everything the characters are feeling, and the pacing is spot-on. I’ve read a lot of great books by indie authors in the last few years, but Lucas Bale is easily one of the best. I will eagerly look forward to anything else he writes, and I’m already excited to see what’s next for this series.
Shroud starts off by introducing us to another new set of characters and storyline, though it becomes evident early on that this will tie into events from the previous books pretty quickly. We soon see the return of Natasha, Weaver, Shepherd, and other familiar characters as they are all forced to work together, whether they like it or not. The stakes are raised for all of them, and it’s interesting to see how each of them deals with the situation differently. After finishing the book last night, I was trying to think of who my favorite character in the series is, and I honestly can’t pick one. I love Gant’s devotion to protecting his people at all costs. I love the contrast in Natasha’s character; she’s had a hard life and is obviously damaged as a result, but she still has a softer, caring side. I love Shepherd’s stubbornness and automatic resistance to everything and everyone. I love watching Weaver’s inner transformation, which we saw a lot of in Defiance and continues here. All of the characters feel so real and are fantastically written.
And speaking of the writing, I’m still just kind of in awe of how good the writing is. The descriptions provide a clear picture of everything that’s happening and everything the characters are feeling, and the pacing is spot-on. I’ve read a lot of great books by indie authors in the last few years, but Lucas Bale is easily one of the best. I will eagerly look forward to anything else he writes, and I’m already excited to see what’s next for this series.
June 25, 2015
I was sent this as an ARC from the author in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
I'm shying way from giving 5 Stars to books unless they really are exceptional, but this book is exactly that. You can tell that Lucas has poured a huge amount of energy into crafting this third instalment of his Beyond the Wall series.
Each book in the series has got progressively larger and more complex with twists and turns that keep the interest.... and at least one late night that led to me sleeping in and nearly missing work! The level of detail and thought that has gone into the plot is impressive and it's already one of the most original scifi series that I've ever read. Impressive when you consider this is already a genre that's fit to bursting. It's part political intrigue, part spy thriller, a wee bit Firefly-esque with a touch of the X Files thrown in.
I'm not going to go too far into the plot, I don't feel I could do it justice and I feel that this is a book you should read without the hint of any spoilers.
There are no predictable 'goodies' and 'baddies' here, the characters are flawed, a bit broken (mentally and physically!), they're conflicted and they feel very real.
This is space opera that is easily as good as anything by Peter Hamilton.
I'm shying way from giving 5 Stars to books unless they really are exceptional, but this book is exactly that. You can tell that Lucas has poured a huge amount of energy into crafting this third instalment of his Beyond the Wall series.
Each book in the series has got progressively larger and more complex with twists and turns that keep the interest.... and at least one late night that led to me sleeping in and nearly missing work! The level of detail and thought that has gone into the plot is impressive and it's already one of the most original scifi series that I've ever read. Impressive when you consider this is already a genre that's fit to bursting. It's part political intrigue, part spy thriller, a wee bit Firefly-esque with a touch of the X Files thrown in.
I'm not going to go too far into the plot, I don't feel I could do it justice and I feel that this is a book you should read without the hint of any spoilers.
There are no predictable 'goodies' and 'baddies' here, the characters are flawed, a bit broken (mentally and physically!), they're conflicted and they feel very real.
This is space opera that is easily as good as anything by Peter Hamilton.
January 3, 2016
I'd give this 3.5 stars.
This was an interesting book which both expanded the scale of the story significantly and we finally got to see how the two strands from books 1 and 2 fit together. The universe continues to be intriguing and you can tell a lot of thought went into the way the society was made up and the history behind it. I also really enjoyed Weaver's journey from a no-nonsense enforcer of the law to somebody questioning the fundamentals of the world as he knows it.
That said, I felt the book lost some cohesion from the middle onwards because no sooner were the two major story threads brought together the story split apart again. At the same time, new characters were introduced and at times I struggled to remember who was who (and I'm used to reading complex novels with large casts of characters). This led to times where I struggled to maintain interest, although this may be partly due to external factors rather than the book itself.
As with the previous two books it was well written and there were times where I couldn't put the book down. It's a solid middle book but I felt with a few tweaks to the structure it could have been
This was an interesting book which both expanded the scale of the story significantly and we finally got to see how the two strands from books 1 and 2 fit together. The universe continues to be intriguing and you can tell a lot of thought went into the way the society was made up and the history behind it. I also really enjoyed Weaver's journey from a no-nonsense enforcer of the law to somebody questioning the fundamentals of the world as he knows it.
That said, I felt the book lost some cohesion from the middle onwards because no sooner were the two major story threads brought together the story split apart again. At the same time, new characters were introduced and at times I struggled to remember who was who (and I'm used to reading complex novels with large casts of characters). This led to times where I struggled to maintain interest, although this may be partly due to external factors rather than the book itself.
As with the previous two books it was well written and there were times where I couldn't put the book down. It's a solid middle book but I felt with a few tweaks to the structure it could have been
May 26, 2015
This series just gets better and better! I really liked the previous books, but this one is the best yet!
New characters from this book are added to characters from the first and second books and they find themselves entwined as their world changes dramatically. The characters represent all levels of society from the privileged to the prisoners and we see how each one reacts differently to the changes that sweep them up into the story. Interactions between the unlikely--and often unwilling--allies remain realistically strained, even as they fight for what they hope is a common cause.
I love the characters and how the author keeps them in focus even as the story's complexity increases exponentially. Be warned, however, this novel ends as the tension continues to build, and we will have to wait for the final installment for any closure!
With this book, Lucas Bale has placed himself on my short list of favorite authors. I can't wait to read more!
New characters from this book are added to characters from the first and second books and they find themselves entwined as their world changes dramatically. The characters represent all levels of society from the privileged to the prisoners and we see how each one reacts differently to the changes that sweep them up into the story. Interactions between the unlikely--and often unwilling--allies remain realistically strained, even as they fight for what they hope is a common cause.
I love the characters and how the author keeps them in focus even as the story's complexity increases exponentially. Be warned, however, this novel ends as the tension continues to build, and we will have to wait for the final installment for any closure!
With this book, Lucas Bale has placed himself on my short list of favorite authors. I can't wait to read more!
March 13, 2016
If only I could give six stars.... Mr Bale has just become one of my favorite authors (and this means a lot coming from me).
This is the third book in the Beyond the Wall series. We get to know new protagonists and we also meet the 'old ones'. The story also gets more complex, this is not your usual dystopia, where good guys fight against bad guys. This is so much more than that. There are twists and turns and surprises in the story, it does not go where you would expect is to go. And it is good like this. You just can't put it down. The character development is also just perfect. You get to know them, like them (well, some of them at least ;)), think with them and also struggle with them in their difficulties.
Small criticism: there are still a few typos, like in the previous books, but the story makes up for them.
This is the third book in the Beyond the Wall series. We get to know new protagonists and we also meet the 'old ones'. The story also gets more complex, this is not your usual dystopia, where good guys fight against bad guys. This is so much more than that. There are twists and turns and surprises in the story, it does not go where you would expect is to go. And it is good like this. You just can't put it down. The character development is also just perfect. You get to know them, like them (well, some of them at least ;)), think with them and also struggle with them in their difficulties.
Small criticism: there are still a few typos, like in the previous books, but the story makes up for them.
June 4, 2015
This book really caught me off guard. I very much enjoyed the first and second books in the series, but I don’t think I was prepared for the way in which they would meet and blow the story wide open.
I think Bale has really hit his mark here. The sense you get of the wider universe and the over-arching storyline is epic. Puts me a bit in mind of some of Iain M Banks’ work.
There were more twists and turns than I could ever have imagined; avenues and situations I could never have guessed we’d exploring. All in all, a thrill ride that leaves me clamouring for more. I can’t wait to find out what happens next.
I think Bale has really hit his mark here. The sense you get of the wider universe and the over-arching storyline is epic. Puts me a bit in mind of some of Iain M Banks’ work.
There were more twists and turns than I could ever have imagined; avenues and situations I could never have guessed we’d exploring. All in all, a thrill ride that leaves me clamouring for more. I can’t wait to find out what happens next.
May 27, 2015
As I mentioned in my reviews for the other books, Lucas Bale keeps getting better and better with each book he writes. This one is no exception. Once you begin to read 'A Shroud of Night and Tears', it's difficult to put it down. It's sad to think that there will be only one more book.
May 26, 2015
This series just gets better with each entry. Any fan of sci -fi, or just good stories, owes it to themselves to read this series. Lucas Bale is the only author besides Jim Butcher, that makes me drop what I'm reading to read his latest. Highest recommendation.
May 26, 2015
An excellent continuation in Lucas Bale's epic hard science fiction drama saga 'Beyond The Wall'!
This is part three in a four part series, which continues with the final book later this year (I hope!).
This is part three in a four part series, which continues with the final book later this year (I hope!).
December 14, 2018
I don't think I've ever given any author less than 4 stars, but. .
The author has a good imagination. The story was good, the world's and characters were ok. My problem is that the books are too scattered. The author seems to think the books are read one after the other. In fact, it could be months between books. Referring to characters in book 1 while reading book 3 a few months later allow us to forget about the characters in book 1. It was very frustrating to try and figure out who they were. Some characters seemed to just disappear and then show up in another book. Another issue is there was no separation for change of scenes. Some extra spaces or a symbol let's the reader know the story has moved on within a chapter. Several times I had to go back a few pages to catch the change.
The whole layout of the book was frustrating to me. I won't be reading any more from this author.
The author has a good imagination. The story was good, the world's and characters were ok. My problem is that the books are too scattered. The author seems to think the books are read one after the other. In fact, it could be months between books. Referring to characters in book 1 while reading book 3 a few months later allow us to forget about the characters in book 1. It was very frustrating to try and figure out who they were. Some characters seemed to just disappear and then show up in another book. Another issue is there was no separation for change of scenes. Some extra spaces or a symbol let's the reader know the story has moved on within a chapter. Several times I had to go back a few pages to catch the change.
The whole layout of the book was frustrating to me. I won't be reading any more from this author.
February 15, 2021
The stories continue and come together
In the first books there were several seemingly disconnected stories. In this book they all start to connect but maybe not in the way expected.
Fair warning though. The first 3 books of this series were written 2014-2015 and in the after word for this one murre were promised. It's now 2021 and there haven't been any and unfortunately this leaves you with a cliff hanger.
In the first books there were several seemingly disconnected stories. In this book they all start to connect but maybe not in the way expected.
Fair warning though. The first 3 books of this series were written 2014-2015 and in the after word for this one murre were promised. It's now 2021 and there haven't been any and unfortunately this leaves you with a cliff hanger.
Currently reading
March 24, 2021Beyond the Wall Series Third Book
I have immensely enjoyed the four available parts to this series, but the third novel (A Shroud of Night and Tears (Book Three)) does not seem to really be an ending. Will there be a concluding book?
I have immensely enjoyed the four available parts to this series, but the third novel (A Shroud of Night and Tears (Book Three)) does not seem to really be an ending. Will there be a concluding book?
July 24, 2020
Awesome series
I wouldn’t compAre him with anyone he writes with his own style and tells a great story if you like sci fi go with bale he writes it!!!!
I wouldn’t compAre him with anyone he writes with his own style and tells a great story if you like sci fi go with bale he writes it!!!!
August 2, 2025
*drums fingers impatiently on the desk while waiting for the next book to conclude the story.
June 1, 2015
A Shroud of Night and Tears is the penultimate episode in Lucas Bale’s Beyond the Wall Series and it is indeed epic in it’s scale and the story that Bale is weaving. This is a game of high stakes where the tension slowly builds until it unwinds and impacts the reader like a tightly coiled spring.
I would admit to being quite attached to the characters of Jordi and Shepherd in book one ‘The Heretic’ and then Bale broke many hearts when they were nowhere to be seen in ‘Defiance’ but what he did was to introduce us to Weaver and Natasha; two characters who have more than their fair share of issues. In book three, Bale introduces us to even more characters, for example, Gant, an unlikely leader considering his criminal background.
Bale’s skill as a writer means that the increasing numbers of characters does not slow down the plot development or weigh down the story. These characters are integral to the expansive universe that Bale has built and when Jordi and Shepherd finally make their entrance you don’t feel as though their absence has invalidated the story that Bale is telling. Every page in book three peels back layers of the characters and we learn more about them; not only their fears but also their motivations.
What surprised me is that I ended up switching allegiances. I thought that I was firmly in the Team Jordi/Shepherd camp but in book three, I found myself in Team Weaver. It could be that I’m attracted to the darkness and internal conflict that surrounds Weaver and also the grating almost suffocating sense of weariness about him. However, he’s not the only one. It’s not easy for characters such as Jordi, Shepherd, Natasha and Weaver to walk away now that the game has changed. These are characters that are being moulded by circumstances and events that are beyond their control.
I admire greatly the talent of any writer who is able to build such a detailed and complex world. There is a lot going on and a lot of angry, frustrated and battle weary characters who are being swept up in an unprecedented state of affairs. As soon as a character feels that they are on safe ground, the rules change. Safe ground is now hostile and the lines of friend or foe are well and truly blurred. A Shroud of Night and Tears is not only great sci-fi but it is also a great thriller. It’s not one mans battle – it’s every man and woman’s battle. Everyone has their role to play, even if they’re not sure what their role is. What is exciting is seeing all of these intricate plot lines coming together and seeing the interaction of the characters as they respond to new challenges and enemies. This is a book of revelations and transitions.
Bales knows how to end a book with a hook and there is a brilliant twist which I did not see coming. With all of these loose ends flying around, I’m looking forward to seeing how Bale grabs them and ties them all together in the final book.
I would admit to being quite attached to the characters of Jordi and Shepherd in book one ‘The Heretic’ and then Bale broke many hearts when they were nowhere to be seen in ‘Defiance’ but what he did was to introduce us to Weaver and Natasha; two characters who have more than their fair share of issues. In book three, Bale introduces us to even more characters, for example, Gant, an unlikely leader considering his criminal background.
Bale’s skill as a writer means that the increasing numbers of characters does not slow down the plot development or weigh down the story. These characters are integral to the expansive universe that Bale has built and when Jordi and Shepherd finally make their entrance you don’t feel as though their absence has invalidated the story that Bale is telling. Every page in book three peels back layers of the characters and we learn more about them; not only their fears but also their motivations.
What surprised me is that I ended up switching allegiances. I thought that I was firmly in the Team Jordi/Shepherd camp but in book three, I found myself in Team Weaver. It could be that I’m attracted to the darkness and internal conflict that surrounds Weaver and also the grating almost suffocating sense of weariness about him. However, he’s not the only one. It’s not easy for characters such as Jordi, Shepherd, Natasha and Weaver to walk away now that the game has changed. These are characters that are being moulded by circumstances and events that are beyond their control.
I admire greatly the talent of any writer who is able to build such a detailed and complex world. There is a lot going on and a lot of angry, frustrated and battle weary characters who are being swept up in an unprecedented state of affairs. As soon as a character feels that they are on safe ground, the rules change. Safe ground is now hostile and the lines of friend or foe are well and truly blurred. A Shroud of Night and Tears is not only great sci-fi but it is also a great thriller. It’s not one mans battle – it’s every man and woman’s battle. Everyone has their role to play, even if they’re not sure what their role is. What is exciting is seeing all of these intricate plot lines coming together and seeing the interaction of the characters as they respond to new challenges and enemies. This is a book of revelations and transitions.
Bales knows how to end a book with a hook and there is a brilliant twist which I did not see coming. With all of these loose ends flying around, I’m looking forward to seeing how Bale grabs them and ties them all together in the final book.
June 3, 2015
A Shroud of Night and Tears-Science Fiction Masterpiece!
Lucas Bale has created another science fiction masterpiece with his third installment in the 'Beyond the Wall' series, entitled 'A Shroud of Night and Tears'. Yes, this is the third book in a series, but each book is a stand-alone and can be understood without reading the others first. I've been reading science fiction for over forty years and consider Lucas Bale's writing to be among the best in recent memory. Why? For me, I like the way his writing, characters and stories have consistently improved from his great start a year ago with 'Defiance'. 'Shroud' interestingly weaves together increasingly complex characters and plot twists in an engrossing read that is hard to put down. I usually find the space opera/hard science fiction genre to be fairly predictable, but that was not my experience with 'Shroud'. Lucas serves up a doozy of a directional change at the end of 'Shroud' that will have his legion of 'Beyond the Wall' fans guessing until the final book comes out. I love the conflicted yet strong characters we meet or get to know better in 'Shroud'. Our Protagonists struggle on despite the crosses each of them bear. Earlier in the series I kept waiting for a villain to emerge. We are introduced to an intriguing villain in 'Shroud'. The interesting thing about this villain and some of the protagonists is that I wasn't sure what drives them. Why are they aligned on the side they seem to be on? Are they actually good or bad? Lucas Bale introduces us to a world of shadows with his characters and plot in 'Shroud' that kept me guessing late into the night. I can't wait to see how he completes the 'Beyond the Wall' series arc with 'Into the Silent Darkness'.
Lucas provided me with an ARC of 'A Shroud of Night and Tears'
Lucas Bale has created another science fiction masterpiece with his third installment in the 'Beyond the Wall' series, entitled 'A Shroud of Night and Tears'. Yes, this is the third book in a series, but each book is a stand-alone and can be understood without reading the others first. I've been reading science fiction for over forty years and consider Lucas Bale's writing to be among the best in recent memory. Why? For me, I like the way his writing, characters and stories have consistently improved from his great start a year ago with 'Defiance'. 'Shroud' interestingly weaves together increasingly complex characters and plot twists in an engrossing read that is hard to put down. I usually find the space opera/hard science fiction genre to be fairly predictable, but that was not my experience with 'Shroud'. Lucas serves up a doozy of a directional change at the end of 'Shroud' that will have his legion of 'Beyond the Wall' fans guessing until the final book comes out. I love the conflicted yet strong characters we meet or get to know better in 'Shroud'. Our Protagonists struggle on despite the crosses each of them bear. Earlier in the series I kept waiting for a villain to emerge. We are introduced to an intriguing villain in 'Shroud'. The interesting thing about this villain and some of the protagonists is that I wasn't sure what drives them. Why are they aligned on the side they seem to be on? Are they actually good or bad? Lucas Bale introduces us to a world of shadows with his characters and plot in 'Shroud' that kept me guessing late into the night. I can't wait to see how he completes the 'Beyond the Wall' series arc with 'Into the Silent Darkness'.
Lucas provided me with an ARC of 'A Shroud of Night and Tears'
July 25, 2015
Goodness, where do I begin? This is such a thrill filled kaleidoscope of swirling drama that a brief description is beyond me. Suffice it to say that in this, the third book of the Beyond the Wall series, the main characters of the first two stories are finally brought together to continue to p!ay out their various roles, chosen and otherwise, of rebellion, trust, betrayal, vio!ence and, hopefully, survival. From sentient ships, through a drug inspired navigator and implant controlled soldiers to an innocent youth still grieving for his brother, all of the main protagonists are artfully drawn as we follow them on the journies they do not understand and which lead them into ever increasing fear and danger. Trust no one. Believe nothing you are told. But enjoy the fabulous descriptions.
This is an ever more complex story which keeps the readers, as well as the main protagonists guessing as the horizons shift almost as fast as the pages turn. In my review of the second book in this series, I gave only four stars but said that I believed that the next one could perhaps merit five stars if the author continued the development and promise shown. A Should of Night and Tears has far exceeded my expectations and my head is still reeling - how long will I have to wait until book four?
I have been fortunate to receive a prepublication copy of this book in return for an honest review. I do not know the author, other than through his work, but would like to say a big thank you to Lucas Bale for the sheer pleasure his books have given me and I wholeheartedly recommend this series to anyone with a love of mysteries and, especially, science fiction.
But don't start with this book, read all three in order to get the full build up of tension, excitement and, of course, character development.
This is an ever more complex story which keeps the readers, as well as the main protagonists guessing as the horizons shift almost as fast as the pages turn. In my review of the second book in this series, I gave only four stars but said that I believed that the next one could perhaps merit five stars if the author continued the development and promise shown. A Should of Night and Tears has far exceeded my expectations and my head is still reeling - how long will I have to wait until book four?
I have been fortunate to receive a prepublication copy of this book in return for an honest review. I do not know the author, other than through his work, but would like to say a big thank you to Lucas Bale for the sheer pleasure his books have given me and I wholeheartedly recommend this series to anyone with a love of mysteries and, especially, science fiction.
But don't start with this book, read all three in order to get the full build up of tension, excitement and, of course, character development.
March 30, 2016
I need the next book, now please!
The third book of Beyond the Wall is nonstop, beginning to end. Much of the first two books begins to fall in place in A Shroud of Night and Tears. The different factions look to gain the advantage in the coming doom awaiting humanity. Lucas Bale has written a fantastic adventure full of action, intrigue, and mystery. As soon as I thought things would settle down and I was sure of where the story was headed a new twist appeared. As I neared the end I knew a cliff hanger was eminent and I was almost ready to strop and try to savoir the story as lon g as I could until the fourth book is out, but this story is so good you can not stop.
As the fate of humanity becomes known to a small few, Shepherd is drawn deeper in the action to save as many people as possible. Weaver, a contemptible character through much of the book, finds his humanity through harrowing life and death scenarios and joins the fight but finds it difficult to understand who is on who's side. The mysterious preacher knows far more than he let's on to Shepherd who loses his closest friend. War is coming!
This is a must read for any SciFi fan!
The third book of Beyond the Wall is nonstop, beginning to end. Much of the first two books begins to fall in place in A Shroud of Night and Tears. The different factions look to gain the advantage in the coming doom awaiting humanity. Lucas Bale has written a fantastic adventure full of action, intrigue, and mystery. As soon as I thought things would settle down and I was sure of where the story was headed a new twist appeared. As I neared the end I knew a cliff hanger was eminent and I was almost ready to strop and try to savoir the story as lon g as I could until the fourth book is out, but this story is so good you can not stop.
As the fate of humanity becomes known to a small few, Shepherd is drawn deeper in the action to save as many people as possible. Weaver, a contemptible character through much of the book, finds his humanity through harrowing life and death scenarios and joins the fight but finds it difficult to understand who is on who's side. The mysterious preacher knows far more than he let's on to Shepherd who loses his closest friend. War is coming!
This is a must read for any SciFi fan!
July 7, 2016
Simply stunning
This is the third book of the "Beyond the Wall" series. And it is simply stunning, the characters are well known and you feel a kind of camaraderie with them. The struggles they share and the visceral feelings for them become consuming. I've become a fan of Lucas Bale, his writing and knack for story telling is a skill to truly behold.
I am truly grateful for the opportunity to read his works and follow his stories. He's done an amazing job of capturing the reader's attention and hold it throughout the book. Giving each character a life that shows just how easily we can change the outcome of events, just by our presence and becoming involved. Each word seems to show the inner struggles that people and characters throughout. Brimming with action and suspense, intrigue pulls you throughout the books bringing you to the end breathless and wanting more. I simply cannot wait for the next book to come out.
This is the third book of the "Beyond the Wall" series. And it is simply stunning, the characters are well known and you feel a kind of camaraderie with them. The struggles they share and the visceral feelings for them become consuming. I've become a fan of Lucas Bale, his writing and knack for story telling is a skill to truly behold.
I am truly grateful for the opportunity to read his works and follow his stories. He's done an amazing job of capturing the reader's attention and hold it throughout the book. Giving each character a life that shows just how easily we can change the outcome of events, just by our presence and becoming involved. Each word seems to show the inner struggles that people and characters throughout. Brimming with action and suspense, intrigue pulls you throughout the books bringing you to the end breathless and wanting more. I simply cannot wait for the next book to come out.
October 7, 2015
NOOOOOOOOO! I was hoping for closure and now there's another novel! A rip roaring read, the series of gambits driving the plot(s) run into each other like blindfolded kittens. We discover what's been going on behind the scenes and what the power brokers have been fearing. A slightly more difficult read this time keeping track of who is doing what and where for whom but nothing Robert Jordan-esque.
Really looking forward to the next one.
Really looking forward to the next one.
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