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Katie Kincaid #3

Katie Kincaid Ensign

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Katie Kincaid has graduated from the Space Force Academy.
She's being let loose on the wider Universe. Or at least our little corner of it.
Very junior officers are not supposed to make waves.
But Katie can't help herself.. Watch out Solar System

246 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 22, 2021

158 people are currently reading
12 people want to read

About the author

Andrew van Aardvark

19 books25 followers

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5 stars
447 (49%)
4 stars
337 (36%)
3 stars
104 (11%)
2 stars
19 (2%)
1 star
5 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Tony Hisgett.
3,014 reviews36 followers
July 23, 2021
In this third book Katie is on active service in Space and it quickly becomes apparent that there are lots of things wrong with ‘Space Force’.

At the beginning of the book the Executive Officer decides to punish Katie by making her do at least as twice as much work as anybody else and forces her to keep doing this by threatening not to allow her to complete her command path training. Potentially overloading an officer to the point where they could start making mistakes, on a spaceship this doesn’t seem to be that sensible. In fact the whole way the ship was run never felt right.
There is some action in this book, but the very brief ‘space battles’ were totally unconvincing. However the book did hold my attention and although there were still the old problems of the author being repetitive and over explaining things, I will still read any future books.
If possible I would have given 2.5 stars.
Profile Image for Raymond.
30 reviews1 follower
June 17, 2021
Could be 5 Stars but an eclipse is shadowing the plot!

I really like Katie Kincaid and the story. I am a sucker for Horatio Hornblower genre. This has all the psychological drama and angst anybody could ask for. What it does not have is the fire of battle to color and power the internal landscape.
Writing a Hornblower type novel requires some real sense of blood and smoke. The denouement is certainly anticlimactic and lacking any real drama. Will they survive?
Any military story needs discriptive action to move the emotional plot along. I hope the author can keep that in mind for the next installment! Which I will certainly read!
Profile Image for Thomas.
2,706 reviews
December 19, 2021
Aardvark, Andrew Van. Katie Kincaid Ensign. Katie Kincaid No. 3. Kindle, 2021.
Katie has graduated from the academy and is now a junior officer in the Space Force. She is assigned to a ship headed to the outer system, which is not the best thing for her career. Because of her experience growing up in the asteroid belt she is given double training duties, jeopardizing her chance to make Lieutenant on her first try. But in the tradition of C. S. Forester, her story illustrates the training truism that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I like some of the minor characters in this one: neither the captain nor the XO are just the cardboard figures I was expecting, and Katie’s nurturing roommate is a nicely drawn character. There is just enough action to keep interest alive. The prose is routine at best, but I have read a lot worse in the genre. 3.5 stars.
43 reviews
August 19, 2021
While the instant book builds on the character of Katie Kincaid in two previous books, the instant book can be read as a stand alone book on the trials and tribulations of a newly minted ensign. Her background as an astroid miner makes her an outcast in the very elite, snobbish, and incestuous Space Service. The tragedy of the resentment towards Katie is that she, through life experiences, is more capable of performing in space than the snobs that make up the Space Service. Of course Katie has a strong character and can be somewhat unforgiving of others mistakes. The book is very good at developing the characters in the story and creating a very believable world not too different from the world of the books readers. I really enjoyed the book and look forward to a followup book.
339 reviews
May 17, 2022
Fun and Fast

Life in space for Katie was extremely hectic. Story wise it made sense, but no ship's captain would have paid her that much attention. The smuggling episode did cause her to be noticed, but still too much captain time.
Details were extremely fascinating on running a ship. Loads of fun, but even I was getting anxious with the workload that could lead to disaster.
The Star Rats were clearly alien and not a pirate or gang group here. This was unclear previously, even with the knowledge the smuggled tech was illegal.
In all a fun read. Ready for the next.
Some noticeable editing errors.
519 reviews5 followers
June 27, 2021
This series continues to be excellent and has my interest as to what exactly the plot endpoints are and how they get there. A small caution: several descriptions of the protagonists state of mind are becoming repetitive. This may be viewed as necessary for those readers jumping in w/o reading prior volumes, for those of us that have given the small volume size(240 page maximum so far) its becoming a distraction.
Profile Image for Francheska.
71 reviews2 followers
May 23, 2022
Back to Space

A little older, although initially that is hard to tell. In book 3 the over the top unfairness, still feels contrived. This feels a bit more Horacio Horn-blower, and thank goodness, there is less use of the word Quixotic. Which brings me to my earlier issues with grammar and typos… turns out the writer is using British slang for things like scoff vs scarf (as in one’s food). I’m inclined to think the differences I found so frustrating have similar origins.
77 reviews1 follower
August 20, 2023
Silly

The entire premise of this book and the series so far is obnoxious, ludicrous, and a unreadable at times. Two wipes instead of three on the crapper, and your career may be jeopardized. But...put a fresh out of the academy ensign in charge of critical operations....no problem.

Wordy, pointless diatribe, silly plot. I fully understand why the author chose to write this series under a pen-name rather than use his/her own.
2 reviews
August 1, 2021
An OK if repetitive read

This book read as current navy memoir navy transposed to outer space with very little in in regards to science science or military strategy. The protagonist was an interesting character But the writing was extremely repetitive where in complaining page after page chapter after chapter how overworked.
983 reviews4 followers
June 29, 2022
Now that Katie is an ensign, the tales are filled with more meaningful events. Oddly, although still somewhat like an after action report, these include after action reports on the feelings of key participants. It is easy for the reader to empathize with these additional reports. Katie seems to grow into a team player, as reported by both herself and all her team cohorts.
892 reviews5 followers
May 29, 2021
Ok

Decent story, but why does every hero/heroine have to be so driven? I would guess, that's what makes them the hero. Who wants to read about lazy people? If it were easy, everyone would be a hero.
Profile Image for R..
70 reviews
June 24, 2021
Light space opera, but the plot doesn't make much sense.

Light space opera and, thankfully the author didn't include any excessive end-of-world shenanigans. However, the rules by which people play doesn't make much sense.
Profile Image for Mick Bird.
830 reviews11 followers
August 17, 2021
A interesting start

I have enjoyed reading the first book of this series, and I am sure that the following books will be just as interesting. We follow young ensign Katie Kincaid on her tour of duty as a newly commissioned Ensign.
83 reviews1 follower
November 20, 2021
C.S. Forester lives1. Andrew van Aardvark has resurrected Hornblower!

What a delightful series of books! They’re the kind you can’t wait for, and hate to finish! Bravo Zulu, Mr. van Aardvark! Well Done!
18 reviews1 follower
August 19, 2021
MC is SLIGHTY less stupid but not by much. Character growth by the end of the book almost makes her likeable.
40 reviews
August 20, 2021
Excellent sci-fi seies.

I really enjoyed this original sci-fi series and I can't wait for the next book in the series. You really need to read the books in order.
Profile Image for Steve.
157 reviews
June 11, 2022
Hints of a decent story buried under loads of crap. In particular, the business with the XO and the training plan is nonsense.
2 reviews
July 3, 2022
great read!

The story engrosses you and pulls you into it and in your minds eye you become part of the story.
Profile Image for Bernard.
491 reviews6 followers
January 8, 2024
OUr little cadet has graduated. She is going to take names and kick butt.

Forgettable. Take the first two books. Add little to nothing. You have this book.
1 review
December 29, 2024
Great Series. Heinleinesque

Love this series so far. Physics and engineering seem realistic (no unobtanium). Good balance between coming of age and interplanetary politics
238 reviews
February 6, 2025
Super enjoyable space navy series

The series is going very well with continued pressure on the precocious protagonist. The route to a command rank is looking good.
1,062 reviews1 follower
February 14, 2025
Katie overdoes it again

Because Katie grew up in space, she thinks she's prepared. She signs up for more work than usual and then has to do everything.
15 reviews1 follower
April 1, 2025
Katie Kincaid is awesome!

The book is a testing of young Katie Kincaid. She handles all the pressure her superiors put on her , and comes them with high praise.
1,419 reviews1 follower
May 15, 2022
The book is a light read at best. It is a repetition of her being overworked, unprepared and overcoming obstacles. It is not Hornblower resurrected but is readable. Andrey wrote a good review of the first book and is worth reading.

My time would have been better spent enjoying YouTube.

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I have to warn readers that I'm a communist. cgr710/Claes Rees was outraged that I existed and spent almost a page of comment telling me so on my review of Powers of the Earth (which is just a typical bit of poorly written libertarian rubbish). Read the ID masked (to me,at least) comments and other reviewers. It might change your view of Goodreads and Amazon.

Putin seems beloved by the racists and fascists across Europe and america. To them, I say.

GLORY TO UKRAINE l

With that done, I request that in the unlikely event that someone wants to like my review such as it is, instead please visit some of the tube channels above. I want for you to have your best morning, your best afternoon, a smashing evening and a very good night. Hopeful is neither foolish nor sad.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

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