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The Phoenix Wars #2
Phantoms
The ruling Anixians believe Kayla is the "Wingless and Featherless" savior prophesied by Grey Seer hundreds of years in the past. As a consequence, they have given her the problem of saving Anixia from the multiple warlike races inhabiting the Milky Way.
Unfortunately, Kayla is quick to realize she is in charge of a strategy that has no chance of surviving contact with the three warlike nations currently known to exist: Tullizor, Soofir, and Jumanu.
The Anixians only have five cruisers and don't have sufficient population to crew a sixth nor adequate yearly recruits from Earth to replace crew losses that would be sustained in a major invasion. Their current numbers might be enough to keep the Tullizor at bay, but not if, or likely, when the Jumanu or the Soofir find the planet.
To make matter worse, Kayla is young woman while most of the senior humans are male, older, and have years of experience. If that weren't enough, too many of the humans on Anixia believe stealing a cruiser and returning to Earth would make them rich, healthy, and famous.
Life on Anixia is about to become very interesting.
Unfortunately, Kayla is quick to realize she is in charge of a strategy that has no chance of surviving contact with the three warlike nations currently known to exist: Tullizor, Soofir, and Jumanu.
The Anixians only have five cruisers and don't have sufficient population to crew a sixth nor adequate yearly recruits from Earth to replace crew losses that would be sustained in a major invasion. Their current numbers might be enough to keep the Tullizor at bay, but not if, or likely, when the Jumanu or the Soofir find the planet.
To make matter worse, Kayla is young woman while most of the senior humans are male, older, and have years of experience. If that weren't enough, too many of the humans on Anixia believe stealing a cruiser and returning to Earth would make them rich, healthy, and famous.
Life on Anixia is about to become very interesting.
- GenresScience FictionFantasy
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 11, 2021
20 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
C.R. Daems
51 books284 followersI was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, and joined the military right out of high school. I served twenty-two years in the United States Air Force as a certified internal auditor. While in the military service, I lived in seven states and two foreign countries, and obtained two degrees: a BS in mathematics and an MS in computer science.
After I retired from the Air Force, I secured a position with Digital Equipment Corporation, located in Bedford, Massachusetts, as a software course developer and instructor. I worked twenty-two years at DEC and held positions as a course developer, course development manager, software engineer, and software engineering manager.
Today, I’m retired and live in Tucson, Arizona, with my wife of fifty-three years. My daughter and two grandchildren live in Maryland. I began writing several years after I retired, when I was seventy. My first two attempts remain in my desk drawer—good ideas, but poorly written. Subsequently, I co-authored, with Jeanne Tomlin, three fantasy novels: Talon of the Raptor Clan, Scales of Justice, and All My Friends Have Wings (young adults). Talon of the Raptor Clan was sold to ePress-online Books and came out in July 2009. Since then I have written two additional novels: The Laughing Hounds (urban fantasy) and The Riss Gamble (science fiction).
My hobbies for the past forty years have been kung fu and tai chi.
After I retired from the Air Force, I secured a position with Digital Equipment Corporation, located in Bedford, Massachusetts, as a software course developer and instructor. I worked twenty-two years at DEC and held positions as a course developer, course development manager, software engineer, and software engineering manager.
Today, I’m retired and live in Tucson, Arizona, with my wife of fifty-three years. My daughter and two grandchildren live in Maryland. I began writing several years after I retired, when I was seventy. My first two attempts remain in my desk drawer—good ideas, but poorly written. Subsequently, I co-authored, with Jeanne Tomlin, three fantasy novels: Talon of the Raptor Clan, Scales of Justice, and All My Friends Have Wings (young adults). Talon of the Raptor Clan was sold to ePress-online Books and came out in July 2009. Since then I have written two additional novels: The Laughing Hounds (urban fantasy) and The Riss Gamble (science fiction).
My hobbies for the past forty years have been kung fu and tai chi.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 4, 2022
I had a few minor issues with the previous book ’Reprieve’, which haven’t completely gone away, but this was such an enjoyable read it was easy to ignore any deficiencies.
January 1, 2022
'Phoenix Wars' is an enjoyably wish-fulfillment fantasy. The Anixians - an alien species which has high technology but is clueless about war - have taken to secretly recruiting fatally-ill humans to help them fight invaders. They are still barely holding their own.
They hit the jackpot when they recruit Kayla. She is not only an adept pilot and commander, but she develops revolutionary improvements that turn the war/s around. This is actually one weaker plot elements, because her revolutionary ideas tend to be the equivalent of "why don't we let the computer help with the piloting?"
In book II - 'Phantoms' - Kayla's scope continues to expand. She commands ever more and ever better fleets. She takes them ever further. Her political power continues to increase. She routs larger fleets from larger polities. Here too, the main plot weakness is that she succeeds because her opponents insist on the tactical equivalent bringing a knife to a gunfight. (Commanders of enemy space fleets are enamored of death-or-glory charges.)
I had fun reading these books. The protagonist is engaging and there is nothing wrong with wish-fulfillment fantasy.
They hit the jackpot when they recruit Kayla. She is not only an adept pilot and commander, but she develops revolutionary improvements that turn the war/s around. This is actually one weaker plot elements, because her revolutionary ideas tend to be the equivalent of "why don't we let the computer help with the piloting?"
In book II - 'Phantoms' - Kayla's scope continues to expand. She commands ever more and ever better fleets. She takes them ever further. Her political power continues to increase. She routs larger fleets from larger polities. Here too, the main plot weakness is that she succeeds because her opponents insist on the tactical equivalent bringing a knife to a gunfight. (Commanders of enemy space fleets are enamored of death-or-glory charges.)
I had fun reading these books. The protagonist is engaging and there is nothing wrong with wish-fulfillment fantasy.
February 15, 2022
This is an excelent follow up book, extremly enjoyable with faced paced story development and action. Kayla not only accepts and takes to heart the concepts of the bargin stuck with the Axians she looks forward to strengthening the society of Humans and Axians to lessen the resentments the humans feels after being saved but then finding the price too high. Looking towards the future her planning and antisipation are a joy to watch. I sincerely hope this is not the last in this series and I would greatly welcome addition to all the other C.R. series, its like waiting for friends to return.
September 17, 2022
This is another one of those books series where I had read the first book and thought it was okay but not great. To be honest I had pretty much forgotten about this series when I stumbled on the second book in the series and just remembered that the first one was okayish so I had a go at reading it. I did not even re-read my own review of the first one before I jumped which was maybe a mistake.
This book very much continues the story straight from where the first one left of. Unfortunately it is not only the story itself that continues but also the rubbish science and overly simplistic handling of pretty much everything from mutinies to technological advances to military action and diplomatic alliances.
Everything Kayla does is a success whether it is figuring out new military strategies, new weapons or negotiating with aliens in first contact situations. And she does it with breath neck speed. The pace of the story is just way too fast and too simplistic.
The characters are quite simplistic. The not too bright asshat humans constantly trying to mutiny against the people that gave them a second chance at life, actually a chance to have a life at all, is just annoying. How the Anxians/Humans got promoted to being a first tier member and member of the Alliance council in days based on just a few events is just ludicrous.
I do occasionally read young adult book and sometimes, quite often actually, I like them and sometimes not. This one falls in the latter category. It is not really young adult material but just young. And not very bright young at that.
Too bad. With some more thought and realism going into the story this could have been a good one. I guess I am not the only one not being hooked on this series since both books came out in 2021 and from there on… nothing.
This book very much continues the story straight from where the first one left of. Unfortunately it is not only the story itself that continues but also the rubbish science and overly simplistic handling of pretty much everything from mutinies to technological advances to military action and diplomatic alliances.
Everything Kayla does is a success whether it is figuring out new military strategies, new weapons or negotiating with aliens in first contact situations. And she does it with breath neck speed. The pace of the story is just way too fast and too simplistic.
The characters are quite simplistic. The not too bright asshat humans constantly trying to mutiny against the people that gave them a second chance at life, actually a chance to have a life at all, is just annoying. How the Anxians/Humans got promoted to being a first tier member and member of the Alliance council in days based on just a few events is just ludicrous.
I do occasionally read young adult book and sometimes, quite often actually, I like them and sometimes not. This one falls in the latter category. It is not really young adult material but just young. And not very bright young at that.
Too bad. With some more thought and realism going into the story this could have been a good one. I guess I am not the only one not being hooked on this series since both books came out in 2021 and from there on… nothing.
February 12, 2022
I cant get enough!!
Once again, C.R. Darms hits it out of the ball park! In this installment we meet kayla white has now found out she is the one to help save her. We home planet. We see how she develops strategies to fight against opponents who have overwhelming odds. She meets new races and shines among them. You dont want to miss out! I want more, more and did I mention more? :)
Once again, C.R. Darms hits it out of the ball park! In this installment we meet kayla white has now found out she is the one to help save her. We home planet. We see how she develops strategies to fight against opponents who have overwhelming odds. She meets new races and shines among them. You dont want to miss out! I want more, more and did I mention more? :)
February 12, 2023
Not up to the authors normal standards.
At first I thought this was one of his early works but it was copywrighted in 2021. Compared to his other work ( Tasmanian, The Riss, etc.) This is poorly written with a very weak theme.
At first I thought this was one of his early works but it was copywrighted in 2021. Compared to his other work ( Tasmanian, The Riss, etc.) This is poorly written with a very weak theme.
December 12, 2021
Excellent!
A wonderful follow up and a most excellent ending for this newest endeavor!! Sneaky, sneaky humans😄 can’t wait to see what happens next!
A wonderful follow up and a most excellent ending for this newest endeavor!! Sneaky, sneaky humans😄 can’t wait to see what happens next!
December 13, 2021
Excellent
It was a long wait for this book but we'll worth it. What an excellent story, and I definitely cannot wait for the next one.
It was a long wait for this book but we'll worth it. What an excellent story, and I definitely cannot wait for the next one.
February 13, 2022
Another great book, C.R. does not disappoint!!
I'm ready for the next book now!!!
I was on the edge of my seat throughout half of the book.
C R needs an award for this series..
I'm ready for the next book now!!!
I was on the edge of my seat throughout half of the book.
C R needs an award for this series..
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews