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The Face of the Deep #3
The Word Endangered
So much for peace and quiet.
Now that the government overthrow is said and done, a new frontier awaits colonization.
That's where Zarco Thread and his wife enter. He and Ria head up a surveying crew, commissioned to report on worlds with potential for settlements. However, nothing is settling about what they discover.
A conspiracy threatens to unravel the progress the Five Realms made in the last decade. Not to mention, strain the development of Zarco and Ria's marriage.
This time it's more serious than revenge...
A dominating force exists in the Realm that has recruited their long-time enemies, tempting them with a greater plot, one that will endanger the Word once again.
Now that the government overthrow is said and done, a new frontier awaits colonization.
That's where Zarco Thread and his wife enter. He and Ria head up a surveying crew, commissioned to report on worlds with potential for settlements. However, nothing is settling about what they discover.
A conspiracy threatens to unravel the progress the Five Realms made in the last decade. Not to mention, strain the development of Zarco and Ria's marriage.
This time it's more serious than revenge...
A dominating force exists in the Realm that has recruited their long-time enemies, tempting them with a greater plot, one that will endanger the Word once again.
432 pages, Paperback
Published October 14, 2016
3 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
About the author
Steve Rzasa
98 books103 followersSteve Rzasa was born and raised in South Jersey, and fell in love with books—especially science fiction novels and historical volumes—at an early age. He earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Boston University’s College of Communications in 2000, and then spent seven years as a reporter and assistant editor at weekly newspapers in Maine. Steve moved to Wyoming in 2007 to become the editor of a weekly newspaper there, and now works at the local library. He and his wife Carrie have two boys and live in Buffalo, Wyoming.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 5, 2021
This book review is really a series review—four books in all: The Word Reclaimed (Book 1.0), The Word Unleashed (Book 2.0), Broken Sight (Book 2.5), and The Word Endangered (Book 3.0), all subtitled “The Face of the Deep” series. The author has done a masterful job depicting a universe where the Bible—and all printed matter—is outlawed.
This book universe revolves around a fictional realm of five main solar systems along with several outlying ones. Merchant, military, pirate, and pleasure yachts all ply space ways between the stars.
At first, character introduction became overwhelming, there are so many of them. However, as this reviewer read along and character and situational development built, all the conflicts and varying interests fleshed themselves out into a rational and believable universe.
Politics, military, rescue, police activity, and individual misgivings and uncertainties all mixed into a believable flow of story narration.
Each book has a definite beginning, middle, and end. However, an unfinished feeling remains when Book 3.0 is completed, as there seems a need for much more story telling.
Family friendly and highly recommended. Here’s hoping that author Rzasa returns to this universe with additional stories to tell.
This book universe revolves around a fictional realm of five main solar systems along with several outlying ones. Merchant, military, pirate, and pleasure yachts all ply space ways between the stars.
At first, character introduction became overwhelming, there are so many of them. However, as this reviewer read along and character and situational development built, all the conflicts and varying interests fleshed themselves out into a rational and believable universe.
Politics, military, rescue, police activity, and individual misgivings and uncertainties all mixed into a believable flow of story narration.
Each book has a definite beginning, middle, and end. However, an unfinished feeling remains when Book 3.0 is completed, as there seems a need for much more story telling.
Family friendly and highly recommended. Here’s hoping that author Rzasa returns to this universe with additional stories to tell.
July 25, 2018
The Word Endangered by Steve Rzasa is the third book in his Face of the Deep Series.
I was excited to revisit the Five Realms Universe and hopefully catch up with Characters from the first two books.
The story picks up ten years after The Word Unleashed. Christianity and other religions may be legal now but they are not without their share of persecution.
Zarco Thread is the novel's main protagonist. As a business owner of Enrolled Faith status he is subject to higher taxes, and restrictions on things like health care. But for him it's a small price to pay in order to worship God. Until a nefarious plot comes to light that will undo the last ten years of growth.
I loved the new characters, the crew of the Cazador are a quirky and lovable bunch. But it was truly exciting when Baden and Alec from book one and two showed up again. Unfortunately you have to wait until the last third of the book before they appear. Though, since they kind of steal the show, I can see why their screen time was limited.
The ending was action pack and satisfying. But there is certainly room for more story and I hope the author decides to continue the adventure.
I was excited to revisit the Five Realms Universe and hopefully catch up with Characters from the first two books.
The story picks up ten years after The Word Unleashed. Christianity and other religions may be legal now but they are not without their share of persecution.
Zarco Thread is the novel's main protagonist. As a business owner of Enrolled Faith status he is subject to higher taxes, and restrictions on things like health care. But for him it's a small price to pay in order to worship God. Until a nefarious plot comes to light that will undo the last ten years of growth.
I loved the new characters, the crew of the Cazador are a quirky and lovable bunch. But it was truly exciting when Baden and Alec from book one and two showed up again. Unfortunately you have to wait until the last third of the book before they appear. Though, since they kind of steal the show, I can see why their screen time was limited.
The ending was action pack and satisfying. But there is certainly room for more story and I hope the author decides to continue the adventure.
August 25, 2017
I don't read a lot of sci-fi but this is a beauty. I particularly loved the worlds Rzasa created and many of the sci-fi concepts were clever and fantastic (eg shifting from world to world). The essence of the story of removing belief was also a smart one to explore. Is that not what the communist regimes do? Zarco Thread and his merry crew were excellent characters but the bad guys were tremendous. Really evil in their desires and demonstrated no mercy whatsoever.
The story hummed along until about 2/3rds of the way through then, like many novels, the middle sagged a little, and then picked up with lots of conflict and intensity in the last 50 or so pages. The various different players and switching worlds made it hard to keep the tension high all the time and in some cases served to pull me out of the story. However, overall I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
I thought the Christian message was strong and easily flowed without pulling me out of the story.
The story hummed along until about 2/3rds of the way through then, like many novels, the middle sagged a little, and then picked up with lots of conflict and intensity in the last 50 or so pages. The various different players and switching worlds made it hard to keep the tension high all the time and in some cases served to pull me out of the story. However, overall I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
I thought the Christian message was strong and easily flowed without pulling me out of the story.
July 29, 2021
"The Word Endangered", the last book of The Face of the Deep series by Steve Rzasa, ended the series with a very satisfactory conclusion. It did however leave open a few doors for a possible continuation to the storyline. Mr. Rzasa's great world-building and character development leave the reader to believe they've been transported to the future and are reading about real people in very probable situations. My wife and I read the series together and like any other great work of storytelling, we became very invested with the primary characters. We now desire to see what God has for them for the rest of their lives. We sure hope Book #4 is coming soon. ;-)
March 23, 2017
This was a fantastic read. I love classic science-fiction adventure (opera?) novels done well and this is a perfect example. Steve Rzasa's novels keep getting better and this is the best one yet in the series. I did not read Broken Sight which takes place prior to this story but I look forward to doing so.
Overall, the writing is excellent an awesome story and indepth plot-line that expands the created universe. I really hope this is not the end of this series. Such a unique concept for a series.
A must read!
Overall, the writing is excellent an awesome story and indepth plot-line that expands the created universe. I really hope this is not the end of this series. Such a unique concept for a series.
A must read!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews