Jessica Strange

Blackwing Saga #2

by Stephen Drake

From the mountains to the ocean, the West Coast States have been depopulated by The Event, triggered by the arrest and transport of Phelonius Blackwing by his Grandson Socrates.

It's the year 2074 and Tacoma, Pacific Coast-Washington, has reverted to the Wild West. It's the only population center remaining.

The Event has taken the husband of Jessica ex-police officer and defunct Ambassadorial liaison, now a freelance gun for hire. Soon, Jessica's life takes an unexpected turn in the form of an offer from the Federal Government. But what are the strange creatures discovered in the vaults on Q'estiria?

A riveting science fiction adventure, Jessica Strange is the second book in Stephen Drake's Blackwing Saga.

This is the large print edition of Jessica Strange, with a larger font / typeface for easier reading.

386 pages, Paperback

Published May 8, 2022

About the author

Stephen Drake, a retired computer programmer of 20+ years, is an American fantasy/sci-fi author. He is an avid Harley-Davidson Motorcycle enthusiast, and versed in many survival skills such as martial arts and bow hunting. He draws on his experiences to create gripping and believable stories.

Reviews

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Blackwing Saga. The author has written a Fantasy/Scifi novel. Socrates Blackwing is still directing things, but Jessica takes center stage as she grieves for her missing husband, Irving. No one realizes he is in the Seventh Plane and the inhabitants cannot understand this man-like creature inhabiting one of their vaults. Fortunately, Socrates returns and rescues Irving. Irving is happily reunited with Jessica and she fights off the Fed agent Smith. Smith, however, helps Phelonius Blackwing, grandson of Socrates capture Irving and Jessica begins to search for her husband again. The Event has depopulated the West Coast and Phelonius is hiding from Socrates there. The hunt is on. Somehow the from the different plains of Socrates world, the Harpies have an interest in Jessica. To tell how this all works out would be giving away the story. You’ll have to read it to find out how they move from one plain to another and whether they even let Earth remain as the eighth plain. It’s a detective story wrapped in fantasy.

[Jess Frankel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my third book from talented author Stephen Drake, and I wasn't disappointed. Book 2 in the Blackwing saga, it features Socrates Blackwing who took center stage in the first novel, but this time, it's Jessica Strange's turn to shine. It seems that her husband, Irving, has gone missing, and Socrates is just the man to find him. However, no sooner does he rescue Irving from a different plane of existence than he is kidnapped again by Phelonius Blackwing--Socrates' grandson--and Federal Agent Smith, who is a nasty piece of work.

Now, Jessica has to take matters into her own hands and searches for her husband on her own. It's a mystery wrapped up in a riddle with different people taking different sides and there are no easy answers.

As with the first novel, JS moves at a solid pace, with sharply defined characters and a lot of interesting magic and imaginative settings along the way, on our world as well as on different planes of existence. Worth a read and then some!

[K.J. Simmill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel so bad for not leaving a review for this amazing book sooner. I have read all of Stephen Drake's books and I absolutely love the rich and vibrant world and characters he creates. There is so much lore, action, and adventure to this book it will leave you hungry for more.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivid & Compelling

Stephen Drake weaves a good tale. You will hate the bad guys, cry or rejoice with the good guys, and cry "No!" when certain side -characters die or lose their way.

[Andrew Brooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't get this one as much as the first book. Not only did it seem that there were more plot errors, but the story was more disjointed and it seemed the characters were drastically shifting back and forth in there behavior. DNF