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Empire Rising #9
Empire's Birth
The Karacknid invasion of Earth has been turned back. Yet the War of Doom has only just begun. Tens of thousands of warships are amassing along the Varanni Alliance border. In one fell swoop they threaten to strike into the heart of Alliance space, conquering and devastating everything in their wake.
Meanwhile on Earth, the shadow of the nuclear holocaust the Karacknids unleashed hangs over all the survivors. Many of Humanity’s major cities lie in ruins. Her fleet has been devastated. The UN has crumbled. For the survivors, one phrase rises above all others; ‘never again.’
Against his better judgement, James finds himself thrust into taking charge of the rebuilding efforts. When political infighting and fractures threatening to split the survivors into competing factions, he is convinced something new is needed. Somehow, he must find a way to forge Humanity into a weapon that can turn back the tide of the Karacknid war machine. Somehow, out of the ashes of destruction a Human Empire must rise to take its place among the stars.
Empire’s Birth continues the story of James, Christine, Gupta and all the others as the struggle to protect their species against the Karacknid threat.
Meanwhile on Earth, the shadow of the nuclear holocaust the Karacknids unleashed hangs over all the survivors. Many of Humanity’s major cities lie in ruins. Her fleet has been devastated. The UN has crumbled. For the survivors, one phrase rises above all others; ‘never again.’
Against his better judgement, James finds himself thrust into taking charge of the rebuilding efforts. When political infighting and fractures threatening to split the survivors into competing factions, he is convinced something new is needed. Somehow, he must find a way to forge Humanity into a weapon that can turn back the tide of the Karacknid war machine. Somehow, out of the ashes of destruction a Human Empire must rise to take its place among the stars.
Empire’s Birth continues the story of James, Christine, Gupta and all the others as the struggle to protect their species against the Karacknid threat.
487 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 17, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
September 8, 2020
Another strong "Empire Rising" book. This one was in large parts predictable, there are elements that have been building over the past three books or more. Overall it felt like all the parts were necessary. Holmes did a decent job of balancing the larger "Empire" story along with the 'War of Doom' and still keeping a little exploration in the mix as well. It was largely exploration that drove the early elements of the story. I am probably overly critical but I was so enthralled by "Empire's Doom (Book 8)" that this left my just a bit under-whelmed.
October 26, 2020
This is one of the better military science fiction series I’ve been reading. Up to book 9 and it’s really getting exciting. Well, all of it except the political part. We’re building an Empire out of what is left of Earth after the Karacknids attacked. They dropped a number of nuclear weapons on Earth, pretty much destroying every major city in every major country. What’s left was mostly the humans who were in space and in starships that didn’t get destroyed. There are some survivors on Earth, but no a whole lot. Their conditions are getting worse and going to be getting a lot worse if someone can’t come up with a plan to save what’s left of humanity.
So, the first part of this book deals with the political aspect of a civilization. Admiral James Somerville has reluctantly accepted the fact that he’s next in line to the British thrown. His friend and the former British Prime Minister, Fairfax, had done the digging and came up with that information since all other successors to the British Throne have apparently died during the Karacknid attack. James will become King of England. His former love interest, Christine, is already Empress of China by marriage and now she is alone as the Emperor of China died in the same Karacknid attack. James and his fellow friends, including the President of Russia, Admiral Koroylov, Empress Christine and a US Senator as well as several others still feel that the Earth needs to be united under one government. They need an Emperor and James agrees! But, he’s not necessarily agreeing to become the Emperor. He makes a proposal to the Emergency Committee that puts Christine up as the Empress of Earth! She, inturn, says she will accept the thrown only if James agrees to marry her and become Emperor! This part is pretty interesting, but is all politics and kind of boring.
In the meantime, Admiral Somerville sends his niece, Emilie Somerville, now Commander Emilie Somerville, on a secret mission out the other side of known space. She’s to find any unknown Gifts’ or secret passages to other parts of the universe and see if she can drum up any allies in the fight against the Karacknids. Her mission could go on for quite a long time, but James knows she’ll at least be safe unless she runs into Karacknids on the other side of the galaxy. If that happens, then they’re all dead anyway. Her mission is pretty interesting and she does get into some serious scraps. It will be very interesting if she can find the help Admiral Somerville really needs.
And, the the Karacknids attack the Varrani Trade Alliance! They are heading for Varrani Prime and Cria with a tremendous battle fleet. The Alliance needs everything that can be brought together to fight against this armada. Earth doesn’t have much so it volunteers to send what’s left of its fleet to the backside of the Karacknide force and see if they can disrupt the Karacknids supply lines! They don’t even know if this will help with anything. Still, they must do something.
As you’ll read, there is some exciting space battles and even some ground action. There are resistance groups on Jerranna, the first Alliance planet destroyed by the Karacknids. I’m already looking forward to book 10 in this series!
So, the first part of this book deals with the political aspect of a civilization. Admiral James Somerville has reluctantly accepted the fact that he’s next in line to the British thrown. His friend and the former British Prime Minister, Fairfax, had done the digging and came up with that information since all other successors to the British Throne have apparently died during the Karacknid attack. James will become King of England. His former love interest, Christine, is already Empress of China by marriage and now she is alone as the Emperor of China died in the same Karacknid attack. James and his fellow friends, including the President of Russia, Admiral Koroylov, Empress Christine and a US Senator as well as several others still feel that the Earth needs to be united under one government. They need an Emperor and James agrees! But, he’s not necessarily agreeing to become the Emperor. He makes a proposal to the Emergency Committee that puts Christine up as the Empress of Earth! She, inturn, says she will accept the thrown only if James agrees to marry her and become Emperor! This part is pretty interesting, but is all politics and kind of boring.
In the meantime, Admiral Somerville sends his niece, Emilie Somerville, now Commander Emilie Somerville, on a secret mission out the other side of known space. She’s to find any unknown Gifts’ or secret passages to other parts of the universe and see if she can drum up any allies in the fight against the Karacknids. Her mission could go on for quite a long time, but James knows she’ll at least be safe unless she runs into Karacknids on the other side of the galaxy. If that happens, then they’re all dead anyway. Her mission is pretty interesting and she does get into some serious scraps. It will be very interesting if she can find the help Admiral Somerville really needs.
And, the the Karacknids attack the Varrani Trade Alliance! They are heading for Varrani Prime and Cria with a tremendous battle fleet. The Alliance needs everything that can be brought together to fight against this armada. Earth doesn’t have much so it volunteers to send what’s left of its fleet to the backside of the Karacknide force and see if they can disrupt the Karacknids supply lines! They don’t even know if this will help with anything. Still, they must do something.
As you’ll read, there is some exciting space battles and even some ground action. There are resistance groups on Jerranna, the first Alliance planet destroyed by the Karacknids. I’m already looking forward to book 10 in this series!
August 22, 2020
Good
Good, this is a pretty good series, this the ninth installment is still engaging, but there is a lot going on, so many different characters each with their own set of circumstances that it leaves everything seemingly less than it should be, I.e. probably several of the side characters or plots could have their own storyline or book,, we only get snippets of each of them and as a result it felt as if you're reading several different books, though not necessarily disjointed each one was less than it could have been. Each and every part was well done, some more interesting than others, but my preference would be to read about one character or set of circumstances rather than bits and pieces of several different ones.
Good, this is a pretty good series, this the ninth installment is still engaging, but there is a lot going on, so many different characters each with their own set of circumstances that it leaves everything seemingly less than it should be, I.e. probably several of the side characters or plots could have their own storyline or book,, we only get snippets of each of them and as a result it felt as if you're reading several different books, though not necessarily disjointed each one was less than it could have been. Each and every part was well done, some more interesting than others, but my preference would be to read about one character or set of circumstances rather than bits and pieces of several different ones.
March 25, 2022
(92%)A+ | Inspiring
There is a reason this book is rated almost 5 stars on goodreads. And that's simply because it is amazing. We are starting to see alot of payoff for the large amount of preparation this story had required. Quite honestly the plot is stellar. This entire series will probably be my favorite for a long time.
The only downside is the less than perfect editing. (At least on the Kindle version) there were a handful of glaring spelling issues or misplaced words. And while that does effect my rating of it by a few percentage points, it by no means takes away from my enjoyment or the story itself.
My advice? Everyone needs to read this series, it's honestly like a 9.5/10
There is a reason this book is rated almost 5 stars on goodreads. And that's simply because it is amazing. We are starting to see alot of payoff for the large amount of preparation this story had required. Quite honestly the plot is stellar. This entire series will probably be my favorite for a long time.
The only downside is the less than perfect editing. (At least on the Kindle version) there were a handful of glaring spelling issues or misplaced words. And while that does effect my rating of it by a few percentage points, it by no means takes away from my enjoyment or the story itself.
My advice? Everyone needs to read this series, it's honestly like a 9.5/10
April 15, 2024
I still think these books are fairly interesting, but I now find myself skipping as many pages as I read. The main problem is the author seems unable to stop himself making each new book having bigger and more disastrous battles than the last one. Each battle is now about counting the number of missiles fired and the ships destroyed and trying to spot how many new causalities there going to be and which character will be the next to die. Any interesting tactics are just lost while waiting for the next ‘last second’ disaster.
September 24, 2020
I’m really enjoying this series of books good character development good storyline so much happens in each book can’t wait for the next one a real page turner as well I really got attached to some of the charactersAnd you have to applaud the writer has he is not afraid to kill off characters when necessary A great read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2020
This is the best series I’ve read in over 30 years! I just finished book 10 and it is just as good as the first nine books. Every aspect is perfect -realistic consequences of battle, characters I care about and story pacing that is balanced and keeps the reader turning pages until early hours of the morning. Great series like this don’t come along often so I will enjoy this as long as it last.
July 9, 2022
They're awesome novel from the beginning to the end
DJ Holmes continuously brings very interesting nuances of the individual characters and their lives into their heroic efforts. I like the way the book is set up as a historian narrates it from time to time and we see how hard the struggle was for humanity.
DJ Holmes continuously brings very interesting nuances of the individual characters and their lives into their heroic efforts. I like the way the book is set up as a historian narrates it from time to time and we see how hard the struggle was for humanity.
August 20, 2020
Another brilliant book
Yet again I could not put this book down excellent moving around of characters and locations keeps you wanting more so as usual now got to wait again for the next book.
Yet again I could not put this book down excellent moving around of characters and locations keeps you wanting more so as usual now got to wait again for the next book.
August 21, 2020
Another Great Addition!
This is by far my favorite series I have read. The story line is addicting and the depth of character development is awesome. The only bad part about this series is the short wait between releases!!😂
This is by far my favorite series I have read. The story line is addicting and the depth of character development is awesome. The only bad part about this series is the short wait between releases!!😂
August 23, 2020
Books need to be 1000 pages long
The wait for the next book is going to kill me. Now the story has expanded to include more fronts in the war of Doom. Its just getting even more interesting.
The wait for the next book is going to kill me. Now the story has expanded to include more fronts in the war of Doom. Its just getting even more interesting.
August 23, 2020
Great series!
I have loved all the books in this series and happy to say this one was an outstanding addition. It has been a joy to see the characters develop the way they have. I tore through this book in about 2 days and can not wait for the next book!
I have loved all the books in this series and happy to say this one was an outstanding addition. It has been a joy to see the characters develop the way they have. I tore through this book in about 2 days and can not wait for the next book!
September 4, 2020
Another excellent book in a phenomenal series. As evidenced by the title, it really brings together many many plot lines and information gathered from the Chapter Intro’s. Riveting all the way through and keeps you guessing what’s going to happen next.
November 30, 2020
Who would have guessed.
When I read the first book of this series I did not envisage where we would end up. The journey so far has been one of many highs and lows in terms of the main characters, to see so many key characters lost is unusual yet adds reality to the story line.
When I read the first book of this series I did not envisage where we would end up. The journey so far has been one of many highs and lows in terms of the main characters, to see so many key characters lost is unusual yet adds reality to the story line.
January 4, 2021
More of the same
More battles but with different names. Very repetitive . Also British monarchs should be addressed as your majesty not your grace or highness. King James's regnal number should have been viii not vii.
More battles but with different names. Very repetitive . Also British monarchs should be addressed as your majesty not your grace or highness. King James's regnal number should have been viii not vii.
February 3, 2021
So, finished number 9 and it was just as good as the previous 8. The missile battles can get tedious sometimes but not enough to take away from the overall quality of the story. On to number 10. Not looking forward to finishing this series. It ranks up there with the best
February 25, 2021
Another solid entry
As with most space opera books, the battles get bigger, and the cast of characters larger. But unlike most, you do not get overwhelmed. Enough details without being buried. The characters continue to develop, as do the politics, as well as the tactics.
As with most space opera books, the battles get bigger, and the cast of characters larger. But unlike most, you do not get overwhelmed. Enough details without being buried. The characters continue to develop, as do the politics, as well as the tactics.
November 19, 2021
Luuuving this!
I’ve read this series from the beginning. So good character development over time. Natural evolvement. I don’t like waiting to even leave a review but I’d feel terribly guilty if I didn’t.
I’ve read this series from the beginning. So good character development over time. Natural evolvement. I don’t like waiting to even leave a review but I’d feel terribly guilty if I didn’t.
August 7, 2024
4 1/2 STARS.
Great characters and outstanding story. Holmes tells it well. Although it can be difficult at times picturing or imagining what he describes throughout the space battle, the reader is still able to understand enough of what's going on to stay engrossed in the story.
Great characters and outstanding story. Holmes tells it well. Although it can be difficult at times picturing or imagining what he describes throughout the space battle, the reader is still able to understand enough of what's going on to stay engrossed in the story.
January 21, 2025
Space Battle Adventure
This series is the ultimate in military science fiction! The spaceship battles are epic, and realistically written! I heartily recommend this series to all fans of hard military science fiction!
This series is the ultimate in military science fiction! The spaceship battles are epic, and realistically written! I heartily recommend this series to all fans of hard military science fiction!
June 5, 2025
Great read.
This was another great read .The book was action packed and kept you on the edge of your seat the whole time .I found it very hard to put this book down because everywhere you turned it was full of action in space or on different planets.
This was another great read .The book was action packed and kept you on the edge of your seat the whole time .I found it very hard to put this book down because everywhere you turned it was full of action in space or on different planets.
August 21, 2020
A good story
Good character development and emotional ideals, intermingled with battle an sacrifice on an epic scale. Fully recommended read. Highly entertaining
Good character development and emotional ideals, intermingled with battle an sacrifice on an epic scale. Fully recommended read. Highly entertaining
August 22, 2020
Great story well told.
Ranks with the Lost Fleet. In my opinion, that is a powerful compliment.
Fine editing, background, characters, plot, action, and foretelling.
Ranks with the Lost Fleet. In my opinion, that is a powerful compliment.
Fine editing, background, characters, plot, action, and foretelling.
August 23, 2020
I liked the book
Been reading the series since it began. I also don't want to write out a review. Just select the series and start from the first book.
Been reading the series since it began. I also don't want to write out a review. Just select the series and start from the first book.
August 29, 2020
A really good book.
I really enjoyed the book. It was hard to put down. It had a great story with a lot of great space battles and much more.
I really enjoyed the book. It was hard to put down. It had a great story with a lot of great space battles and much more.
September 16, 2020
What a ride
This book kept me enthralled throughout a first class read. The characters are well rounded and are both strong and very.believable.
This book kept me enthralled throughout a first class read. The characters are well rounded and are both strong and very.believable.
October 8, 2020
Epic
If you read the previous books in this series then you know what you are n store for. Damn good book, and I want more. You will too.
If you read the previous books in this series then you know what you are n store for. Damn good book, and I want more. You will too.
November 20, 2020
Brilliantly written plot and story
Outstandingly good quality and a great pleasure to continue their impressive saga and the unfolding drama set in a new era and universe
Outstandingly good quality and a great pleasure to continue their impressive saga and the unfolding drama set in a new era and universe
November 29, 2020
When's the next one coming??
Thats it of the series?
Just finished all 9 books in series. When is the next one coming??? Dont keep us waiting!!
Thats it of the series?
Just finished all 9 books in series. When is the next one coming??? Dont keep us waiting!!
August 21, 2021
The empire rises
The series continues to catch my imagination better then a series has for a long time! Real page turners !
The series continues to catch my imagination better then a series has for a long time! Real page turners !
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews