Decimation

Mantis Force: Marium Kahnet #2

by R.J. Amezcua

After methodically planning for over fifteen years to exact revenge on those responsible for the merciless slaughter of their families on Ramah, the wayward cadre of the sisterhood has successfully destroyed the Stadageos, and more importantly the heart of the Leviathan project: the celestial laboratory complex where malignant elements from the dark realms of Creminmorta were used to create the Leviathan warrior races.
But the taste of victory turns bittersweet when the rogue sisters learn that as the result of destroying their enemy’s facilities, they have released unimaginable amounts of lethal radiation. With the governing authorities overwhelmed by global catastrophes, and with limited resources available to the millions of casualties, civil war has broken out on the planets Letalis and Necropis.
Desperate to escape the fate of the others associated with the Leviathan project, who have been summarily executed after interrogation, the sisters join their adapted family’s criminal originations as a means of escape from the wide net cast to apprehend them. But unbeknownst to them, the leader of their Order has hired the services of elite mercenaries to capture and return them, dead or alive.

198 pages, Paperback

First published October 18, 2017

About the author

R. J. Amezcua is the creative director for Quentorex Studios. Mr. Amezcua has written a science fiction book trilogy called Mantis Force and just recently had his first children's illustration published titled, "A Femich Christmas."
Since childhood, Mr. Amezcua fondly remembers watching his favorite TV shows: Lost in Space, Outer Limits, and Star Trek. The TV shows and reading of Dr. Seuss's books sparked the imagination that Mr. Amezcua pours into his writing.
Mr. Amezcua enjoys watching the Food Network, walks in the morning, and gathering with friends and family.

Reviews

[C.R. Flamingbush · Rating 3 out of 5]

This fast paced book is bursting with action, reminiscent of Star Wars. It takes some work keeping up with all the different characters, but I like the buildup of suspense, the Biblical themes woven throughout the book, and the way the different elements tie together at the end.

[Remy G · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second installment of author R.J. Amezcua’s Mantis Force trilogy, which he also dedicates to his wife and editor Sheryl, opens on the world of Letalis, which is underdoing the transition of the battlefield known as Stadageo’s ownership to the Letalis government, with Nia Xongol and her sister-in-law Taona Xongol executing their revenge and blacking out the City of Perrapenta. On the planet’s moon, Victoria Maja wrestles with guilt at the tragedy which unfolds, with she, Tola, and Em making religious discoveries. Nia and Taona also find themselves performing sacred duties, although they necessitate the two separating.

Meanwhile, a trio of wayward sisters, Fay, Mirinda, and Orisa Sotasen plant explosives on Stadageo, being rogue elements of the Marium Kahnet in the Malgavatta galaxy which had supposedly established formal ties with the Krauvanok Alliance. Orisa is interrogated about possible terrorism, which she denies, and her companions are rescued by operatives from the nefarious organization known as Choshek. Rumors of civil war abound on Necropis, with vast numbers of the Varkrato League and Tartarus government workers erecting massive multiphasic barriers south of the Omsook mountains to protect the hundred million citizens of Magiathep from Cremindraux radiation.

Rediquin gets her own chapter, with the aforementioned Cremindraux radiation impacting her vessel, and she visits a secret trading post to meet Zeta Three. The story ends with the deaths of two characters whom a Muak’Xod agent finds, with his superior informed, wanting to use the cadavers as leverage. Overall, this is an enjoyable sequel, although some sort of synopsis of the first novella’s events would have been welcome, and the absence of Jazrene from the story’s events is somewhat disappointing, although the sequel is very much on par with its predecessor and worth a read, with those new to the trilogy likely wishing to start with the first book.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decimation is the second installment from R J Amezcua’s Mantis Force: Marium Kahnet series. This book is outside my normal genre, but is a perfect example why readers should pick up something new to read. They may never know how much they will like it. At least, that is the case for me. I thought it was a good read. It was a little confusing at times, but I believe that it was just me not used to fantasy books. And there is, also a lot of characters to keep up with. I have read the first book of the series and want to caution that it would probably be best to read it first before this one.
Decimation has a little bit of everything for a reader to enjoy. Which includes: unpredictable suspense, non stop action and adventure, and several wonderful thoughtful Christian message (which is my favorite of all). To me, this combination kept me going and wanting to see what would happen next in the story. There is a bit happening that made me intrigued. I never knew where the characters were going to go to on the following page.
I give Decimation three and a half stars. I recommend it for those who would enjoy a clean fantasy and for fan lovers of Star Wars and Star Trek stories. They would not want to miss this one. I look forward to continuing on to the third book in the Mantis Force: Marium Kahnet series, Rebirth. Especially after reading book one, Retribution.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

[Marilyn Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 in this series picks right up where book 1 left off. I appreciate when an author doesn't spend pages and pages of a sequel recapping what happened in the previous book. BUT, if it's been awhile since you read the first book, then you might need to glance through it go get up to speed.

In Decimation, we follow what came after the destruction of the testing facilities. Deadly radiation has killed millions and is slowly spreading further and further. Some of the Marium Kahnet rogue sister have lost their lives, others are struggling with the scale of the death toll they have caused. This story follows several of them as they try to deal with the guilt as well as struggle to find a way back home.

The story is flowing and the multitude of names of people, places and technology is close to the same as the first book, so not a lot of new things to understand and absorb. The author has kept the storyline tight and to the point. And the book is on the shorter side like the first, which works well for a SciFi trilogy set in the far reaches of space. And as in the first book, he ends in a way that makes you want to reach for the next book.

Definitely written for SciFi fans.