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Wild Sun #2
Unbound
Once kindled, the flames of hope are not easily extinguished. No longer bound to a life of forced labor in the enemy's mines, Cerrin leads a small band of escaped slaves in search of a new home in the ancient forest where she was born. But freedom is not the same as victory. And death is never far behind. Soldiers of an advanced and ruthless empire are forever at their heels. Leading the pursuit is Count Talazeer, a vicious nobleman driven by a personal vendetta against Cerrin... and a desperate need for redemption in the eyes of his family and his people. Each day of survival is a victory. Turning to fight their enemy remains an impossible dream. And yet, even as death claims them one by one, the former slaves hold fast to faith in their gods and, above all, in Cerrin. And now, Cerrin will discover strange new allies--and enemies--are waiting for her people amidst the forest and beyond the stars. allies--and enemies--are waiting for her people amid the trees and beyond the stars. "Solid... fans of the first entry will be pleased." -Publishers Weekly
325 pages, Paperback
Published February 16, 2021
About the author
Ehsan Ahmad
2 books32 followersEhsan and Shakil Ahmad simply love the art of storytelling—as audience or creators. It’s a passion they’ve shared since their childhood, growing up in New York City as the first-generation American children of immigrants from Pakistan.
At first, this passion drove the brothers in different directions in life. For Ehsan, it meant traveling across four continents to meet the people of countless cultures and hear their stories firsthand. For Shakil, it meant seeking a deeper understanding of human nature through degrees in psychology and social research.
In their late twenties, the brothers reunited in Pennsylvania to start a wedding film company that specialized in going beyond capturing a single event and instead telling the story behind it. Ehsan also spent those years writing lyrics and playing bass for an alt rock band, recording three studio albums. In their thirties, they sold the film company and returned to the city of their birth where they now work for separate tech startups. But the brothers have never stopped collaborating on screenplays and novels.
In January 2019, Ehsan and Shakil signed with Uproar Books—the first authors to be offered a contract by the new publisher. Their debut novel WILD SUN will launch in spring 2019, to be followed by two more books in the Wild Sun series.
Ehsan and his wife welcomed their first child into the world in 2018.
At first, this passion drove the brothers in different directions in life. For Ehsan, it meant traveling across four continents to meet the people of countless cultures and hear their stories firsthand. For Shakil, it meant seeking a deeper understanding of human nature through degrees in psychology and social research.
In their late twenties, the brothers reunited in Pennsylvania to start a wedding film company that specialized in going beyond capturing a single event and instead telling the story behind it. Ehsan also spent those years writing lyrics and playing bass for an alt rock band, recording three studio albums. In their thirties, they sold the film company and returned to the city of their birth where they now work for separate tech startups. But the brothers have never stopped collaborating on screenplays and novels.
In January 2019, Ehsan and Shakil signed with Uproar Books—the first authors to be offered a contract by the new publisher. Their debut novel WILD SUN will launch in spring 2019, to be followed by two more books in the Wild Sun series.
Ehsan and his wife welcomed their first child into the world in 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 19, 2021
I received a free early copy of Wild Sun: Unbound from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Unbound, the second book in the Wild Sun series, follows former slaves Cerrin and Sonus along with their band of mine-camp escapees as they flee from their pursuers, the Vitaari, aliens who raze planets for resources and capture or kill any indigenous life in their way. Cerrin has broken free from Vitaarii Count Talazeer before, and this second escape is both a personal affront and a professional embarrassment to him. He's hungry to capture Cerrin alive and use her as an ultimate example to quash any rebellion in the remaining mines he controls. Outmanned, outgunned and exhausted, Cerrin's group are the ultimate underdogs and the tipping point for a rebellion that could topple the Vitaari rule planetwide, especially once they get some help from an unexpected quarter.
The Ahmad brothers have a knack for pristine pacing and seamless point of view transitions. Like its predecessor, Unbound capably sucks you into the action in its first few pages and doesn't let you go until you're too invested to do anything other than finish it in the wee hours of the morning. Cerrin and Sonus are both empathetic, driven characters. They survive mostly due to the Vitaari continually underestimating their capabilities. Unbound has the familiar feel of a classic colonized world science fiction with enough stacking stakes and tension to keep readers coming back for more. A capable and thoroughly enjoyable continuation to the series.
Unbound, the second book in the Wild Sun series, follows former slaves Cerrin and Sonus along with their band of mine-camp escapees as they flee from their pursuers, the Vitaari, aliens who raze planets for resources and capture or kill any indigenous life in their way. Cerrin has broken free from Vitaarii Count Talazeer before, and this second escape is both a personal affront and a professional embarrassment to him. He's hungry to capture Cerrin alive and use her as an ultimate example to quash any rebellion in the remaining mines he controls. Outmanned, outgunned and exhausted, Cerrin's group are the ultimate underdogs and the tipping point for a rebellion that could topple the Vitaari rule planetwide, especially once they get some help from an unexpected quarter.
The Ahmad brothers have a knack for pristine pacing and seamless point of view transitions. Like its predecessor, Unbound capably sucks you into the action in its first few pages and doesn't let you go until you're too invested to do anything other than finish it in the wee hours of the morning. Cerrin and Sonus are both empathetic, driven characters. They survive mostly due to the Vitaari continually underestimating their capabilities. Unbound has the familiar feel of a classic colonized world science fiction with enough stacking stakes and tension to keep readers coming back for more. A capable and thoroughly enjoyable continuation to the series.
January 27, 2021
Wild Sun: Unbound is the next installment in the series (WARNING: SPOILERS for Wild Sun). Cerrin, Sonus, and the rest of the escapees from Mine Three are running for their lives, trying to outsmart the Vitaari pursuers and simply survive each day. The threat becomes more serious (if that was possible) when new reinforcements under Commander Elezz show up to assist Talazeer in fixing his mistake from the first book (i.e. losing 60+ slaves and allowing the deaths of some very important people).
Read my entire review of Wild Sun and Wild Sun: Unbound on The Nerd Cantina website.
Listen to my interview with authors Ehsan Ahmad and Shakil Ahmad on Episode 136 of The Nerd Cantina Show podcast.
Read my entire review of Wild Sun and Wild Sun: Unbound on The Nerd Cantina website.
Listen to my interview with authors Ehsan Ahmad and Shakil Ahmad on Episode 136 of The Nerd Cantina Show podcast.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews