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Omega War #12
Alabaster Noon
The invasion of Earth is a broken dream, a victim of Peepo’s ability to play the long game better than anyone thought possible.
With Alexis Cromwell shot in the back by her XO and the fleet in ruins, the Humans have run back to New Warsaw to lick their wounds, but the Merc Guild now knows the location of their hidden base, and they are in hot pursuit. Led by the New Era, a dreadnought built for the sole purpose of destroying humanity, they are an unstoppable force.
But the Golden Horde has been fortifying the system for a decade, though, and it won’t fall easily. The question, though, is whether the Humans can summon the will to defend it. With Alexis gone, the Winged Hussars are in turmoil, and their morale is at an all-time low. Humanity’s space fleet is in a shambles, and Sansar Enkh realizes her dream of being unable to stop the dreadnought is about to come true, despite her best efforts.
The final battle is at hand, with the survival of mankind at stake. The sun is at its zenith as the forces take the field—will the Humans crush the Merc Guild forces and take their place in a new hierarchy, or will the sun forever set on humanity?
With Alexis Cromwell shot in the back by her XO and the fleet in ruins, the Humans have run back to New Warsaw to lick their wounds, but the Merc Guild now knows the location of their hidden base, and they are in hot pursuit. Led by the New Era, a dreadnought built for the sole purpose of destroying humanity, they are an unstoppable force.
But the Golden Horde has been fortifying the system for a decade, though, and it won’t fall easily. The question, though, is whether the Humans can summon the will to defend it. With Alexis gone, the Winged Hussars are in turmoil, and their morale is at an all-time low. Humanity’s space fleet is in a shambles, and Sansar Enkh realizes her dream of being unable to stop the dreadnought is about to come true, despite her best efforts.
The final battle is at hand, with the survival of mankind at stake. The sun is at its zenith as the forces take the field—will the Humans crush the Merc Guild forces and take their place in a new hierarchy, or will the sun forever set on humanity?
- GenresMilitary Science Fiction
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 11, 2019
196 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Chris Kennedy
138 books163 followersA Webster Award winner and three-time Dragon Award finalist, Chris Kennedy is a Science Fiction/Fantasy author, speaker, and small-press publisher who has written over 50 books and published more than 400 others. Get his free book, “Shattered Crucible,” at his website, https://chriskennedypublishing.com.
Called “fantastic” and “a great speaker,” he has coached hundreds of beginning authors and budding novelists on how to self-publish their stories at a variety of conferences, conventions, and writing guild presentations. He is the author of the award-winning #1 bestseller, “Self-Publishing for Profit: How to Get Your Book Out of Your Head and Into the Stores.”
Chris lives in Coinjock, North Carolina, with his wife. Follow Chris on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ckpublishing/.
Called “fantastic” and “a great speaker,” he has coached hundreds of beginning authors and budding novelists on how to self-publish their stories at a variety of conferences, conventions, and writing guild presentations. He is the author of the award-winning #1 bestseller, “Self-Publishing for Profit: How to Get Your Book Out of Your Head and Into the Stores.”
Chris lives in Coinjock, North Carolina, with his wife. Follow Chris on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ckpublishing/.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 21, 2019
Fantastic conclusion to the Omega War ... but what’s next?!?
Really enjoyed this volume, both as a capstone to the Omega War series, and as a stand-alone book. The twists and turns will have you holding onto your seat! Just when you think you have the plot figured out, it changes - often in a completely new direction. The authors have really outdone themselves on this one - lots of plot elements tied up, but new challenges and opportunities await! I can’t wait to see what happens next in the series! I will be rereading this one in the future!
Really enjoyed this volume, both as a capstone to the Omega War series, and as a stand-alone book. The twists and turns will have you holding onto your seat! Just when you think you have the plot figured out, it changes - often in a completely new direction. The authors have really outdone themselves on this one - lots of plot elements tied up, but new challenges and opportunities await! I can’t wait to see what happens next in the series! I will be rereading this one in the future!
September 23, 2021
This is a long trip well worth the drive
I have waited for many books to write a review. So far I have read the horsemen series and the next series (which I had to find on my own after starting the guild war series, as it wasn't linked as a follow up, ahem Amazon) they are well written with nary a n editing issue. There were a couple of instances where it seemed that a random item (stolen CASPers) etc. Were dropped in or maybe I just wasn't paying close attention, I guess after a couple bajillion words that is to be expected. Yes the protagonists were a trifle overpowered in some instances but all in all it was a great piece of space opera that is well worth sitting down for a couple weeks and getting your sci first on. Now on to the guild wars. Well done gentlemen and ladies. Thanks
I have waited for many books to write a review. So far I have read the horsemen series and the next series (which I had to find on my own after starting the guild war series, as it wasn't linked as a follow up, ahem Amazon) they are well written with nary a n editing issue. There were a couple of instances where it seemed that a random item (stolen CASPers) etc. Were dropped in or maybe I just wasn't paying close attention, I guess after a couple bajillion words that is to be expected. Yes the protagonists were a trifle overpowered in some instances but all in all it was a great piece of space opera that is well worth sitting down for a couple weeks and getting your sci first on. Now on to the guild wars. Well done gentlemen and ladies. Thanks
November 29, 2021
Fantastic read
I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole Omega War series! Wonderful characters and great story line. Considering all the all the different authors they did a nice job of maintaining the cohesion of the series. Great job!
I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole Omega War series! Wonderful characters and great story line. Considering all the all the different authors they did a nice job of maintaining the cohesion of the series. Great job!
February 6, 2020
Good read
Good read. Not sure why Kindle is forcing a review to leave the book. While i enjoyed the book I'm not one to do reviews.
Good read. Not sure why Kindle is forcing a review to leave the book. While i enjoyed the book I'm not one to do reviews.
March 29, 2020
Finally...
Proper ending to the long series. Action packed as usual, but to many Deus ex machina solutions for me. Honest battles would have been much better solution.
Proper ending to the long series. Action packed as usual, but to many Deus ex machina solutions for me. Honest battles would have been much better solution.
March 5, 2024
I enjoyed getting closure to many threads, but didn't like how important events just appeared, without explanation.
July 11, 2019
I obtained this book through the Kindle Unlimited program.
The Amazon review has been submitted.
This review was delayed for a couple of days because I didn't want to finish it. My reasons were NOT because it was unpleasant to read, or made me feel unpleasant feelings, such as fear, shame, guilt, and remorse. Nope; it was because this is the LAST book in the Omega Wars line, and I didn't want it to end.
I consoled myself with the fact that there are at least nine books in the Standalone category in the Four Horsemen Universe, and the demented authors are, in addition to being profligate, are also highly prolific. Therefore, I have every reason to believe that MOAR IS ON THE WAY!!!
However, as a founding member of the Gamma Phi Iota fraternity of reviewers (God Fearing Independents), I DO have other sources, and expect to return to exploiting them over the next short period until the Dragon Nominees will be announced. At that point, I am going to be busting it to get as many of THOSE reviewed as is possible.
Another great cover by Brenda Mihalko and Ricky Ryan: A Flatar on a Tortantula Is. In. Your. HOUSE!!! and is coming to eat you up.
THE FOUR HORSEMEN ARE MAD AS HE%%, AND THEY AREN'T GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE! Unless the other side wins, in which case, it looks like they will take whatever they can get. And, based on their recent attempt to stomp on the wicked, wicked General Peepo, they may want to look at their alternatives.
The wicked, wicked General Peepo has long since crossed the line past “plays well with others,”and it seems to be something that aggravates her peers. Of course, she doesn't think she HAS any peers, which is certainly part of the problem. However, ordinary betrayal wasn't enough for her, and she made the move into sabotage, back-shooting, and soliciting undesirable allies. There are hints that she has reasons of her own, beyond being the mistress of all she sees, but strangely, that comforts no one.
Meanwhile, the ravaged fleet of Horsemen and associates limps through hyperspace, back to the safety of secret base New Warsaw. Except, somehow, New Warsaw isn't a secret base anymore. And it is fortunate indeed that all trips (special methods excepted) through hyperspace ALWAYS take exactly 170 hours, because the fleet that punished the humans is right behind them. So, limping isn't EXACTLY a problem. At least while they are in hyperspace. When they emerge..
Wow. When they emerge. You know, when you have a single safe place in the universe, and everything depends on that, you need a special person in charge. A person who can make the tough decisions, and get them implemented, and listen to new data, and make the hard decisions. That's right, you need a WARRIOR!!!
Umm. No. You don't. What you need is a MANAGER! A person who can shuffle electrons and papers and actually understand what the message of Power Point presentations is SUPPOSED to be, without suffering the indignity of sitting through Power Point presentations. Gee. I wonder if there is a manager in charge at New Warsaw?
Wow, again, for when they emerge. Because there is NOTHING faster than hyperspace! So, the first New Warsaw will hear of the nasty ugly conditions that now exist will be when the damaged fleet shows up, with the bad guys shortly behind them. Uh-oh! They are DOOMED!
Unless..wasn't there something about the Fae being able to mind-talk? (Did I read THAT book?)
One of my favorite parts of the saga of the Four Horsemen is that the authors have NOT chosen to make the leaders stay miserable all the time, in order to write dramatic stories. (I don't like comic books, for that reason; Superman and Lois NEED each other!) However, the evilest, wickedest thing that the wicked, wicked General Peepo did was to put a sleeper agent into the Winged Hussars, and at a MOST inopportune moment, order that agent to shoot Alexis Cromwell in the back. Not only does this remove the most effective commander from the battle, and demoralize the troops, it also crushes the heart right out of Nigel Shirazi, commander of Asbaran Solutions. And with that, the strongest factor keeping him from becoming a monomaniacal genocide endorser just...vanishes. And he considers how he will cleanse the universe.
I hate it when they crush the heart of a hero.
This is NOT! NOT a spoiler! Although Alabaster Noon is the final installment of the Omega War, it is NOT the end of the 4HU. True, many/most of the plot lines are nicely resolved. That's good for me, because I HATE not knowing who shot JR for a long time. There are, however, promises made in public that the story will continue, and there is a bodacious amount of material in the book for the future to be built on.
Nicely done, people. Nicely done indeed!
The Amazon review has been submitted.
This review was delayed for a couple of days because I didn't want to finish it. My reasons were NOT because it was unpleasant to read, or made me feel unpleasant feelings, such as fear, shame, guilt, and remorse. Nope; it was because this is the LAST book in the Omega Wars line, and I didn't want it to end.
I consoled myself with the fact that there are at least nine books in the Standalone category in the Four Horsemen Universe, and the demented authors are, in addition to being profligate, are also highly prolific. Therefore, I have every reason to believe that MOAR IS ON THE WAY!!!
However, as a founding member of the Gamma Phi Iota fraternity of reviewers (God Fearing Independents), I DO have other sources, and expect to return to exploiting them over the next short period until the Dragon Nominees will be announced. At that point, I am going to be busting it to get as many of THOSE reviewed as is possible.
Another great cover by Brenda Mihalko and Ricky Ryan: A Flatar on a Tortantula Is. In. Your. HOUSE!!! and is coming to eat you up.
THE FOUR HORSEMEN ARE MAD AS HE%%, AND THEY AREN'T GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE! Unless the other side wins, in which case, it looks like they will take whatever they can get. And, based on their recent attempt to stomp on the wicked, wicked General Peepo, they may want to look at their alternatives.
The wicked, wicked General Peepo has long since crossed the line past “plays well with others,”and it seems to be something that aggravates her peers. Of course, she doesn't think she HAS any peers, which is certainly part of the problem. However, ordinary betrayal wasn't enough for her, and she made the move into sabotage, back-shooting, and soliciting undesirable allies. There are hints that she has reasons of her own, beyond being the mistress of all she sees, but strangely, that comforts no one.
Meanwhile, the ravaged fleet of Horsemen and associates limps through hyperspace, back to the safety of secret base New Warsaw. Except, somehow, New Warsaw isn't a secret base anymore. And it is fortunate indeed that all trips (special methods excepted) through hyperspace ALWAYS take exactly 170 hours, because the fleet that punished the humans is right behind them. So, limping isn't EXACTLY a problem. At least while they are in hyperspace. When they emerge..
Wow. When they emerge. You know, when you have a single safe place in the universe, and everything depends on that, you need a special person in charge. A person who can make the tough decisions, and get them implemented, and listen to new data, and make the hard decisions. That's right, you need a WARRIOR!!!
Umm. No. You don't. What you need is a MANAGER! A person who can shuffle electrons and papers and actually understand what the message of Power Point presentations is SUPPOSED to be, without suffering the indignity of sitting through Power Point presentations. Gee. I wonder if there is a manager in charge at New Warsaw?
Wow, again, for when they emerge. Because there is NOTHING faster than hyperspace! So, the first New Warsaw will hear of the nasty ugly conditions that now exist will be when the damaged fleet shows up, with the bad guys shortly behind them. Uh-oh! They are DOOMED!
Unless..wasn't there something about the Fae being able to mind-talk? (Did I read THAT book?)
One of my favorite parts of the saga of the Four Horsemen is that the authors have NOT chosen to make the leaders stay miserable all the time, in order to write dramatic stories. (I don't like comic books, for that reason; Superman and Lois NEED each other!) However, the evilest, wickedest thing that the wicked, wicked General Peepo did was to put a sleeper agent into the Winged Hussars, and at a MOST inopportune moment, order that agent to shoot Alexis Cromwell in the back. Not only does this remove the most effective commander from the battle, and demoralize the troops, it also crushes the heart right out of Nigel Shirazi, commander of Asbaran Solutions. And with that, the strongest factor keeping him from becoming a monomaniacal genocide endorser just...vanishes. And he considers how he will cleanse the universe.
I hate it when they crush the heart of a hero.
This is NOT! NOT a spoiler! Although Alabaster Noon is the final installment of the Omega War, it is NOT the end of the 4HU. True, many/most of the plot lines are nicely resolved. That's good for me, because I HATE not knowing who shot JR for a long time. There are, however, promises made in public that the story will continue, and there is a bodacious amount of material in the book for the future to be built on.
Nicely done, people. Nicely done indeed!
January 22, 2020
Thrilling conclusion to the Omega War saga. A little bit predictable in places but nonetheless satisfying finale to the series.
January 17, 2020
They’re Back on Track
After trying to read book 11 and not being able to finish it, I was thrilled to read this book. A lot of loose ends came together here.
After trying to read book 11 and not being able to finish it, I was thrilled to read this book. A lot of loose ends came together here.
December 24, 2019
An excellent end to the war
I can't say enough about this series and how much I enjoy it. The world building and characters have breadth and depth that are rarely seen. I can't wait to take the next steps of discovery.
I can't say enough about this series and how much I enjoy it. The world building and characters have breadth and depth that are rarely seen. I can't wait to take the next steps of discovery.
August 13, 2019
I love the Four Horsemen, the leaders of the four largest mercenary companies on Earth. Especially in the Omega War, where they often are not on Earth because in all 12 books the Earth is occupied by General Peepo. Humans are too unpredictable. Sure it helps them win as mercs, but it makes them unreliable and they need to be ... managed.
This book is the conclusion of the Omega War. Like the endings to any great series, it's both exhilaration and bittersweet.
I won't give away the plot. Just believe me that this is as good as Space Opera gets. The characters are epic, the ships are shiny, and the mortars go boom! really loud.
Let's ride!
This book is the conclusion of the Omega War. Like the endings to any great series, it's both exhilaration and bittersweet.
I won't give away the plot. Just believe me that this is as good as Space Opera gets. The characters are epic, the ships are shiny, and the mortars go boom! really loud.
Let's ride!
June 21, 2019
Amazing Conclusion to Omega War Arc
Wow - fast paced, lots of deaths (how could you kill....), and ties together lots of loose ends. For the Omega War Saga.
The book also opens up some new plot twists. One my guess is a continuation of a short story by Mark Wandrey, that seemed not connected, but now... and of course where is Dr. Sato. There are more reveals on the Dusman and Raknar. The Area 51 is very intriguing. This is not the end, but just the beginning. I look forward to the next arc.
Wow - fast paced, lots of deaths (how could you kill....), and ties together lots of loose ends. For the Omega War Saga.
The book also opens up some new plot twists. One my guess is a continuation of a short story by Mark Wandrey, that seemed not connected, but now... and of course where is Dr. Sato. There are more reveals on the Dusman and Raknar. The Area 51 is very intriguing. This is not the end, but just the beginning. I look forward to the next arc.
July 4, 2019
This is what I consider the "main sequence" of the Four Horsemen stories, and as such this is the storyline I was really waiting for to come back around.
Well written as always, and with the four "Horseman Actuals" in this one the big battles are resolved. I can't say too much about that except that I was (largely) satisfied with the resolutions, and tantalized by some of the remaining threads and the possibilities they offer. I think that I've decided that Jim Cartwright is the character I'm most interested in following, so I'll be looking for direct continuations from this storyline.
Well written as always, and with the four "Horseman Actuals" in this one the big battles are resolved. I can't say too much about that except that I was (largely) satisfied with the resolutions, and tantalized by some of the remaining threads and the possibilities they offer. I think that I've decided that Jim Cartwright is the character I'm most interested in following, so I'll be looking for direct continuations from this storyline.
June 21, 2019
Now this book, without a shadow of a doubt, was one of THE best books I've ever read!
An overall fitting conclusion to this story arc, The Omega War, maybe we'll get more in future. For now, though, this ends of the story quite well. As expected, there's action aplenty, death, intrigue, plots and sub plots, tragedy and tears(for the readers too).
This entire series is one that I wish I could have entirely on hard cover and on my shelf.
An overall fitting conclusion to this story arc, The Omega War, maybe we'll get more in future. For now, though, this ends of the story quite well. As expected, there's action aplenty, death, intrigue, plots and sub plots, tragedy and tears(for the readers too).
This entire series is one that I wish I could have entirely on hard cover and on my shelf.
July 17, 2019
Not With a Whimper...
...But With a Bang!
The 12-volume story of the Omega War comes to a satisfying ending, but with plenty of room for another. That's kind of magic - If I dropped dead tomorrow I wouldn't feel like I was robbed of a real conclusion to this story. There's clearly more to come, but in the sense that the universe will keep on spinning and some of the things that unfold will also be interesting tales.
...But With a Bang!
The 12-volume story of the Omega War comes to a satisfying ending, but with plenty of room for another. That's kind of magic - If I dropped dead tomorrow I wouldn't feel like I was robbed of a real conclusion to this story. There's clearly more to come, but in the sense that the universe will keep on spinning and some of the things that unfold will also be interesting tales.
June 25, 2019
Fantastic
Well we reach an end and also a new beginning! This has been one of mt fave scifi series., its been a roller coaster of excitement and sadness as some charachters survive and others pass iinto the Light,
No doubt we are going to get another few books that tell it from a different angle.
Lock and Load for next battle!
Well we reach an end and also a new beginning! This has been one of mt fave scifi series., its been a roller coaster of excitement and sadness as some charachters survive and others pass iinto the Light,
No doubt we are going to get another few books that tell it from a different angle.
Lock and Load for next battle!
November 25, 2019
What a ride!
Well done concusion to the Omega Wars. Multiple battles in space and land. Friends reunited heros rise and some fall, enemies are vanquished as the enigmatic Dustman join the fray and a fragile alliance is born. Great writing all the way around that will keep you up reading late into the night!
Well done concusion to the Omega Wars. Multiple battles in space and land. Friends reunited heros rise and some fall, enemies are vanquished as the enigmatic Dustman join the fray and a fragile alliance is born. Great writing all the way around that will keep you up reading late into the night!
June 21, 2019
An enjoyable ending to the omega wars
Once again the Kennedy and Wandrey duo make a satisfying novel, in this case they conclude the omega wars in very satisfactory mannor while setting up the next series in the 4hu universe
Once again the Kennedy and Wandrey duo make a satisfying novel, in this case they conclude the omega wars in very satisfactory mannor while setting up the next series in the 4hu universe
June 23, 2019
Another fantastic story in the 4HU, great conclusion to the Omega war series. Tied up multiple story lines and left enough unfinished so you know more is still coming. Not to mention leaving seeds for the next series that definitely has to be coming.
September 20, 2019
Best one yet
I don't want this series to ever end. My only suggestion is a little more proofreading as there was a chapter out of order
I don't want this series to ever end. My only suggestion is a little more proofreading as there was a chapter out of order
October 31, 2019
This book really tied up this series very well. Some new characters thrown in at the end with a pending new threat mentioned. Seems like most of the truly evil bad guys get what's coming to them.
November 25, 2019
Everyone is here!! It’s the showdown at New Warsaw and since this is the 4HU...
November 26, 2019
A really good conclusion to the Omega War series, the good guys win (at great costs) and the bad guys mostly get what they deserve.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews