Fallen

Allies and Enemies #1

by Amy J. Murphy

Fight. Survive. Repeat.

The rules of a soldier are simple.

Born into service of the Regime, Commander Sela Tyron is about as subtle as a hammer. To hammers, any problem can look like a nail, but things aren't always that easy. When Sela is abandoned with her team on a planet full of insurrectionists, things get complicated.

A daredevil rescue by her commanding officer reaps deadly consequences, forcing Sela to choose between the only life she’s ever known and the fate of the man she's duty-bound to protect.

Her whole life was a lie. And that's the good news.

Shirking a life of privilege, Erelah Veradin dreamt of building spaceships to explore the stars in the service of the Regime. Yet a monstrous truth about her true heritage is revealed, placing Erelah at the center of a scheming mastermind's bid for power.

If you love gritty, epic space opera like The Expanse or Firefly, this premier title in the Allies and Enemies series launches you on the ride of a lifetime. Voted Dragon Award Finalist for Best Military Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel by Dragon Con and a Kindle Book Award Finalist.

Suit up. Time to join the fight.

Genres: Science Fiction, Military Fiction, Space Opera, Aliens, Futuristic, War, Fiction

372 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 18, 2015

About the author

Amy J. Murphy is not a Jedi. (Although she’s married to this Scottish guy that claims to be one.) Nor is she a powerful mutant with adamantium claws and super-fast healing, or leader of the human resistance battling to overthrow cyborg overlords.

But, she is a fantastic liar.

She discovered this power at an early age and chose to wield it for good instead of evil (even though the evil part remains highly tempting.) With this power, Amy writes books about space opera featuring kickass heroines. These books are sometimes confused for military science fiction which is an easy mistake to make. She’s ok with this as her debut novel, Allies and Enemies: Fallen, was a finalist for the 2016 Dragon Award for Best Military Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel. At some point, she infiltrated the ranks of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) and refuses to return the cool membership card they sent her when they figured things out.

When not geeking out at science fiction conventions, she’s hunkered down in an isolated farmhouse in the maple syrup guzzling state of Vermont with the aforementioned Scotsman/Jedi and two canines that possess the ability to speak. She gives away free books if you write her a nice message via her website www.amyjmurphy.com.

Reviews

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Allies and Enemies: Fallen: Allies and Enemies Series, Book 1” is a terrific sci-fi story with great narration!

The book opens in the middle of battle action and never slows down! This is not a lesfic story, but the hetero interests and actions are light and definitely fade-to-black. That’s not to say the story is all action with little focus on characters. Indeed, the many characters are well crafted and interesting, it’s just that romance and sex are a very minor part of the story. Staying alive…now that’s much more part of the story for everyone!

In the tradition of all well-done space operas, we are presented with an all-powerful “Regime” which, err, discourages any individuality. There are clear caste systems, corrupt politicians, sycophants, and OMG an evil villain to put all other evil villains to shame. Seriously, Darth Vader is a boy scout compared to Tristic!! Well, ok, boy scouts are in the news for villainy of their own, but work with me here.

MC Sela Tyron is a “breeder”…a warrior class grunt who is determined to protect her Captain: Jon Veradin. And NOT to fall in love or lust with her superior. Nope. Not.going.to.happen. Perhaps not. Jon, it turns out, must learn a surprise or two of his own, as must his sister, Erelah.

“Allies and Enemies” is a fantastic military sci-fi story featuring strong women leads. Lots of action with plenty of creepy sci-fi bodysnatcher stuff that you may lose sleep…at least to finish the book! 5*…things only get better than this book when it’s lesfic!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

My rating and my review was not in anyway affected by my having been provided a review copy.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this as part of the box set Call of Coruage a 7 Novel box set. This is a great ebook to listen to or read. I would recommend it to readers of furturic space opera Sci-Fi adventure novels. 2023

It is free on Amazon as book one of a five book series.

[Commentary · Rating 2 out of 5]

I cannot believe this book was nominated for an award. The plot showed a lot of promise but the execution was simply terrible. Sela, our supposedly kick-ass heroine, has all the emotional maturity of a teenager. She apparently looks like a goddess (?!) but she certainly lacks the wisdom of one. The Captain she worships and adores wanders around in total confusion most of the time spouting ridiculous dialogue. Then when he actually returns her affections she does to whole YA angst thing about should I or shouldn't I? Get real. I had to skip over almost all of their interactions and "romance" because it was all so clichéd and the dialogue was so bad. In fact 1/2 way in I skimmed the rest of the book. Battle scenes were a little better but the technology and space travel was never explained in any way scientific way. Not recommended.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sci-Fi Action Adventure Romance, what more could I ask for? Commander Sela Tyron was bred to be a soldier of the Regime and is a tough,no nonsense soldier. Falling in love is the last thing she thought she would ever do, but when her captain, Jon Veradin rescues her after she’s abandoned by her Regime superiors, her outlook begins to change. When he’s imprisoned, Sela rescues him and life becomes even more complicated from there. I liked the world building and the complex characters, including Jon’s sister, Erelah. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.

[Mark Tapper · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like your speculative fiction fast-paced and intense, this is a book you should check out. Sela, the book's heroine, is a boiling cauldron of emotion. She's angry; she's tough, but she is still filled with enough self-doubt and longing to be empathetic.

I am not ordinarily a fan of military sci fi, it's something of a guilty pleasure, but I will be looking for the next chapter in this saga to see if Ms. Murphy can keep the excitement--and the complexity--going.

[Scott Whitmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my all-time favorite TV shows — I have the entire series on DVD & have re-watched from beginning to end several times — is Farscape. It was fun and rather inventive, I thought, in how it told an over-arching story. Things like cloning Crichton so when the group split up he could be with both parties (and thus creating a truly unique love triangle with Officer Aeryn Sun).

This book, Allies and Enemies: Fallen by Amy J. Murphy, has a distinctly Farscape feel to it. Some of the elements are very similar to the TV show, but I’m not suggesting this is intentional on the author’s part. Much is also very different. What isn’t different, though, was my enjoyment — especially when the author surprised me by taking the story in unexpected directions.

Part One of the book serves as an extended prologue. It takes place in the immediate aftermath of a failed military operation to quell a rebellion on a planet at the fringe of a repressive and socially stratified empire. Commander Sela Tyron, who led the operation, is a “breeder” — a military caste serving the whims of the upper class “cresters.” Movement between the upper and middle (commoner) classes is possible — Sela’s commanding officer Captain Jon Veradin and his sister are examples — but not for breeders.

Sela and Veradin don’t realize something bigger is happening than simply a failed military operation, but they begin to slowly piece things together with the help of Erelah, Jon’s sister. To say more than that would be to spoil the fun for new readers. The first of a trilogy, Allies and Enemies: Fallen doesn’t end on a cliffhanger (some folks get so upset when that happens) but for me there is no question about getting the other books to find out how the story plays out. The characters are well-drawn and interesting and the action scenes suitably exciting.

One final note: outside of a short introduction to Part Two, most background information on the larger picture of the Regime comes in dribs and drabs through character interaction or internal dialogue. This approach means information is provided with little or no immediate context, and it can be a bit confusing trying to piece together how it fits into the larger scheme. Still, I prefer this method much more than pausing the action to reveal expository info.

In sum, Allies and Enemies: Fallen is a great read, perfect for the beach or curling up on a rainy day. But don’t be surprised if, like me, you end up buying the next entry in the series as soon as you’re done.

[A.C. Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a slice of sci-fi that's stylish, exhilarating and completely addictive. Often this genre can be as cold as steel, concerning itself only with descriptions of space vessels, laser guns and alien planets. This is where Allies and Enemies: Fallen differs from the rest. Although there's enough adrenaline-fuelled moments to please any hardened sci-fi fan, this is a character driven story with a tale of love, loss and sacrifice at its core.

The story's protagonist, Sela Tyron, appears at first like a headstrong Ripley from the Alien films, but as the story progresses you realise that there's so much more to her character than a cliched gun-toting female heroine. But what's really important is that she's likeable; you root for her from the very start.

Being an indie author myself, I know that many look upon our work as being only fit for the slush pile, but this novel is as well-written and constructed as any book I could pull off the shelf in a conventional book store. Can't wait for the sequel.

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great book. Great character development, wonderful story. Amy did a great job not only world building, but also with including some background history.

The only thing is that I would not label this book military Sci-fi. Yes, it starts out in a military setting, and the main characters are soldiers, but without giving any spoilers, something happens which causes our main character to question who she was bred to be and the point of her life.

I would say more than 3/4 of the book is a taut survival adventure story mixed in with lots of self-discovery and growth. This book series also involves some mysticism and some fantasy elements to it.

Can't wait for the second series to come out!

[krysley · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know how there's a specific type of book you want to read and sometimes you just can't find enough of them? That's what happened to me recently and that's exactly why I requested a copy of Fallen. I wanted a military science fiction story featuring a kick ass heroine (preferably written by a female author) and I think Amy J. Murphy did a pretty good job of creating what I was looking for.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Sela often reminded me a bit of Staff Sergeant Torin Kerr (from Tanya Huff’s Valor series). Not exactly like Torin (I think the author still has a ways to go to meet that level of awesomeness), but there are shades there and a lot of potential. Sela is definitely a great character and I can’t wait to see where the series takes her.

I do think there could have been more growth or better interaction between Sela and Jon. Though I understand where Murphy was trying to go with their relationship (and I really liked that she chose that route), I felt that was an area that really could have been beefed up. Though their relationship wasn't shallow at all, I do feel like Murphy did not give us readers enough depth for it.

On the other end of the spectrum was Erelah, whose naivete in the beginning annoyed me to no end. I can understand how she would be so naive considering how she grew up, but it was a little grating. However, the naivete worked when compared to the changes she was forced through and she was a much stronger character by the end of the book.

So I enjoyed the story ... but I really disliked the audio narration by Erin Bateman. I can guaran-damn-tee that I would like this story a whole hell of a lot better if I had read it rather than listened to the audiobook. Overall, Bateman wasn't horrible, but her voices and accents for the characters were seriously atrocious. There is very little variation between the characters and sometimes even less when it’s switching between dialog and the story. That made it very hard to keep track of what was going on and who was saying what, never mind the fact that the accent for the priest was so cringeworthy and inconsistent.

And every time Bateman said sorry, out, or been, I laughed because her accent came through really strong and always pulled me out of the story. If I was a betting person, I'd put money on her being Canadian or a Minnesotan.

Saying all that, the narrator actually does have a great tone and cadence for narrating a story … she just needs to work on her character voices … a lot.

One last negative to this book. I really didn't like the sound effects that sometimes appeared between scenes. It was really jarring and I thought it signaled the end of the chapter. I didn't understand why they were there when they served no real purpose.

Funny thing as I was getting ready to post this review. I saw that the Kindle version of this book was free on Amazon (as of Jan. 28, 2020). I snapped it up because I'd really like to try this series as an ebook since I didn't care for the narration. Here's hoping the rest of the series is as enjoyable!

I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, just not very great.

One of the severely glaring hindrances of SciFi novels is their reliance on their own set of vocabulary.  This often leaves the reader in a mindset of attempting not to enjoy a great story, but becoming a translator in their own mind in order to decipher the passages before them. This author certainly doesn't fail in that regard.  It hurts the story, but mind you that's not the only thing.  The conflict with they main antagonist is flat, you want to hate the character, but the main characters of the story don't really have a conflict with her, one of them does but she never really gets around to telling the others why... And why is that?  Zero communication between them.  It's a constant distrust for no real reason.  Their conflict is where their loyalties lie, and it really becomes exasperating waiting for them to finally trust each other, which they never really ever do, ever.   Finally in the gambit of the tale, you learn of the 'plan' and the book is finished in just so many pages.  It's clear that the story was written with the intent of the follow up books to complete the story, but a book should be complete on its own merit.  This one is no where near that.  It's well written, it's clear Murphy can write and has a command of the written word, but this book felt rushed, and really lacked some important plot points where I assume might get cleared up in book 2?

[Kanwarpal Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allies and Enemies” is a fantastic military futuristic sci-fi story featuring strong women leads. Lots of action with plenty of creepy sci-fi bodysnatcher stuff that you may feel trouble sleeping after reading it.

The book opens in the middle of battle action and pace of the book never slows down, keeping readers on toes gripping to very ending ! This is not a lesbian fiction story, but the heterogeneous interests and actions.That’s not to say the story is all action with little focus on characters. Indeed, the many characters are well crafted and interesting, it’s just that romance and sex are a very minor part of the story. Surviving and saving yourself is now that’s much more part of the story for everyone!

In consideration of nice space operas, we are presented with an powerful “Regime” which, discourages any individuality. There are clear caste systems, corrupt politicians, sycophants, and an evil villain to put all other evil villains to shame. Seriously, Darth Vader are in the news for villainy of their own, but an ideal antagonist for reader.

MC Sela Tyron is a “breeder”…a warrior class who is determined to protect her Captain: Jon Veradin. And NOT to fall in love or lust with her superior. Jon, it turns out, must learn a surprise or two of his own, as must his sister, Erelah.

The author concluded on wise note and did justify some character but cliffhanger story is the essence of the series

[A.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Regime breeds soldiers and the officer ‘cresters’ are from a different class and there should never be fraternisation between them.
Sela Tyron and her soldiers are left for dead in a planet op that went wrong, but their Captain Jon Veradin breaks the rules to organise their rescue.
He faces charges for that but there is more at stake; it seems to Sela that someone wants him dead and she rarely makes mistakes. Plus, there is another element to their interactions… a taboo romance.
There were humans in this world but they are things of myth.

The Humans. They arrived as refugees, claiming that their home, Earth, lay among the stars well beyond ours. They journeyed an impossible distance, made short by their surprisingly clever ability to make use of a natural tear in the fabric between worlds: wormholes, they called them. Had they met us first, the Eugenes, the tale of their arrival would have been different. Perhaps we would have even helped them. But the Fates placed them in the path of the Sceeloid, our sworn enemy. (p. 81).

By the time the remnants of them reached the Eugenes, there was not many of them left.
This explanation appears at the beginning of Part 2.

Sela has a few plot convenient abilities, but it kind of works. The antagonist is awesome in their evil.
3 stars

[Rachel Noel · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite part about this book is that it shows the different ways a person can be strong. Sela is bred and trained to be strong physically and mentally while shunting down anything emotional. At a couple points her obvious strengths are complimented. At the same time, Erelah is obviously of frail build and naive, yet she has the mental endurance and strength to do whatever it takes to shut out Tristic, one of the most powerful mental influences. Sela's sergeant, Valen, has the strength of will to look out for the less fortunate, even while severely injured. The point is, you don't have to be muscular or be a bully in order to be strong. There are many ways you can show strength and this book does a good job of showing those.

I also greatly appreciated the mythology/theology Murphy included in this world. It's easy to draw a some parallels to myths we have on Earth, but it still different enough that it really adds another layer to the world.

Overall, this was an entertaining read. It wasn't a great book, I'll admit that, but for $.99 it was a good grab. The world is well built and the characters even more so. There is a love story, but also a lot of action and spaceships. Definitely an entertaining read for a sci-fi fan.

[Leta McCurry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It took a couple of chapters to sort out the characters and really get into. Once I did, it is an intriguing read. There are really three main characters, Sela, Jon, Erelah, and Tristic. Sela is a genetically engineered warrior and she is good at her job. Jon and Erelah, are brother and sister from a distinguished family, but in reality they are two of the few remaining humans in the universe. They do not know this until well into the story because the information was concealed by their uncle.

The characters are well developed, the plot is good, and the story moves at a good clip once it gets going. Of course, it is the etternal battle of good versus evil, and Tristic is the most evil character I’ve encountered in a book in a long time, maybe ever. There is a love story as well with rocky progress all the way.The story occurs in the far-flung reaches of the universe, which is painted in vivid word pictures. None of the action occurs on earth. The solution to the ultimate problem the characters were facing surprised me. I was expecting a different ending, but this one was probably better than one I could have imagined.

[Salvatore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep. this is a 5/5 rating.

PROS

1) Complex well fleshed out characters that are colorful and original. You love or hate them accordingly.
2) The characters actions are consistent with their backgrounds and feel natural.
3) The universe is original and very very interesting. The locales may not be clearly depicted but the book doesn't suffer from it.
4) Original social mechanics and society structures are a plus for me.
5) The slang may seem incomprehensible in the beginning of the book but it adds up as you go along. You will not regret reading on past the first 20-something pages.
6) Well edited book or i just didn't catch any glaring errors.
7) This may not be hard scifi but is consistent non the less.
8) The romance angle is not overbearing and trite. The main characters are too "real"

CONS

I'll get back to you if i can think of anything

To sum things up.... buy this book. You will not regret it.
You may regret not reading it :P
Great job Murphy. Looking forward to the next book.

ps. The main character reminds me a little of the one in the Imperial Radch series by Ann Leckie

[Wayne McKinstry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allies and Enemies: Fallen is a Science Fiction Dystopian tale. Think Nazi Germany in an interstellar empire. Everyone is defined by the genetics they are born into. Actually for some it is the genetics they are cloned into. Their place in life is set from the moment they are decanted from the cloning tank.

The heroine is a low-level soldier, created to fight and die for her creators. This is all she knows, and that’s the way it’s supposed to be. But then a couple of things happen. Her new Captain is from the upper classes, yet he treats and the other “breeders” like they matter. Also, she encounters a son she had years before. In her existence, no family feelings are allowed. The son is killed in the unending wars, and her feelings over that are hard to push down.

The central theme of the book is this woman’s struggle to break out of the mold society has pushed her into. Also there is an evil half-breed monster, mind control and lots of fighting. This could also be called Military Science Fiction. I am looking forward to the sequel.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review: https://girlswithguns.org/allies-and-...

This is… okay. The split focus is a bit rough, in that the switch from focusing on Ty to Erelah, is sudden and perhaps too long to work. The two stories don’t come together at all in the first third, and the unclear previous history turns out to be quite significant, to the point I wished it had been better explained. If the plotting is generally too murky for its own good, the characterization is well enough handled to balance things, or thereabouts. Ty, in particular, is a genuine bad-ass, whose loyalty is exemplary. If the action is limited in quantity, it’s partly because she’s so competent, the fights in which she’s involved tend not to last long. While it is enough to salvage this as a read, it’s not sufficient to get me more than slightly interested in reading further entries.

[Noodle The Naughty Night Owl · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10: Good light-weight read, well done

My strength is the soldier beside me. My heart and mind, I give to the Regime with honor; I forsake all else.

An enjoyable sci-fi read with an element of romance (just a hint).

It took a little bit to figure out the world, but as it became more understandable, it drew you in. I enjoyed the main characters: Commander Tyron and Captain Veradin. But Veradin's sister was not likeable at all. Despite the obvious reasons as to why she was the way she was.

The villain, on the other hand, was well done.

So, a good read overall, and when Veradin was on the page, an even better read.

It’s always been you.

[Katherine Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the story! The narrator did an okay job. She could have made the lead sound a little less like a whiny robot. I am sure if I read this instead of listened to it I would have liked it a lot better. The book itself was sound in the writing, characters and world building. There was a lot going on and some really evil people. It is kind of funny to have humans thought of as lesser beings and enemies. Being held captive was harsh for the sister and Sela could have been a bit more understanding. They all go out with a bang in the end and the story continues.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from StoryOrigin for an honest review.

[Christi Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Allies and Enemies; Fallen
Author: Amy J. Murphy
Format: audio
Narrator: Erin Bateman
Genre: SciFi, space opera, military, action, adventure, suspense
Standalone: ish Fallen ends at a good stopping point where the story ends but is easily continued until the next book
Part of a Series: Book 1 of the Allies and Enemies series
POV: Sela and Ereiah
Steam Level: fade to black
4.5/5

Allies and Enemies is not my typical go-to genre. But I really liked it. Allies and Enemies: Fallen was a rocking adventure from the start. I didn’t want to stop listening and can’t wait to start the next.

I received this audiobook for free from StoryOrigin. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Rachel Aukes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Commander Sela Tyron is as badass as they come.

If you're sad that Tanya Huff's Peacekeeper series and Valor series are finished, then wipe away those tears and rush out to pick up the Allies and Enemies books by Amy J. Murphy. Sela Tyron will not only fill the gap of Torin Kerr, she'll open up a whole new place in your heart for a new hero to take on all the baddies in the universe. Tyron fights against impossible odds, in conflicts that I wouldn't think possible to survive, yet she survives... and gives the reader a fulfilling, edge-of-your-seats story.

Count me a new Tyron fan.

[Stephen Levesque · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good start to this series. The characters are well built and strong, able to stand on their own. The only thing I had a problem with, it got a little ridiculous and unbelievable. I don't know about you but I find it a better read when it could be possible story. I know it is fiction but still get a little more real. All in all a Good Read Everyone!!!!!!

[K. Counihan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Mess

There is no story here. Hire An editor. There is no one to care about good or bad. Of the 65 books I have read in 2018, this is number 65 of 65. This is just a critique of the book. I will keep a look and hope you do better next time. Keep at it don't give up. It looks like other people liked it.

[Peter Bruyns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Stuff

This series is really good reading and easy to follow. A sure sign of good editing which is far too rare in these days of home publishing! My only complaint is that the book is a bit short and is obviously a bit of another. Seeing as I've got the next it's been a pleasure reading and I don't care where the "force" went.

[R.J. Millas · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a little difficult to follow at first, but once you immerse yourself in this book it becomes quite addicting. You just need to become familiar with the characters and the jargon they use. Once you do, you're in for a treat. The story is well written, and I enjoyed the wonderful flow of Amy Murphy's writing style.

[Lyndon]

Struggled to about 40% and decided to abandon it. Too hard to follow, too many aliens and ancient religions I couldn't get my mind around, and lost the plot and point of the story. Started out interestingly enough - a soldier in love with her commander, saves him from a plot to kill him and they escape together but then... Got lost in the weeds.

[Mark J. McArthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic space opera!

Sela Tyron is a “Volunteer” specially bred and trained as an unstoppable soldier. Captain Veradin is her commanding office, though they both feel a forbidden connection. Fate (or The Fates) places them on a collision course with destiny! Can they survive?

I received a no cost copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Glenda Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing and captivating story

Allies and Enemies: Fallen, is a good Sci-fi read. It takes you to unknown gallaxies . Ty and Jon are from different classes, taboo to be in a relationship. Intriguing and captivating story .

[Vicky Camp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good.

I liked the pace of this story even when it slowed down. Some of the stuff with the mental attacks is intense and requires a slower reading speed to get it all.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys science fiction.

[C.A. Knutsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing first book in the series

Well developed characters, and solid content. One feels the emotions of the characters as they go through significant challenges. The ending draws you to the next book in the series.