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The Last Reaper #3
Blade of the Reaper
Halek Cain’s journey has only just begun.
In search of answers to both his past and his future, Hal and his newly formed crew must overcome obstacles unlike anything they’ve ever seen. Hal needs repairs, and there’s only so many places a Reaper can find them.
Far across known space, hidden inside an uncharted slip tunnel, a hidden Reaper facility may hold the answers Hal needs. But the Union would rather the dead stay buried...and they’ll kill to keep their secrets.
In search of answers to both his past and his future, Hal and his newly formed crew must overcome obstacles unlike anything they’ve ever seen. Hal needs repairs, and there’s only so many places a Reaper can find them.
Far across known space, hidden inside an uncharted slip tunnel, a hidden Reaper facility may hold the answers Hal needs. But the Union would rather the dead stay buried...and they’ll kill to keep their secrets.
ebook
First published May 18, 2019
679 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
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J.N. Chaney
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
May 22, 2019
“To be or not to be, that is the question.”
Hal is submerged in big time indecisions. An introspective insight of his past and present life, how he views life after been imprisoned and the changes made to better beside his newly founded team. An intriguing way to unravel the questions of his family’s disappearance, mysteries to solve, and scores to settle, with a fast paced action continuously on the move to be one step ahead of the union. The characters are "characters" and you want to get to know them. Bonus points for AI sequences. Looking forward to more tales. I want to read Wings of The Reaper already!
Hal is submerged in big time indecisions. An introspective insight of his past and present life, how he views life after been imprisoned and the changes made to better beside his newly founded team. An intriguing way to unravel the questions of his family’s disappearance, mysteries to solve, and scores to settle, with a fast paced action continuously on the move to be one step ahead of the union. The characters are "characters" and you want to get to know them. Bonus points for AI sequences. Looking forward to more tales. I want to read Wings of The Reaper already!
May 21, 2019
Only one complaint
My only issue is that I have to wait for the next book, I was really getting into it & it’s over until the next book!
My only issue is that I have to wait for the next book, I was really getting into it & it’s over until the next book!
January 14, 2020
I enjoyed this addition to the Reaper series. I began reading this as a filler between other military science fiction series I have been following, but now it is one of my go to series.
May 21, 2019
Completely awesome!
Just like the first two, I devoured this one in slightly more than no time flat, and love where the stories going.
Just like the first two, I devoured this one in slightly more than no time flat, and love where the stories going.
November 9, 2020
I'm actually kind of glad I've gotten to the last of this series in terms of published audiobooks. Ray Porter narrates and he is always amazing. But I'm tiring of the story - don't know if it's me or the book. I wish it was more clever, funnier, quicker on the draw. The banter between X-37 and Hal just skims the level of quick wit that I've become accustomed to from authors who pair with Ray Porter. Porter's ability to translate dialogue seems wasted here. Not entirely, but certainly to some degree. I need more poignant moments between Cain and Elise. I need more contemplative moments between Path and Cain. Those kinds of moments would create huge amounts of character growth in all those characters involved, and honestly - it's just all lacking.
There's just something missing.
So since the rest of the audiobooks are set for production but not here yet, I'm kind of glad to have a forced break in the story of Reaper Cain. On the one hand it's good to be hopeful that the series will get better for me as I keep going. On the other hand, it's nice to be done with what hasn't completely satisfied me. I'll keep going with the series when the rest of the books are out on audio, and hopefully really enjoy them at that point.
There's just something missing.
So since the rest of the audiobooks are set for production but not here yet, I'm kind of glad to have a forced break in the story of Reaper Cain. On the one hand it's good to be hopeful that the series will get better for me as I keep going. On the other hand, it's nice to be done with what hasn't completely satisfied me. I'll keep going with the series when the rest of the books are out on audio, and hopefully really enjoy them at that point.
December 10, 2021
Each volume in this series is less than the previous one...
May 2, 2023
Took three books before this series finally got a deccent plot and a smidge of character development. Since book one, this series has consistently hovered at 2.0 stars. This book is a solid 2.25 stars.
There was a significant reduction in f-bombs and sh!tty moments, Cain wasn'tba complete prick, and the plot nearly made sense. The Ais, X and Jelly are stil, by far, the most consistent and flushed out characters in the book.
There is still a whole host of problems with the overall story. Cain was trained military assassin, sent to death roll for killing over a dozen non-combantants. He escape prison and has been killing more people, to include union soldiers ordered to bring a escape criminal back into justice. Somehow, its OK for these soldiers to be murdered, all because they were following orders and because Cain has a chip on his shoulder over other union soldiers thst kidnapped his family. So, this little vendetta of Cain's is resulting a dozens of families broke by his actions. He left dozens of spouses as widdows, children without thir parents, and parents wondering what happened to their child. There are consequences to his actions, I'm curious to see if the author will even acknowledge this in later books.
There was a significant reduction in f-bombs and sh!tty moments, Cain wasn'tba complete prick, and the plot nearly made sense. The Ais, X and Jelly are stil, by far, the most consistent and flushed out characters in the book.
There is still a whole host of problems with the overall story. Cain was trained military assassin, sent to death roll for killing over a dozen non-combantants. He escape prison and has been killing more people, to include union soldiers ordered to bring a escape criminal back into justice. Somehow, its OK for these soldiers to be murdered, all because they were following orders and because Cain has a chip on his shoulder over other union soldiers thst kidnapped his family. So, this little vendetta of Cain's is resulting a dozens of families broke by his actions. He left dozens of spouses as widdows, children without thir parents, and parents wondering what happened to their child. There are consequences to his actions, I'm curious to see if the author will even acknowledge this in later books.
January 1, 2020
6/10: Good light-weight read, well done.
"You may not know this, but it is extremely entertaining when you make bad decisions.”
Oh, X-37. Love that guy/LAI/digital-dude.
So, book three, and it felt a little different. Maybe Cain wasn't as douchbaggey. Maybe he just lost a little of his shine for me. I don't know. But he didn't come across as mystery noir in this one, and that was a shame, IMO.
“You’re such a dick, X.”
Although, occasionally you could see it.
Still, this one got fewer stars and I even skipped a few passages toward the end, so I'll be taking a break in the series. I may be back, but we'll have to wait and see.
“Thanks, X. You’re the best semi-imaginary digital friend a person could have.”
"You may not know this, but it is extremely entertaining when you make bad decisions.”
Oh, X-37. Love that guy/LAI/digital-dude.
So, book three, and it felt a little different. Maybe Cain wasn't as douchbaggey. Maybe he just lost a little of his shine for me. I don't know. But he didn't come across as mystery noir in this one, and that was a shame, IMO.
“You’re such a dick, X.”
Although, occasionally you could see it.
Still, this one got fewer stars and I even skipped a few passages toward the end, so I'll be taking a break in the series. I may be back, but we'll have to wait and see.
“Thanks, X. You’re the best semi-imaginary digital friend a person could have.”
September 25, 2022
I like this series! Especially, Jelly and X-37. AI's are always fun in a book. Halek Cain is a great hero and his snarkiness is so funny sometimes. There will be 15 books in this series and I can see myself listening to all of them, maybe.
No romance and the F-bomb was used 11 times.
As for the narration: Ray Porter is one of the best BUT he stops narrating after this one and Tom Taylorson takes over to do the rest of the series.
To that, I can only say: You need to hire someone to do ALL of the books instead of changing voices mid-stream. I don't know how many times I've seen this kind of thing complained about in reviews. BUT as always 'it's all about the money, isn't it?' Never mind the customers.
No romance and the F-bomb was used 11 times.
As for the narration: Ray Porter is one of the best BUT he stops narrating after this one and Tom Taylorson takes over to do the rest of the series.
To that, I can only say: You need to hire someone to do ALL of the books instead of changing voices mid-stream. I don't know how many times I've seen this kind of thing complained about in reviews. BUT as always 'it's all about the money, isn't it?' Never mind the customers.
October 18, 2021
Ocular enhancements and phantom messages!
Cain visits an ocular/tech specialist to try and improve his failing and clutching tech. However the ocular specialist Henshaw has other plans! In the meantime, the mask he obtained from the son of a reaper has a strange message embedded within that sets Cain on a particular course of action as it seems to involve his mother. They head towards an outpost (or three) at the end of an uncharted slip tunnel where they find more information, but Union pursuit is triggered. While Cain tries to go it alone his crew won't abandon him so mass battles ensue as they seek their destination.....
Cain visits an ocular/tech specialist to try and improve his failing and clutching tech. However the ocular specialist Henshaw has other plans! In the meantime, the mask he obtained from the son of a reaper has a strange message embedded within that sets Cain on a particular course of action as it seems to involve his mother. They head towards an outpost (or three) at the end of an uncharted slip tunnel where they find more information, but Union pursuit is triggered. While Cain tries to go it alone his crew won't abandon him so mass battles ensue as they seek their destination.....
June 4, 2019
At last!
Here we have Hal just ahead of the Union’s elite spec ops. he has joined forces with a motley crew that includes Elise, about whom we know little beyond the fact that her father used her in his research program as a guinea pig; Tom, a genius engineer who first helps Hal and who will follow Elise; Path, a blade master who was first hired by Henshaw, an ocular engineering specialist who has repaired a lot of Hal’s equipment and found himself caught up with Hal’s quest. They are beset at every turn but nothing will stop Hal now.
Here we have Hal just ahead of the Union’s elite spec ops. he has joined forces with a motley crew that includes Elise, about whom we know little beyond the fact that her father used her in his research program as a guinea pig; Tom, a genius engineer who first helps Hal and who will follow Elise; Path, a blade master who was first hired by Henshaw, an ocular engineering specialist who has repaired a lot of Hal’s equipment and found himself caught up with Hal’s quest. They are beset at every turn but nothing will stop Hal now.
July 14, 2019
Blade of the Reaper. J.N. Chaney
The fight for survival continues. Unlikely alliances have to be made. Reaper Cain or rather Hal and Elise have become a formidable force. A swordsman named Path and his employer Henshaw, have teamed up with Cain and Elise. Distrust of their motives is a logical conclusion at first. But in the end, in a battle for their very survival, trust is earned. This is an action packed read which I enjoyed immensely!
The fight for survival continues. Unlikely alliances have to be made. Reaper Cain or rather Hal and Elise have become a formidable force. A swordsman named Path and his employer Henshaw, have teamed up with Cain and Elise. Distrust of their motives is a logical conclusion at first. But in the end, in a battle for their very survival, trust is earned. This is an action packed read which I enjoyed immensely!
August 7, 2019
“The Last Reaper” series takes place in the “Renegade Star” universe. You do not need to read “The Renegade Star” series to enjoy “The Last Reaper” series. I enjoyed “Blade of the Reaper” and considered it a fun fast read. However, the first four books in “The Last Reaper” series are not as polished as the “Renegade Star” books. The manuscripts really needed another once over by Chaney, Moon, and their editor. If you can get past this, it is a fun series.
August 11, 2020
This is the 3rd book in the series and it just keeps getting better. I really like Halek Cain, Elise is a typical teenager and pain in the butt and we have picked up some more people to be Cain's shipmates. In this book Cain finds out more about the mysterious mask that he has taken and about his missing mother and sister. The characters are growing and the plot thickens. I loved the book and would highly recommend it.
April 24, 2022
Paranoid hero
This was the third book I'd read in the series AND the paranoia of the hero is wearing my patience a little thin. He had become predictable in a tedious sort of way. I've got the next story ready to read but I hope the primary hero takes a pill to control his paranoia. Otherwise I'll probably try try a different story for a while.
This is one of the reasons I like stories that are contiguous and not a series. Single book stories are much more enjoyable.
This was the third book I'd read in the series AND the paranoia of the hero is wearing my patience a little thin. He had become predictable in a tedious sort of way. I've got the next story ready to read but I hope the primary hero takes a pill to control his paranoia. Otherwise I'll probably try try a different story for a while.
This is one of the reasons I like stories that are contiguous and not a series. Single book stories are much more enjoyable.
June 11, 2022
I'm old and love sci-fi.
I have never read a book I didn't like. I've read a lot of sci-fi and have not finished maybe 2 books, and don't follow those offers. J. N. Chaney has the best idea for success as a writer. Collaboration! I don't know why other authors don't do this. It is ingenious! You can write 3- 4 times the amount of quality books with other another author than most solitary authors. I love these books!
I have never read a book I didn't like. I've read a lot of sci-fi and have not finished maybe 2 books, and don't follow those offers. J. N. Chaney has the best idea for success as a writer. Collaboration! I don't know why other authors don't do this. It is ingenious! You can write 3- 4 times the amount of quality books with other another author than most solitary authors. I love these books!
May 23, 2019
Good fun to read...
If it were not for bad luck, poor Halek would have no luck at all! His fortunes don’t improve greatly in this latest tale, but, they are very entertaining for the rest of us. More studied violence inflicted on the bad guys, a couple of new additions to his motley crew and... well, read it for yourself, it’s well worth the effort.
If it were not for bad luck, poor Halek would have no luck at all! His fortunes don’t improve greatly in this latest tale, but, they are very entertaining for the rest of us. More studied violence inflicted on the bad guys, a couple of new additions to his motley crew and... well, read it for yourself, it’s well worth the effort.
June 12, 2019
Chaotic Neutral?
Wish i understood alignment beter. This guy kills so easily and remorselessly but remains 2d. Story depth took a hard left into Complexity to lengthen story. Not sure ill pick up book 4. But so hard to sit in cubicle all day. 9218 square inches. This is ny cubicle. There are many like it but this one is mine.
Wish i understood alignment beter. This guy kills so easily and remorselessly but remains 2d. Story depth took a hard left into Complexity to lengthen story. Not sure ill pick up book 4. But so hard to sit in cubicle all day. 9218 square inches. This is ny cubicle. There are many like it but this one is mine.
May 27, 2022
Still looking for clues
Cain continues to travel with Elise, Path and Henshaw. Henshaw continues to behave in ways that seem less than honest. Cain then is confronted by yet another unknown but obviously elite group of enemies that have been equipped with newer, better tech than his.
Cain continues to travel with Elise, Path and Henshaw. Henshaw continues to behave in ways that seem less than honest. Cain then is confronted by yet another unknown but obviously elite group of enemies that have been equipped with newer, better tech than his.
August 8, 2022
Amazing
Amazing is the only word I can think of to describe Blade of the Reaper. There is so much action confusing plot twists brutal killings confusing monsters guarding whatever. The authors again write their stories in extreme detail though it is sometimes difficult to follow the overall intentions of the characters.
Amazing is the only word I can think of to describe Blade of the Reaper. There is so much action confusing plot twists brutal killings confusing monsters guarding whatever. The authors again write their stories in extreme detail though it is sometimes difficult to follow the overall intentions of the characters.
May 23, 2023
Really enjoy this series. Another good fast paced edition.
I'm really enjoying the series and as of this book it hasn't let me down yet. The main characters maintain likability. The supporting characters are starting to flesh out really well and actually help make the book better with no detractors. I'm enjoying the series and recommend it to anyone who likes the genre.
I'm really enjoying the series and as of this book it hasn't let me down yet. The main characters maintain likability. The supporting characters are starting to flesh out really well and actually help make the book better with no detractors. I'm enjoying the series and recommend it to anyone who likes the genre.
January 1, 2025
Good read.
This book was a good read and picked up where the last on left of like you never stopped reading. The book was full of action and now that Cain has a few upgrades to his equipment he's able to perform much better . I don't give spoilers but he is on the trail of his lost mother and sister with a little extra help. He considers them like family. On to the next.
This book was a good read and picked up where the last on left of like you never stopped reading. The book was full of action and now that Cain has a few upgrades to his equipment he's able to perform much better . I don't give spoilers but he is on the trail of his lost mother and sister with a little extra help. He considers them like family. On to the next.
May 25, 2019
Loved it
I absolutely love the interplay between X and Cain. I really like all the different series and am wondering if they are all going to tie into each other! I may have posted several excerpts on my ig!!!
I absolutely love the interplay between X and Cain. I really like all the different series and am wondering if they are all going to tie into each other! I may have posted several excerpts on my ig!!!
June 5, 2019
Hell on two legs.
This installment of the Reaper sees Halek discovering secrets about his family's fight to evade the Union's plans. He learns when to trust his team and to stop being the Lone ranger. I enjoyed the action and fast pace of the story line.
This installment of the Reaper sees Halek discovering secrets about his family's fight to evade the Union's plans. He learns when to trust his team and to stop being the Lone ranger. I enjoyed the action and fast pace of the story line.
June 21, 2019
Ramping up!
Some answers to Reapers Cain past plus the building of a team that will no doubt cause trouble for Union. I really like the Sword Saints, Path is quite the amusing charachter, sort of like a human Yoda.
Some answers to Reapers Cain past plus the building of a team that will no doubt cause trouble for Union. I really like the Sword Saints, Path is quite the amusing charachter, sort of like a human Yoda.
September 7, 2019
Loving this series. Old school type Space opera. No alternate reality, end of world scenario, zombies, or vampires. Just plain fun. At times gory fun., but love the plot, love the characters. Can’t wait to start next book.
September 20, 2019
Mother, I am coming!
Cain has found the coordinates for the "possible" Reaper's base. They get there and realize one base has totally been blown up. They find the next base has a hard drive and the third base has the key....now on to the technology centre.
Read on and enjoy!!!
Cain has found the coordinates for the "possible" Reaper's base. They get there and realize one base has totally been blown up. They find the next base has a hard drive and the third base has the key....now on to the technology centre.
Read on and enjoy!!!
Read
October 28, 2020A great addition to the series. The Reaper character keeps growing as do the characters surrounding him. A must-read if you began with the first book and want to keep the series going. Not recommended as a starting point.
~ Kort
~ Kort
December 8, 2022
Fast Paced with some fun banter
If you’re looking for a quick read that’s predictable but fun this is for you. The reaper series is a good change of pace from much more detailed space opera.
If you’re looking for a quick read that’s predictable but fun this is for you. The reaper series is a good change of pace from much more detailed space opera.
January 8, 2023
I wish these were either longer and deeper or shorter and combined. The stories flow well on into another but seemed rushed. I enjoyed the action but the characters still feel shallow and reactionary. Even so still fun, so on to the next.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews