Metaframe War Series Buddy Read - The Key of Ahknaton - December 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

This thread will be for the buddy read of the book The Key of Ahknaton (Metaframe War series - book #6) by Graeme Rodaughan (continuing series read) starting December 1. Please remember to use spoilers when necessary.

[Graeme]

Thanks, Marie. I'll be available to answer any questions.

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Graeme wrote: "Thanks, Marie. I'll be available to answer any questions."

You are welcome! :)

[Sally, The Ninja Clown]

This is my favorite in the series! I'm a little jealous of people getting to experience it for the first time.

[Graeme]

This book begins with ** no spoilers ahead ** as the story is set in the past: 'The Enforcer,' a short novella (approx 26K+ words).

The Setting: The Phoenix Citadel. April 1st 1945



NOTE: The escape capsule on the lowest level was moved to the right toward the mid-line of the citadel in the story.... i.e. between the two stairwells...

The action in the prequel all occurs in the evening of April 1st, 1945, around the area of Freiburg im Breisgau, and the Feldberg (Black Forest, etc).

So, Southern Germany... and the allies will liberate the area in about 2 to 3 weeks.

There are only three POV characters.

[1] Chloe Armitage, chief operative of the Vampire Dominion on a mission for her king.
[2] Angelina Ivanov, a 6 year old savant.
[3] Heinrich Himmler, An infamous historical figure with a secret connection to this story.

The supporting cast for this story includes (but is not limited to)

[4] Preston Bush - US Banker
[5] Sasha Ivanov - (The Ice Dragon) Rogue Red Empire Operative of the 2nd Rank, and Angelina's father.
[6] Siegfried von Frankenstein* - Scientist and Occultist.
[7] Volkov - (The Wolf) - Red Empire Operative of the 2nd Rank, and Fist Team Leader.
[8] Dubois - Force Leader for the Order of Thoth in France.
[9] Nochka - (Night) A German Shepherd pup.
[10] Cornelius Crane - King of the Vampire Dominion.

*Distant multi-generation nephew of 'Victor.'

The locations are,

[1] A bombed out safe house in Freiburg im Breisgau, and
[2] An underground fortress/laboratory within the Feldberg known as 'The Phoenix Citadel,' constructed (1920s-30s) before the war.

The Blurb...

Chloe Armitage's mission seemed simple enough: Intercept a fleeing Red Empire operative and seize his gifted child for her king. But no plan survives contact with the enemy when a ramp-empowered force of Nazi soldiers reach the child first. Chloe pursues her quarry, plunging deep within a swirling maelstrom of occult forces in a secret citadel. But even her formidable powers may not be enough when an evil far more terrifying than a thousand-year Reich is unleashed.

What dreadful power lurks within the shadows of the Phoenix Citadel? What evils have been spawned by a horrifying mixture of dark science and occult belief? Read 'The Enforcer,' to find out!

########

Anytime someone starts building an inverted pyramid over a platform/chamber - watch out!

[Graeme]

I'm making a standing offer here.

If anyone who hasn't yet,

[1] acquired 'The Key of Ahknaton,' and
[2] has read the previous books including The Crane War,
[3] would like to read 'The Key of Ahknaton' as part of this group and this thread, then please PM me with your email address, and I'll send you a FREE copy of the book in .epub format identical to what I submit to Amazon.

This file can be read by any reader (like adobe) that reads .epub, or you can send it to your kindle and read it there.

Cheers Graeme

[Netanella]

Oh snap!

I've been holding off on reading "The Key of Ahknaton" for a bit, since I'm trying to stretch out the distance until the release of the final book in the series, The Metaframe Adept.

But . . . you've upped the ante. My kindle is locked and loaded with this book. Who else is ready?

[Graeme]

Smashing my way through chapter 4 at the moment (3 weeks off work...) and chapter 5 is not that big and completes the first half of the book.

Then I just write the ending (Part 2) - it, The Metaframe Adept, may come in sooner than expected.

[Nyssa]

I purchased books 2-6 simultaneously once I decided I was hooked.

But, like Netanellla, I decided to wait a while so that I could read The Key of Ahknaton and The Metaframe Adept closer together.

Plus, The Crane War was emotionally taxing.

I am looking forward to seeing how everything plays out! :)

[Graeme]

TKoA is definently emotion packed.

[Netanella]

Okay, I'm on it. Starting The Key tonight!

[Graeme]

Netanella wrote: "Okay, I'm on it. Starting The Key tonight!"

If you have any questions, Netanella - put them up here and I'll do my best to answer them.

Enjoy the read.

Cheers Graeme

[Netanella]

That first section of the book - Angelina, the Metaframe, WWII, and Chloe - wow.

[Graeme]

Glad you loved it, Netanella.

I was experimenting with short novella forms, and cosmic horror... plus I always wanted to do a 'Nazi Villains,' story every since I watched Raiders of the Lost Ark!

[Netanella]

The cosmic horror of it was righteous - completely took the story into an unexpected dimension.

[Graeme]

Netanella wrote: "The cosmic horror of it was righteous - completely took the story into an unexpected dimension."

Thanks, Netanella. As I was writing this series I kept the concept of the Metaframe vague (to me too) but now that we are at the business end of the series I needed to tie it down, so we have the Metaframe origin story, and various consequences of that... of which the events in 'The Enforcer,' are part.

The prologue (1 scene length) for the last book, The Metaframe Adept, is also set at The Feldberg ... but from another character's POV, to provide another snippet of background for what happens in the last book.

[Netanella]

Ooooh. I can wait I can wait I can wait . . .

[Nyssa]

This title has been sitting on my Currently reading shelf all week. I am starting it in earnest tomorrow (Sunday).

[Graeme]

Awesome, Nyssa.

Enjoy.

[Nyssa]

Jay!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!??!??!?!?!??!?

I was not expecting any of that at all—any of it. I'm shocked.

[Graeme]

Nyssa wrote: "Jay!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!??!??!?!?!??!?

I was not expecting any of that at all—any of it. I'm shocked."

He notes to himself...

'He looked hard at the ground for tell-tale movements. A leaf disturbed without a breeze, or an unexpected crunch of sand, just anything he couldn’t explain. He pressed his lips into a tight line; most likely they’d lose one of their own to discover the chameleon was amongst them.'

Indeed.

[Nyssa]

Graeme wrote:” ‘He looked hard at the ground for tell-tale movements. A leaf disturbed without a breeze, or an unexpected crunch of sand, just anything he couldn’t explain. He pressed his lips into a tight line; most likely they’d lose one of their own to discover the chameleon was amongst them.’..”

Yeah. I just expected (view spoiler)[ plot armor to come into play. I was mad at him for “turning,” but I understood (to a point). I did not expect him to die, though. I wanted him to learn that he was wrong (well, except about Chiara). (hide spoiler)]

[J.]

Why is it I don't blink at nanotech neurological interfaces, but a Rolex with GPS feels weird?

[Graeme]

J. wrote: "Why is it I don't blink at nanotech neurological interfaces, but a Rolex with GPS feels weird?"

Perhaps because one is visible and the other is not. 🤔

[Graeme]

Nyssa wrote: "Yeah. I just expected..."

Not enough plot armor to go around ... 😁😉😎

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

When you all complete this book - I have created the next thread for the final book, The Metaframe Adept. The book will be out in November so I made the thread for November. :)

Here is the link:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Denis (deez_bookish_adventures)]

thanks, Marie! I have been waiting patiently for the final installment. :)

[J.]

Graeme wrote: "Perhaps because one is visible and the other is not. 🤔"

In part, yes. But I think what's messing with me is that there is a mechanical Rolex for keeping track of multiple time zones, the GMT Master.

[Graeme]

Marie wrote: "When you all complete this book - I have created the next thread for the final book, The Metaframe Adept. The book will be out in November so I made the thread for November. :)

Here is the link:
..."

Thanks Marie, much appreciated.

[Graeme]

Denis (deez_bookish_adventures) wrote: "thanks, Marie! I have been waiting patiently for the final installment. :)"

Less than two weeks now. 😁

I loaded the final polished versions up to Amazon, Draft2Digital (Apple, Kobo, B&N, et al) and Google yesterday.

[Denis (deez_bookish_adventures)]

Graeme wrote: "Less than two weeks now. 😁

I loaded the final polished versions up to Amazon, Draft2Digital (Apple, Kobo, B&N, et al) and Google yesterday...."

Awesome!! I hope to be able to jump into this right away. :)

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Denis (deez_bookish_adventures) wrote: "thanks, Marie! I have been waiting patiently for the final installment. :)"

You are welcome! :)

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Graeme wrote: "Marie wrote: "When you all complete this book - I have created the next thread for the final book, The Metaframe Adept. The book will be out in November so I made the thread for November. :)

Here

Thanks Marie, much appreciated."

You are welcome, Graeme. :)

[Graeme]

Denis (deez_bookish_adventures) wrote: "Awesome!! I hope to be able to jump into this right away. :) ..."

Enjoy.

[Nyssa]

I am currently reading Chapter 6, and I am a bit confused.
I am in the middle of the prisoner fighting with his captive, but...

(view spoiler)[I don't understand the trick w/ the pizza. Why did the guard get suspicious of Dwayne, and what did Dwayne have or do to set off the alarms and open Author's cell? (hide spoiler)]

Edited to add: Is anyone going to survive this war?

[Graeme]

Nyssa wrote: "I am currently reading Chapter 6, and I am a bit confused. I am in the middle of the prisoner fighting with his captive, but..."

Hi Nyssa, as follows ....

(view spoiler)[

[1] Jon Thunderaxe is in the trailer with the Panopticon (running in limited mode on a single processor) out-of-sight just around the corner from the safe house. He unlocks Arthur's cell remotely using the Panopticon access to do so.

[2] Independently, the Red Empire guard stops 'buying' Dwayne's cover story re "pizza delivery,' and drags him into the safe house, before knocking him unconscious with a back hander.

[3] While that happens, an alarm (independent to the Panopticon) goes off as Arthur's cell door has been 'unlocked.'

(hide spoiler)]

[Nyssa]

Ah. Okay. Thank you for clarifying!

[Graeme]

Regarding suspicion ... (view spoiler)[It was always going to be a hard sell to get a RE operative to believe that a pizza delivery driver had by mistake ended up knocking on their front door...

These guys kill first and then dispose of the bodies before they ask questions. 😀 (hide spoiler)]

[Graeme]

No problem, Nyssa.

[J.]

(view spoiler)[Mekra's hive mind and the things from the Nazi base seem very similar. Set at work? (hide spoiler)]

[Nyssa]

You broke my heart, Graeme - There was no plot armor ANYWHERE!!

I am in mourning.

[Graeme]

Nyssa wrote: "You broke my heart, Graeme - There was no plot armor ANYWHERE!!

I am in mourning."

All I can offer is that its darkest before the dawn.

[Nyssa]

Graeme wrote: "Nyssa wrote: "You broke my heart, Graeme - There was no plot armor ANYWHERE!!

I am in mourning."

All I can offer is that its darkest before the dawn."

I'll hold you to that. :)

[Graeme]

J. wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

More a case of (view spoiler)[ that which is behind both Set & Mekra - the Living Darkness.

After all, Mekra without knowledge, recites the words of Siegfried Von Frankestein after he'd been conquered by the Dark. (hide spoiler)]

[Graeme]

Nyssa wrote: "I'll hold you to that. :)"

😁😁

[J.]

An odd thought occured to me.

(view spoiler)[If vampires are now immune to silver and sunlight, does that mean Anton's father and the rest of Crane's prisoners beneath Riker's are awake and clawing their way out of those sliver sarcophagi? (hide spoiler)]

[Nyssa]

J. wrote: "An odd thought occured to me.

[spoilers removed]"

That is an excellent question! I didn't even think of that.

[Graeme]

Hi, J. Very insightful.

From A Subtle Agency (end of Chapter One).

It was all he was able to say as Chloe punched a green button on a console next to the machine. The metal arm that William lay strapped to, arced forward 180 degrees and slammed him into a coffin made from pure silver. The restraints around him automatically released with puffs of high-pressure air, retracting in a matter of milliseconds.

Before William could react, the coffin lid slammed shut and a dozen heavy bolts snapped into position. A set of whirring robotic arms automatically screwed the bolts into place. A giant mechanical claw attached to a pulley and a motorized runner system on the ceiling reached down, hooked up the coffin, and slotted it neatly into a waiting vertical holding chamber in the floor. Finally, a lid slid shut over the chamber leaving no trace of the coffin beneath.

To all intents and purposes, William Slayne had vanished from the face of the Earth.

Any vampires caught in that system just got their full metabolism restored, and will be ravenous with hunger.

However, given the dozen heavy bolts, and the fact the coffin itself has been inserted into a form-fitting vertical slot (and due to lack of space, can't be opened while in this position), they'll remain stuck inside their silver coffins (there are air holes) ... unless released.

[Graeme]

Chapter one of The Metaframe Adept begins very early on the next morning.

J, Nyssa, should you choose to continue with the series you are very well placed to do so given you have just finished this book.

The total story is in three parts.

Part One: A Subtle Agency, A Traitor's War and The Dragon's Den.

Part Two: The Day Guard and The Crane War.

Part Three: The Key of Ahknaton and The Metaframe Adept, with the final two books forming the final Act in a three part structure.

By reading the last two books back to back, you're getting the full finale in a single extended hit.

[J.]

So, Chloe knows exactly where William Slayne is, and she can command his actions by merely speaking. The fun loving fellow on my left shoulder is giggling maniacally at the thought of her sending both Anton's lover and his father to collect him.