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The North Star: Galactic Sentinel Book One
Bringing down his ship was their biggest mistake…
When Jason Grimshaw, First Commander of the Starship Bakura, leads a routine training mission to Colony 115, an unidentified alien vessel forces them to crash-land.
Ensign Clio Evans is separated from her crew in the wreckage. She must re-join them if she stands any hope of surviving, but an alien army stands in her way.
With the invaders hot on their heels, Grimshaw and Evans must find a way off the battle-scarred planet in time to warn the Galactic Council before the mysterious new race tears the Alliance asunder.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the galaxy, Randis Kahn fights for survival on the lower levels of Sentinel Station. Caught between warring gangs and a political conspiracy, he must look to a past he would rather forget or lose everything he holds dear.
Put three fresh characters in a glass. Fill it with action, and mix in some intrigue. Give it a good shake, and you have a cocktail called The North Star.
If you enjoyed Star Wars, Mass Effect, and similar science fiction stories, you’ll love The North Star.
Perfect for those who like books about alien invasion, first contact, colonisation, military science fiction, space opera, space fleet adventures, or anything related to the above.
When Jason Grimshaw, First Commander of the Starship Bakura, leads a routine training mission to Colony 115, an unidentified alien vessel forces them to crash-land.
Ensign Clio Evans is separated from her crew in the wreckage. She must re-join them if she stands any hope of surviving, but an alien army stands in her way.
With the invaders hot on their heels, Grimshaw and Evans must find a way off the battle-scarred planet in time to warn the Galactic Council before the mysterious new race tears the Alliance asunder.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the galaxy, Randis Kahn fights for survival on the lower levels of Sentinel Station. Caught between warring gangs and a political conspiracy, he must look to a past he would rather forget or lose everything he holds dear.
Put three fresh characters in a glass. Fill it with action, and mix in some intrigue. Give it a good shake, and you have a cocktail called The North Star.
If you enjoyed Star Wars, Mass Effect, and similar science fiction stories, you’ll love The North Star.
Perfect for those who like books about alien invasion, first contact, colonisation, military science fiction, space opera, space fleet adventures, or anything related to the above.
429 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2018
348 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
January 27, 2019
“When life sends you a sign, don’t ignore it.”
The story grabs hold and doesn't let go, revealing new layers of oddities and arcane horrors on nearly every page. Yes, it keeps the book moving, which is exactly what you want in a narrative. It’s a thrilling sci fi, scary story, with tons of political intrigue and ancient aliens shrouded with mystery that has captured me from the beginning! Great battle scenes, tormented moments lightening up with witty dialogue and heartfelt moments. I’m totally hooked!
The story grabs hold and doesn't let go, revealing new layers of oddities and arcane horrors on nearly every page. Yes, it keeps the book moving, which is exactly what you want in a narrative. It’s a thrilling sci fi, scary story, with tons of political intrigue and ancient aliens shrouded with mystery that has captured me from the beginning! Great battle scenes, tormented moments lightening up with witty dialogue and heartfelt moments. I’m totally hooked!
April 21, 2018
Full disclosure, I received a copy of this book as an advanced reader copy. A review was not required as a condition for receiving this book.
On the whole, I found the story to be engaging, but in need of some further polishing. I suspect that it was because it was an arc copy but the story I read was in need of further editing. I'm sure any purchased copy will have that corrected.
The North Star is an action-packed military sci-fi event. It's told from the perspective of three separate characters. All three stories come together at the end, but the end of this story is only the beginning. It seems that every chapter ended on a cliffhanger. After a while, in my opinion, this got to be a little monotonous. I think this is probably my only real problem with the story.
Killian Carter is a new author who I think is someone to keep an eye on. With experience I am sure the stories will get better and better. I look forward to reading the next installments in his series.
On the whole, I found the story to be engaging, but in need of some further polishing. I suspect that it was because it was an arc copy but the story I read was in need of further editing. I'm sure any purchased copy will have that corrected.
The North Star is an action-packed military sci-fi event. It's told from the perspective of three separate characters. All three stories come together at the end, but the end of this story is only the beginning. It seems that every chapter ended on a cliffhanger. After a while, in my opinion, this got to be a little monotonous. I think this is probably my only real problem with the story.
Killian Carter is a new author who I think is someone to keep an eye on. With experience I am sure the stories will get better and better. I look forward to reading the next installments in his series.
April 7, 2018
"A practice in writing."
The North Star is a good science fiction space epic story with just the right balance of intrigue and battles. The main characters are also interesting be they human or otherwise, and some also have hidden agendas which add to the tensions inherent in the book. It is a good start to a new series, one which this reader will want to follow. It is easily worthy of 4 stars.
So why only 3?
In a brief introduction, Killian Carter expresses belief in the magic of storytelling and that "This book is writing practice as much as a practice in writing" Sadly, the practice of proof reading and editting was not be one of the author's considerations. There was the usual, though very liberal, scattering of uncorrected typos which normally I would be able to overlook - they can be easy missed on occasion. But as page after page produced yet another, they began to distract this reader from the story. Add in the erratic punctuation and the unfinished sentences, - for example, "We could see an enormous." An enormous what? - and fairly nonsensical statements - "I've not been able anyone." - and the whole became a torturous read.
I did enjoy the story, very much, or I would have been unable to finish the book. However, a plea to the author to, at the very least, re-read his text before publishing and then get two or three others to do so, also, requesting that they report back on any errors found in the text. This would help readers like myself to better enjoy the work as well as guaranteeing a better star rating
The North Star is a good science fiction space epic story with just the right balance of intrigue and battles. The main characters are also interesting be they human or otherwise, and some also have hidden agendas which add to the tensions inherent in the book. It is a good start to a new series, one which this reader will want to follow. It is easily worthy of 4 stars.
So why only 3?
In a brief introduction, Killian Carter expresses belief in the magic of storytelling and that "This book is writing practice as much as a practice in writing" Sadly, the practice of proof reading and editting was not be one of the author's considerations. There was the usual, though very liberal, scattering of uncorrected typos which normally I would be able to overlook - they can be easy missed on occasion. But as page after page produced yet another, they began to distract this reader from the story. Add in the erratic punctuation and the unfinished sentences, - for example, "We could see an enormous." An enormous what? - and fairly nonsensical statements - "I've not been able anyone." - and the whole became a torturous read.
I did enjoy the story, very much, or I would have been unable to finish the book. However, a plea to the author to, at the very least, re-read his text before publishing and then get two or three others to do so, also, requesting that they report back on any errors found in the text. This would help readers like myself to better enjoy the work as well as guaranteeing a better star rating
April 25, 2018
*I received a review copy from the author. This has not affected my review*
I'm going to have to put all the things I like about it in dot points because there are so many. In fact I finished it last night but needed my 8 hours so I could be articulate enough that my review wasn't just AAARGGHH IT SO GOOD.
-Hooked me from the start
-Brilliant diversity of aliens
-Carter writes women LIKE THEY'RE PEOPLE! He has decent diversity among the humans, not just using aliens as stand-ins for minorities.
-Best. Combat. Writing. I have read in a loooong time. I was never confused as to what was happening, I could always see what was going down in my head. And it didn't feel too slow. Most combat writing is too slow for the scene (I feel) and this wasn't.
-Exciting plot that we're invested in, love the sense of this happening in a wider, fleshed-out world where politics and other stuff is happening.
-3 viewpoint characters (if you're not into viewpoint switching maybe give it a miss) that were each very distinct, real-seeming 3-dimensional people.
Ending was good, the arc is nicely wrapped up (because you know how much I hate cliffhangers.) but there are definitely loose threads leading to the next book. Very obviously not a standalone.
I'm going to have to put all the things I like about it in dot points because there are so many. In fact I finished it last night but needed my 8 hours so I could be articulate enough that my review wasn't just AAARGGHH IT SO GOOD.
-Hooked me from the start
-Brilliant diversity of aliens
-Carter writes women LIKE THEY'RE PEOPLE! He has decent diversity among the humans, not just using aliens as stand-ins for minorities.
-Best. Combat. Writing. I have read in a loooong time. I was never confused as to what was happening, I could always see what was going down in my head. And it didn't feel too slow. Most combat writing is too slow for the scene (I feel) and this wasn't.
-Exciting plot that we're invested in, love the sense of this happening in a wider, fleshed-out world where politics and other stuff is happening.
-3 viewpoint characters (if you're not into viewpoint switching maybe give it a miss) that were each very distinct, real-seeming 3-dimensional people.
Ending was good, the arc is nicely wrapped up (because you know how much I hate cliffhangers.) but there are definitely loose threads leading to the next book. Very obviously not a standalone.
May 4, 2018
Mixing military action and crime thriller with aliens and future tech, Carter creates an engaging space opera that contains something for a broad range of science-fiction fans.
The Bakura was dispatched to Colony 115 as part of a routine training exercise for cadets. However, shortly after take-off, First Commander Grimshaw is briefed that three Aegis, the Alliance’s elite intelligence operatives, are on board. With the mission already orders more serious than he suspected, a brutal attack by unknown forces Grimshaw to abandon ship with as many cadets as he can get to the drop-craft. The command crew of the Bakura mostly dead or cut off from the bridge and critical systems failing, Ensign Evans must turn her simulated flight training toward controlling a crashing starship. Scattered across the planet and separated by a numerically and technologically superior alien force, the survivors of the Bakura and Colony 115 must endure long enough to warn the Alliance. Meanwhile, on the far side of the galaxy, Randis Kahn is trapped between the gangs who rule the area around his home and the polished, but equally brutal, political players of his past.
As is evident from the blurb above, this book switches focus between two locations. However, the narrative also opens some time prior to the Bakura being attacked, with little overlap between the actions of the two crew protagonists, creating three disparate parallel narratives. Unfortunately, Carter’s setting up of context for each of these narratives doesn’t balance the point and frequency of transitions perfectly, resulting in moments when a character might feel somewhat forgotten or irrelevant.
This feeling swiftly passes once the Bakura is attacked and Kahn’s life is threatened, due both to Carter’s slicker transitions and the immediacy of the danger to each character sustaining the reader’s interest in the characters who aren’t on stage.
As Grimshaw’s and Evan’s perspectives of the invasion of Colony 115 intersect, the sense of watching several unconnected stories fades further. However, this greater integration of two narratives makes the contrast with the third more stark; as such, some readers might begin to wonder whether Kahn’s story is actually connected to the others.
Potential opening misstep aside, Carter provides an engaging mix of fast-paced science-fiction action and sociopolitical context. This balance between combat, espionage, and background detail keeps the danger up without leaving a reader feeling the story is just relentless violence.
The technology and abilities of various groups similarly sit in a good middle ground. The aliens have advantages but are not without exploitable weakness. The Aegis are exceptional, but not superheroes. And combat, whether on an alien planet or in the streets of a slum, still comes down to a mix of grit, tactics, and numbers.
Although the novel does leave things open for a series, Carter resolves major arcs both in the main plot and in each protagonist’s life, providing a strong sense of completion.
There are a few transposed words and other issues in the text. These are not frequent and do not obscure meaning, so do not vastly impact the experience. However, readers who are sensitive to technical issues might find them occasionally distracting.
Grimshaw is a well-written heroic protagonist. Smart, decent, somewhat constrained by his training, but with a personality of his own, he provides a plausible military perspective on the struggle against alien invaders.
Evans offers another classic character from military sci-fi: the cocky newcomer who is brilliant in theory but has no real-world experience. However, she also has secrets, preventing her arc from becoming merely a choice between saving the day and learning humility.
Where the others provide differing viewpoints on the military situation, Kahn is a solid protagonist for the more political aspects of the plot. Past his prime and mired in bad habits, he stumbles between making deals to avoid a past he’d rather forget and using what remains of the skills he learnt to avoid the consequences of his deals.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers who like fast-paced science-fiction that includes both political conspiracy and military action without losing its focus on character-driven action.
I received a free copy from the author with a request for a fair review.
The Bakura was dispatched to Colony 115 as part of a routine training exercise for cadets. However, shortly after take-off, First Commander Grimshaw is briefed that three Aegis, the Alliance’s elite intelligence operatives, are on board. With the mission already orders more serious than he suspected, a brutal attack by unknown forces Grimshaw to abandon ship with as many cadets as he can get to the drop-craft. The command crew of the Bakura mostly dead or cut off from the bridge and critical systems failing, Ensign Evans must turn her simulated flight training toward controlling a crashing starship. Scattered across the planet and separated by a numerically and technologically superior alien force, the survivors of the Bakura and Colony 115 must endure long enough to warn the Alliance. Meanwhile, on the far side of the galaxy, Randis Kahn is trapped between the gangs who rule the area around his home and the polished, but equally brutal, political players of his past.
As is evident from the blurb above, this book switches focus between two locations. However, the narrative also opens some time prior to the Bakura being attacked, with little overlap between the actions of the two crew protagonists, creating three disparate parallel narratives. Unfortunately, Carter’s setting up of context for each of these narratives doesn’t balance the point and frequency of transitions perfectly, resulting in moments when a character might feel somewhat forgotten or irrelevant.
This feeling swiftly passes once the Bakura is attacked and Kahn’s life is threatened, due both to Carter’s slicker transitions and the immediacy of the danger to each character sustaining the reader’s interest in the characters who aren’t on stage.
As Grimshaw’s and Evan’s perspectives of the invasion of Colony 115 intersect, the sense of watching several unconnected stories fades further. However, this greater integration of two narratives makes the contrast with the third more stark; as such, some readers might begin to wonder whether Kahn’s story is actually connected to the others.
Potential opening misstep aside, Carter provides an engaging mix of fast-paced science-fiction action and sociopolitical context. This balance between combat, espionage, and background detail keeps the danger up without leaving a reader feeling the story is just relentless violence.
The technology and abilities of various groups similarly sit in a good middle ground. The aliens have advantages but are not without exploitable weakness. The Aegis are exceptional, but not superheroes. And combat, whether on an alien planet or in the streets of a slum, still comes down to a mix of grit, tactics, and numbers.
Although the novel does leave things open for a series, Carter resolves major arcs both in the main plot and in each protagonist’s life, providing a strong sense of completion.
There are a few transposed words and other issues in the text. These are not frequent and do not obscure meaning, so do not vastly impact the experience. However, readers who are sensitive to technical issues might find them occasionally distracting.
Grimshaw is a well-written heroic protagonist. Smart, decent, somewhat constrained by his training, but with a personality of his own, he provides a plausible military perspective on the struggle against alien invaders.
Evans offers another classic character from military sci-fi: the cocky newcomer who is brilliant in theory but has no real-world experience. However, she also has secrets, preventing her arc from becoming merely a choice between saving the day and learning humility.
Where the others provide differing viewpoints on the military situation, Kahn is a solid protagonist for the more political aspects of the plot. Past his prime and mired in bad habits, he stumbles between making deals to avoid a past he’d rather forget and using what remains of the skills he learnt to avoid the consequences of his deals.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers who like fast-paced science-fiction that includes both political conspiracy and military action without losing its focus on character-driven action.
I received a free copy from the author with a request for a fair review.
January 22, 2019
This is a great story! It has a fascinating double plot, wonderful, absorbing characters, and believable dialogue. Commander Grimshaw and Ensign Evans are extremely well developed and Randai/Taza and Zora are very intriguing. If the author can get rid of the typos, I really look forward to reading the next book.
November 6, 2020
Typical tale; hero commander, ace pilot with questionable allegiances, good aliens, bad aliens, political intrigue, budding romances, super star ship and a furry friend to boot. Good enough to continue with the series.
April 27, 2018
I’m a little conflicted about how to review this one. The first thing I should mention is that I got an updated, edited copy.
It’s got great characters and world building. There’s enough action and everything. It is a really good book, however I’m just not into adult books enough because of not really being able to relate to adult characters well enough to make a connection. I’m also one of those rare people who don’t enjoy books with a lot of swearing in them because of bad associations with them, which is why I find children’s and tween books to be more enjoyable and safer reads for me. I can handle little bits sprinkled into the story, depending on the words themselves, but this ones too much for me. Harsh language and too much violence are emotional triggers for me. Basically, my problems with this book are all a matter of personal opinion and preference coming from not being a typical adult and just some bad experiences.
I chose to read this book because I had never read any kind of military science fiction. I never thought I would like it, even though I like science fiction, because military anything never really got my interest. However, I had recently come to like the UNIT team in Doctor Who and thought now would be a good time to try it out. I liked this one enough that I will probably try out others, however I don’t see that type of science fiction becoming a favorite for me.
I think this is a really good read for adults who are into the genre. I think there’s a lot to love about it and I know people who would very likely give this book four or even five stars. I don’t think this series is for me, but I will be recommending it to people I think would really enjoy it.
It’s got great characters and world building. There’s enough action and everything. It is a really good book, however I’m just not into adult books enough because of not really being able to relate to adult characters well enough to make a connection. I’m also one of those rare people who don’t enjoy books with a lot of swearing in them because of bad associations with them, which is why I find children’s and tween books to be more enjoyable and safer reads for me. I can handle little bits sprinkled into the story, depending on the words themselves, but this ones too much for me. Harsh language and too much violence are emotional triggers for me. Basically, my problems with this book are all a matter of personal opinion and preference coming from not being a typical adult and just some bad experiences.
I chose to read this book because I had never read any kind of military science fiction. I never thought I would like it, even though I like science fiction, because military anything never really got my interest. However, I had recently come to like the UNIT team in Doctor Who and thought now would be a good time to try it out. I liked this one enough that I will probably try out others, however I don’t see that type of science fiction becoming a favorite for me.
I think this is a really good read for adults who are into the genre. I think there’s a lot to love about it and I know people who would very likely give this book four or even five stars. I don’t think this series is for me, but I will be recommending it to people I think would really enjoy it.
May 6, 2018
A good beginning
An interesting mix of characters, a intriguing developing storyline, complex motives, and more sides than a twenty sided dice. A few stretches of the suspension of disbelief, particularly in infrastructure, which are pretty common in this style of book, but I will read the next in the series to see where it goes.
An interesting mix of characters, a intriguing developing storyline, complex motives, and more sides than a twenty sided dice. A few stretches of the suspension of disbelief, particularly in infrastructure, which are pretty common in this style of book, but I will read the next in the series to see where it goes.
May 1, 2018
Fabulous book
I started to read this book it was such a gripping read from start to finish can not wait for the follow upbook do i can keep in touch with all the members of the crew
I started to read this book it was such a gripping read from start to finish can not wait for the follow upbook do i can keep in touch with all the members of the crew
April 25, 2018
This was a truly remarkable book. Killian Carter has found the perfect balance between developing the characters, colouring in the unusual surroundings that they find themselves in, and tying it all together with some incredibly fast-paced action and intrigue. The writing is absolutely brilliant, and I cannot wait to read the next one!
April 20, 2018
This story had it all. A touch of space opera, mystery, aliens, fighting in space and on planet, and some suspense as 3 main characters stories are interwoven to produce an amazing story that hooked me by the end of the first chapter. It was a great book one from a new author. I really liked that the characters as they were easy to picture and like. I liked how the background of the main characters was released slowly throughout the book to help the story along and make you question how it all fits together. A few scenes did make me giggle.Just a good scifi space opera story that I really cannot wait to read the next book to see what happens next and what else will be revealed. I
April 16, 2018
ARC review
This is the first modern Sci-Fi book I've read and I found it a really enjoyable book.
I really liked the characters and their individual plot threads.
The amount of action in this book makes for a really exciting story.
Recommended for Sci-Fi and action fans alike.
4 stars
This is the first modern Sci-Fi book I've read and I found it a really enjoyable book.
I really liked the characters and their individual plot threads.
The amount of action in this book makes for a really exciting story.
Recommended for Sci-Fi and action fans alike.
4 stars
April 12, 2018
📚📚📚📚
This book, was enjoyable, fun and had plenty of action and intrigue.
I liked the main protagonists and would like to know more about their histories, though that may come in book 2. Booster was a nice addition too.
Yes there are issues that could be solved with the aid of a proofreader but I was still able to follow and enjoy the story.
This book, was enjoyable, fun and had plenty of action and intrigue.
I liked the main protagonists and would like to know more about their histories, though that may come in book 2. Booster was a nice addition too.
Yes there are issues that could be solved with the aid of a proofreader but I was still able to follow and enjoy the story.
July 9, 2018
The North Star is just another example of how Killian Carter has grown as a serious science fiction writer.
I enjoyed the diverse cast of characters including the aliens and environments, plus the multiple plot lines that eventually came together satisfyingly.
This is a tale for all who enjoy great sci-fi!
I can hardly wait for Killian’s next offering in this series “Enter the Shroud”.
I already have it preordered.
I enjoyed the diverse cast of characters including the aliens and environments, plus the multiple plot lines that eventually came together satisfyingly.
This is a tale for all who enjoy great sci-fi!
I can hardly wait for Killian’s next offering in this series “Enter the Shroud”.
I already have it preordered.
August 1, 2021
A good start to a new series.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable scifi tale, although the story would benefit from more rigorous proofreading.
I certainly would like to read the next book in this series; there are obviously a lot of things left to explain.
My biggest hope, though, is that there will be a lot more of Booster!
This was a thoroughly enjoyable scifi tale, although the story would benefit from more rigorous proofreading.
I certainly would like to read the next book in this series; there are obviously a lot of things left to explain.
My biggest hope, though, is that there will be a lot more of Booster!
April 10, 2018
First time author for me. I really enjoyed this read.If you like Sci -Fi it's a must read.
May 29, 2018
Interesting book
I liked the two stories separately but kept waiting for it to become one story. One story is the military conflict with the mystery race on a colonial planet which has to be the opening of an interspecies war. The second story is the former special operations soldier who descends into near uselessness before being dragged back into service.
I liked the writing of both stories but kept expecting one or the other was backstory rather than current events. At the end, I sort of accepted that the characters in each story were moving towards each other and that the two threads were merging. I still don't see the connection but I expect it will be revealed in the next volume.
The military event felt very realistic and the tech had a different take than a lot of stories. The characters were developed enough to invest some emotional energy in the outcome and give a good picture of the lack of recent military experience that hampers the human race. The criminal/thief/assassin story complemented the first story and filled in some detail of the overall political situation in human space.
I liked the writing and am ready to read the next book but there are a lot of questions that are hanging there.
I liked the two stories separately but kept waiting for it to become one story. One story is the military conflict with the mystery race on a colonial planet which has to be the opening of an interspecies war. The second story is the former special operations soldier who descends into near uselessness before being dragged back into service.
I liked the writing of both stories but kept expecting one or the other was backstory rather than current events. At the end, I sort of accepted that the characters in each story were moving towards each other and that the two threads were merging. I still don't see the connection but I expect it will be revealed in the next volume.
The military event felt very realistic and the tech had a different take than a lot of stories. The characters were developed enough to invest some emotional energy in the outcome and give a good picture of the lack of recent military experience that hampers the human race. The criminal/thief/assassin story complemented the first story and filled in some detail of the overall political situation in human space.
I liked the writing and am ready to read the next book but there are a lot of questions that are hanging there.
September 2, 2023
The North Star is the first full-length novel in Killian Carter’s Galactic Sentinel series. With refreshing honesty, Carter tells us that the novel was a practice piece. In the days before easy self-publishing, I doubt it would have been circulated beyond a circle of what we now call beta readers.
In that spirit, I offer this snarky advice.
If you want to tell folks that your starship captain is a stalwart guy, give him a symbolic name like Jason Grimshaw. (I must resist inserting a head-shaking emoji.)
For gravitas, use The North Star as a title and a character epithet but don’t mention its connection with the Underground Railroad or Fred (Still resisting.)
So what happens? A starship crewed mostly by cadets is attacked and crash-lands and has to march through enemy territory. A planetary trek is the sci-fi equivalent of a road movie. It keeps the reader turning pages and avoids all those talking-heads moments and long passages of exposition. Cadets, of course, make good cannon fodder because no one cares about kids. (Still resisting.)
There are good aliens and bad aliens. We can shoot as many bad aliens as we like. (Note: Some readers might complain that it is not fair to give aliens powers like shapeshifting without explaining how they manage it.)
Keep practicing.
In that spirit, I offer this snarky advice.
If you want to tell folks that your starship captain is a stalwart guy, give him a symbolic name like Jason Grimshaw. (I must resist inserting a head-shaking emoji.)
For gravitas, use The North Star as a title and a character epithet but don’t mention its connection with the Underground Railroad or Fred (Still resisting.)
So what happens? A starship crewed mostly by cadets is attacked and crash-lands and has to march through enemy territory. A planetary trek is the sci-fi equivalent of a road movie. It keeps the reader turning pages and avoids all those talking-heads moments and long passages of exposition. Cadets, of course, make good cannon fodder because no one cares about kids. (Still resisting.)
There are good aliens and bad aliens. We can shoot as many bad aliens as we like. (Note: Some readers might complain that it is not fair to give aliens powers like shapeshifting without explaining how they manage it.)
Keep practicing.
January 20, 2019
Ok, this is a case of bad news / good news. The bad news is that anyone who didn’t see there was an update available read the wrong version, an early draft prior to being edited and full of errors. Unfortunately that seemed to have happened a lot and, as a result, there are a bunch of 1 star ratings that I am sure would have been higher if the right version had been read. As for the updated book, it’s actually pretty darn good. Lots of action, string lead and supporting characters, and a solid plot, all well written. I’d score it just below 5 stars (I’ve rounded up), mostly deducting because the “happily enough for now” ending has such a huge story twist that it might as well have been a cliffhanger and now I’m totally annoyed I can’t just dive into book 2. If that’s not an issue for you then up this to a solid 5 rating. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises. The book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to highly recommend. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.
January 6, 2025
An alchemical surprise!
The story (possible spoiler here...should I say "stories") started as lead but quickly became platinum!
I was annoyed at the outset with the story swapping places within itself, thinking I wish the author would simply write separate books for these plots. After finishing, I am glad the story worked out as it did and with the sagas put into a better perspective. I can't say much more than lest I leak the ingredients to one of the better stews I ever encountered. As the title to this ramble suggests, it borders on, if not totally encompasses, alchemy.
An excellent example of thoughtful writing and a bit of genius in plot mapping! I'm glad I've had the opportunity to read this and definitely look forward to the next installment in this series!
A Clancy meets LeGuin tale!
The story (possible spoiler here...should I say "stories") started as lead but quickly became platinum!
I was annoyed at the outset with the story swapping places within itself, thinking I wish the author would simply write separate books for these plots. After finishing, I am glad the story worked out as it did and with the sagas put into a better perspective. I can't say much more than lest I leak the ingredients to one of the better stews I ever encountered. As the title to this ramble suggests, it borders on, if not totally encompasses, alchemy.
An excellent example of thoughtful writing and a bit of genius in plot mapping! I'm glad I've had the opportunity to read this and definitely look forward to the next installment in this series!
A Clancy meets LeGuin tale!
January 28, 2019
This is a story about a future Earth with all of it's allies that are not as soild as it appears. Throw in an unknown species/invader with a poorly supplied Earth military and you have the basic ingredients for this story. The military element is composed of cadets, a couple of vets from a previous war, and two elite soliders from a different race. By the conclusion of this book, the majority of these characters are dead. There is also another plan involving two other elements/people working toward the same goal from a different angle. The action is intense, battles believeable,deaths are tragic and heroic, and the subterfuge elements will make you think. A very very good start to what appears to be an interesting series.
March 2, 2019
This looks like a interesting start to a great series, We fine a young trainee ensign on what should be a simple flight with a group of cadets and trainers. But it quickly goes down hill from there, she finds herself and the suffering crew flight a unknown emery with unbelievable weapons. But that is where she finds herself at her best, showing people that given the chance there is not a ship she cannot fly. looking forward to reading more.
December 31, 2018
Well it's like this...
It is a really good story and the characters are great. It's fun and interesting BUT the lack of proofreading and editing was really distracting. There were parts of the book that felt like I was reading something written by Yoda. This would be a five star book if it was cleaned up.
It is a really good story and the characters are great. It's fun and interesting BUT the lack of proofreading and editing was really distracting. There were parts of the book that felt like I was reading something written by Yoda. This would be a five star book if it was cleaned up.
January 16, 2019
An interesting book with multiple personalities and various plots. A Confederation ship is forced down on Colony 115 by an Alien ship. They need to servive in order to find out what lies at Project Zero. An old agent who decides he needs ro return to his former self. Plenty of action as well as political intrigue. Well worth reading.
May 25, 2019
Looks like the start of a universe-sized story. Military action on the ground and in space. Characters with secrets, flaws, or alien enough to not know what to expect. One of the major players in the coming series will be The North Star. What is it? Its existence is enough to start a war that could extend throughout the universe. I recommend you check it out
June 5, 2019
A dam bed good read
I found this to be an exciting read! The story is action packed from the first page and the characters are fully developed and very believable with a good mix of faults and foibles. Non-stop action and intreging story line make this a great read. I look forward to reading the next book in the series
I found this to be an exciting read! The story is action packed from the first page and the characters are fully developed and very believable with a good mix of faults and foibles. Non-stop action and intreging story line make this a great read. I look forward to reading the next book in the series
October 3, 2018
Good Job
3 people in different places and different motivations. This was a good book. The author weaved the 3 stories of 3 characters together seamlessly. You know they are in the story for a reason and that is what kept me reading. Good job Killian.
3 people in different places and different motivations. This was a good book. The author weaved the 3 stories of 3 characters together seamlessly. You know they are in the story for a reason and that is what kept me reading. Good job Killian.
January 29, 2019
Enjoyable space opera with multiple storylines that almost all come together by the end of the book. I'm assuming that all story lines will all come together in the next book. The titles significance is revealed a the end of this book.
March 12, 2019
I am not quite sure how I feel about this book. The story is not bad but I feel like the story was just starting to roll when it ended. It seems as though there was a lot of background information that needed explained before things could get started.
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