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Day of Wrath
(Taking Shield #5)
by
In less than a week, Bennet will finally return to the Shield Regiment, leaving behind the Gyrfalcon, his father, his friends… and Flynn. Promotion to Shield Major and being given command of a battle group despite the political fallout from Makepeace the year before is everything he thought he wanted. Everything he’s worked towards for the last three years. Except for leav
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ebook, 370 pages
Published
June 28th 2018
by Anna Butler
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Start your review of Day of Wrath (Taking Shield #5)

This is it. The last time we'll see Bennet and Flynn in a Taking Shield story.
I pause here for sad and lonely reflection.
The journey of the series has been a good, satisfying one, and I am deeply glad that I followed it. Bennet's growth as a man and an officer has been steady. He's gained enormous insight into his past and uses it, as one should, to guide his steps into the future. He's been separated from his true love by circumstances beyond his control...any military family will recognize thi ...more
I pause here for sad and lonely reflection.
The journey of the series has been a good, satisfying one, and I am deeply glad that I followed it. Bennet's growth as a man and an officer has been steady. He's gained enormous insight into his past and uses it, as one should, to guide his steps into the future. He's been separated from his true love by circumstances beyond his control...any military family will recognize thi ...more

Wow. That was an amazing gut-punch of a book. It ends this wonderful series in a way that is completely unexpected, and yet completely logical, and that's a real achievement.
For those who have followed and loved Flynn and Bennet through all these stories, they do have an ending together, with hope for forever. Not an HEA, but pretty much where we wanted to see them go in their relationship. But they reach it via trials by fire, and losses. Secondary characters we have been attached to die in th ...more
For those who have followed and loved Flynn and Bennet through all these stories, they do have an ending together, with hope for forever. Not an HEA, but pretty much where we wanted to see them go in their relationship. But they reach it via trials by fire, and losses. Secondary characters we have been attached to die in th ...more

Holy shit. I did NOT see that coming.
Well, I did part of it; after Makepeace there was speculation that (view spoiler) was aiding the Maess...and I guessed correctly in that respect (although not to the extent it was revealed).
What came after? Wow. Talk about devastating. And unlike some of the other events in the series where I am not ashamed to admit I bawled like a baby, I was too shocked and unable to process a lot of what happened near the end.
I think I men ...more
Well, I did part of it; after Makepeace there was speculation that (view spoiler) was aiding the Maess...and I guessed correctly in that respect (although not to the extent it was revealed).
What came after? Wow. Talk about devastating. And unlike some of the other events in the series where I am not ashamed to admit I bawled like a baby, I was too shocked and unable to process a lot of what happened near the end.
I think I men ...more

The end of a spectacular series. Wow. This is stunning. I'm sad it's over and definitely have been feeling a little bereft lately at the fact that there will be no more Shield books (the author has said it straight up). Bennet completely captured my heart in the first book and reading his journey over these five books has been absolutely brilliant. This is an epic, powerful, queer military space opera and it's so involving. Note that this book does not stand alone and the series needs to be read
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“I am anti-life, the beast of judgment. I am the dark at the end of everything. The end of universes, gods, worlds...of everything. And what will you be then, Dreamlord?”
“I am hope.”
-- Neil Gaiman, Sandman
The author sought my advice some time ago on the structure of the story and how to market it, so I have known since the beginning how the basic outline the story would evolve from Makepeace to Day of Wrath. Even so, that foreknowledge pales before the execution, and I missed nothing by already ...more
“I am hope.”
-- Neil Gaiman, Sandman
The author sought my advice some time ago on the structure of the story and how to market it, so I have known since the beginning how the basic outline the story would evolve from Makepeace to Day of Wrath. Even so, that foreknowledge pales before the execution, and I missed nothing by already ...more

A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
I can’t remember a book where I was so invested and taken on such an emotional roller coaster. Day of Wrath starts of quietly, softly, and with no inkling of what lurks in the pages beyond. Bennett’s year in Fleet is over and, with his promotion to Shield Major, he’ll be taking over command of three ships of his own. His last job on the Gyrfalcon is to assist in the escort of the new President on her tour of the colonies. It means one more month under his father’s c ...more
5 stars
I can’t remember a book where I was so invested and taken on such an emotional roller coaster. Day of Wrath starts of quietly, softly, and with no inkling of what lurks in the pages beyond. Bennett’s year in Fleet is over and, with his promotion to Shield Major, he’ll be taking over command of three ships of his own. His last job on the Gyrfalcon is to assist in the escort of the new President on her tour of the colonies. It means one more month under his father’s c ...more

Despite (in spite of?) the end of this story, this was one heck of a ride. A bit of a bittersweet ending.
[ETA - 01/11/19]: Been thinking about the influences on this series and this book in particular so as my brain pulls this stuff up I need to write it down (view spoiler) ...more
[ETA - 01/11/19]: Been thinking about the influences on this series and this book in particular so as my brain pulls this stuff up I need to write it down (view spoiler) ...more

First of all, I'm terribly sad to have the story ended. I waited over a year to read Chains of Their Sins (#4) because the author had posted that there was only one book remaining in the series. I didn't want to read #4 and then have to wait so long for #5. I also waited for a "long" weekend for me to read the two books because I didn't want to put them down.
So, Day of Wrath... I'm speechless. It was the perfect finale for the series; how appropriate that humanity's ending is a repeat of its own ...more
So, Day of Wrath... I'm speechless. It was the perfect finale for the series; how appropriate that humanity's ending is a repeat of its own ...more

Wow. That was my initial response to this book, and the end of a series I’ve loved. It’s not the ending I expected, although I loved the last scene, and kudos to the author for taking the plot the way it went. I’ve enjoyed every book in this series, and fell in love with the characters as well as the storyline. Definitely one of my favourite reads, and it reminds me of why I enjoy SF as a genre. I already own hardcopies of the first two books in the series, and will need to complete it now. The
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Coming into a series with the 5th book is always a challenge, especially with high tech space opera, but I still found myself drawn into this almost from the start. So much drama, tension, and mystery, with a covert romance that was actually more intense for being restricted to stolen moments in the shadows.

(Originally reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews.)
Grief. It’s what I’ve been feeling for a couple days…and I’ve tracked it back to finishing this series. I loved the Taking Shield series, and the last installment was no exception. But the ending! OH MY GOD. I was so totally not expecting Ms. Butler to go there! No spoilers on that, but when you read this one, be prepared for a hell of a ride!
So, let’s talk about the book. We’re back with Bennet and Flynn and their continuing dysfunctional relationshi ...more
Grief. It’s what I’ve been feeling for a couple days…and I’ve tracked it back to finishing this series. I loved the Taking Shield series, and the last installment was no exception. But the ending! OH MY GOD. I was so totally not expecting Ms. Butler to go there! No spoilers on that, but when you read this one, be prepared for a hell of a ride!
So, let’s talk about the book. We’re back with Bennet and Flynn and their continuing dysfunctional relationshi ...more

[endless internal screaming]

Review By 2shay..........
I’m not sure where to start. Until reading the first book in this series, Gryfalcon, I was not a fan of science fiction books. Ms. Anna Butler changed that.
Sheild Captain Bennett captured my imagination, and with the help of brilliant writing drew me into his world ten thousand years in the future. Earth is gone, all that’s left is folklore and myths. The original evacuees from Earth were homeless seekers for three thousand years before finding Albion. Albion is beautifu ...more
I’m not sure where to start. Until reading the first book in this series, Gryfalcon, I was not a fan of science fiction books. Ms. Anna Butler changed that.
Sheild Captain Bennett captured my imagination, and with the help of brilliant writing drew me into his world ten thousand years in the future. Earth is gone, all that’s left is folklore and myths. The original evacuees from Earth were homeless seekers for three thousand years before finding Albion. Albion is beautifu ...more

Shield Major Bennett was preparing to leave Gyrfalcon. Returning to Shield, finally. Leaving his improved relationship with his father behind. He was more than ready to get back to his old life. Leaving Finn behind was harder. Even though they hadn't been together as other than friends for Bennett's on time Gyrfalcon, they still loved each other and it would hurt to say goodbye again.
The president decides she must visit the colonies. He had a theory, all politicians were bad, some were badder. S ...more

Ok I'm in the minority in that this last book didn't blow me away. Yes the ended shocked the hell out of me in the direction it took. Flynn and Bennett got their I won't say happily but they got a way to be together. The end went a lot darker than I thought it would and I respect the author for taking the story in that direction. My biggest problem was the convoluted plot line for the end involving the sketchy politics that I haven't really like through most of the series and Vines/Throm thing.
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Wow! This book certainly didn't go the direction I expected. The surprises were stunning. But the relationships between Bennet and his father and between Bennet and Flynn were wonderfully explored. I can't say they were resolved, exactly, but the conclusion was satisfying.
The author has said this is the end of the series, but I hope we see more of Bennet and Flynn in the future with a coda or two, or even a nice long adventure set a few years down the path. ...more
The author has said this is the end of the series, but I hope we see more of Bennet and Flynn in the future with a coda or two, or even a nice long adventure set a few years down the path. ...more

A brilliant series, Anna is a master craftsman. She brings these characters and their stories to life in a way that stays with me long after I have finished the book. Dark and intense. It was tough to read about the Maess' attack. And the fly by on Albion. The psychological impact it had on everyone was raw and jarring. I am sad to see this series ended, but so glad that Bennet finally opens up to love. ...more

I'm giving this one a 3.5 stars, because this book fucking wrecked me.
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This novel cannot be read as a stand-alone. Please start with ‘Gyrfalcon’, the first book in the ‘Taking Shield’ series.
It’s the dawn of a new day for Albion and the outer planets. President Beatrice has Grand Plans to bring the planets back into the fold. For the first time in possibly centuries, she initiates a presidential tour, starting with the planet Thorn. Supreme Commander Jax is stepping down, Commander Caeden is being promoted into his place, and after this escort mission, Bennett will ...more
It’s the dawn of a new day for Albion and the outer planets. President Beatrice has Grand Plans to bring the planets back into the fold. For the first time in possibly centuries, she initiates a presidential tour, starting with the planet Thorn. Supreme Commander Jax is stepping down, Commander Caeden is being promoted into his place, and after this escort mission, Bennett will ...more

I remain speechless .... I cannot say I was unaware of where the storyline was going throughout the five books in the series so far BUT I was still unprepared for the emotional impact from the "day of reckoning".
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