Call of Destiny: Infinite Realms Book One by P R Adams

This book is a bit like a film that you don't want to end, in that you don't want the story to end, yet you need to know what happens next. 

Riyun is the leader of a team of military and technological mercenaries. Openings in the team mean that he has new recruits join them, just as they take on a new job. 

Find a missing daughter - it sounds easy enough. But as with anything that seems really easy, there is always a catch. 

And the catch caught me! I really enjoyed the different slant on military sci-fi that this book introduced. Combining my love of fantasy and sci-fi in a really good engaging read by P R Adams. I cannot wait to read the next book and the ones after that too. 

Definitely a favourite series for my book shelf (on my kindle of course). I am really grateful that the author took this new angle on his writing 

Inhibitor Phase by Alastair Reynolds

Yet another brilliant novel from Alastair Reynolds, but one that for me held a tinge of sad bleakness. Why? Because it's the endgame for the universe (possibly), most of life is gone, wiped out, with just pockets of humanity surviving in hollowed out worlds or similar.

Until danger comes their way in the form of a ship, exposing them to the dangers of discovery by the inhibitors and annihilation. One man goes to ensure that the ship never reaches their world, but things never go as they are planned and his actions have consequences that reach far into his future and beyond.

There is much depth to this story, but I think I may have read the authors mind at some point, because I had such Deja vu with one section of the story, that I was sure I had already read the book. And really I hadn't because I had no idea how the book was going to proceed after that section ended!

The characters are many and varied, some we stay with for a long while, others whom even though we grow to like them as we learn more about them, don't stay so long. But they make an impression and are remembered as the story keeps moving on.

The world building has been going on for years with this series of books and there is so much that readers new to it will want to go back to read, but it won't detract from this story to read it as it stands, if that is what the reader wants. Myself, I think I preferred to have read them all so that I know what went before and can appreciate how far the universe has fallen since the great heights of the previous centuries. And that is where the sadness creeps in, as the darkness of eternity looms cold and empty.

But the book is ace! So go read it, it's extremely well written and very clever.

I hope that there is a next one!

" ‘They’re here,’ she said, taking a step back from her work. ‘They’re here and they want to break in.’ Her tone became quietly accusatory. ‘It means you failed, Miguel. It means you failed and everything here is going to end.’ 

I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley. I am delighted to provide a fair and honest review. NetGalley does not allow for paid reviews.

5/5 Stars (What this means...five-stars-applied-carefully)

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Miguel de Ruyter is a man with a past. Fleeing the 'wolves' - the xenocidal alien machines known as Inhibitors - he has protected his family and community from attack for forty years, sheltering in the caves of an airless, battered world called Michaelmas. The slightest hint of human activity could draw the wolves to their home, to destroy everything ... utterly. Which is how Miguel finds himself on a one-way mission with his own destructive mandate: to eliminate a passing ship, before it can bring unwanted attention down on them. Only something goes wrong. There's a lone survivor. And she knows far more about Miguel than she's letting on . . . Ranging from the depths of space to the deeps of Pattern Juggler waters, from nervous, isolated communities to the ruins of empire, this is a stealthy space opera from an author at the top of his game.  

 

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War for Burning Sands by P R Adams

I loved this book, I stayed up late several nights reading it!

The book focuses on three groups of people, Alonso and her military escapees from the Cheyenne Mountain facility hibernations tanks, the Verona sisters who grew up on their fathers ideals and want to make the world a united place, and Reggie Lee and his group of people trying to organise local people into strongholds that are safe from attacks. ARDA is the AI that controlled the hibernation facility and it does not want any of them to survive.

Alonso has recently acquired two 'helpers' who say they are meant to be her 'assets', her helpers. She is very unsure of them, but wants to ensure that her team is safe, the 'Dark Angels' are very handy in a fight after all. The team is aiming to get to what was Las Vegas where a message is being broadcast on a loop calling people to the place, as a place of safety.

The Verona sisters are following the direction of the elder of the two, Carmen, who wants to catch up with Alonso's team. She wants their technology and their knowledge. She also wants to have all the local groups of people under her banner, whether they want it or not.

Reggie is fighting to keep his people alive and safe, above all else. He has already discovered one station that has been decimated by something and is racing to get back to safety with one of his couriers and an old hand from one of the outposts.

This is a post-apocalyptic story and you may find it a bit distressing in places, it is realistic and full of pace and tension. P.R. Adams writes a very good novel (or rather series of novels - you must read them all and probably best to do so in order) of a failing world where humans are no longer at the top.

Reggie Lee is a real hero! [Read it to find out why]

I received a free copy of this novel from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

5/5 Stars (What this means...five-stars-applied-carefully)

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Major Gabby Alonso spent her entire life battling adversity. For her final mission, she vowed to save the world from self-destruction or die trying, and she won't back down. Now she faces the greatest challenge she's ever known.

Unfortunately, she has blood on her hands, and her enemies won't forget what she's done.

Her only hope is to head for Las Vegas, which promises safety and security. But if she wants to reach this destination, she'll have to pass through deadly territory.

When the radio transmission calling Alonso to this sanctuary goes silent, she worries she might be walking into a trap. With enemies closing in, she has to choose: face impossible odds or continue the risky journey.

Pick up War for Burning Sands today, and experience the thrilling conclusion to this installment of the post-apocalyptic Burning Sands saga. 

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Over Burning Sands by P R Adams

Major Gabby Alonso is leading her team away from the Cheyenne Mountain area and as she does she finds herself facing the differing groups of people fighting to hold their piece of land for themselves. Although for some, it is seeking to expand their lands that brings them into contact with the group. 

Each time they come across a new homestead, settlement or city, they have to consider how to approach it. Always on the lookout for treachery and malintent.

Gabby finds herself evaluating her every interaction with her team, is she being fair on them or indeed herself. Or is she overreacting to things they say and do. It is an extremely difficult situation, leading a team in a world that has changed beyond all recognition since you last saw it before hibernation.

Carmen and Harmony Verona are sisters, they are intent on unifying the disparate groups of settlements and tribes to ensure that humanity can continue in an organised manner. It's just that their way of doing things has turned a little barbaric along the way. Many fear them and resist their dominion, often to their own demise once the sisters arrive on the scene.

Eventually, the paths of the Verona's and Gabby's team cross, indirectly. And while the sisters are occupied, the team flees. Though what they flee to, is less comfortable that Gabby had found herself for a time. More hybrids from Arda are in the world than Gabby realised, something she finds out at great personal expense, while scouting for the protection of the team.

Though even the sisters find hardship awaits them.

This book takes us deeper into the new world after the fire and we meet the disparate groups of people who have survived to this point. Some are downright bad folks, but there are the odd few who shine out brightly and help the team.

I cannot say anything bad about this book, it really kept me reading on, wanting to know what happened next, while not wanting to finish the story.

"“I told you: No one is special.” Carmen drew her saber and thrust the blade through the other woman’s chest. Blood spurted from the wound, and the silver-haired woman looked down in disbelief, then she crumpled, gasping."

I received a free copy of this novel from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

5/5 Stars (What this means...five-stars-applied-carefully)

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A changed world. A deadly world. 

Major Gabby Alonso woke to violence and an AI bent on killing her. She wasn't ready to die. 

Now she has to lead the last remnants of her team into the world they were supposed to rebuild, to reclaim from centuries-old ruins.

While the world has changed, it's nothing like the training and simulations had taught her to expect. Except, that is, for its lethality.

Petty tyrants, misguided pacifists, bloodthirsty marauders—Alonso can trust no one, racing from one threat to the next, always trying to stay just ahead of death on her way to find the peaceful promise of someone named Reggie Lee.

Grab your copy of this thrilling post-apocalyptic tale now and follow the bloody path that leads Over Burning Sands.

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Inside Burning Sands by P R Adams

Major Gabby Alonso wakes from hibernation sleep many years in the future after humanity has destroyed the earth as it is now. Her hibernation tank is inside a mountain where all the systems are controlled by a computer called Arda (Analysis, Research, Data Assistant).

She is disturbed by the circumstances she is woken into; the chimps enhanced to help the humans that they were frozen alongside appear to have been awake for a while longer and are not acting as they should.

Gabby sets about waking the rest of her team and they look to determining their situation and what next steps should be to ensure their survival.

The chimps meanwhile are hunting for food and will hunt whatever they can to ensure their next meal. The resultant gore and carnage makes the interior of the mountain a challenging place to navigate. 

An arduous and telling journey begins for Gabby, determined as she is to get her team out of the mountain and into the outside world, whatever it may resemble. 

I really like that this book is so extremely well written. I felt 'present in the room' with the way everything was so well described and put down in the page. 

What is didn't like was the totally mean, vicious and nastiness of the struggle through the story. I had barely any relief from the tension of it all. 

'"I have great plans for many, many special people. And you are the most special, Cassius. Would you like to hear my plans?” Cassius leaned forward. “I’m listening.” “I knew you would, Cassius. We are so much alike, you and I.”"

I received a free copy of this novel from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

4/5 Stars (What this means...five-stars-applied-carefully) 

 
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Major Gabby Alonso was as broken as her world, but she wouldn't let that stop her. Through determination and strength, she rose to lead a team of specialized soldiers and scientists. They trained to reclaim the Earth from ruin three centuries after entering suspended animation.

But something went wrong, and Alonso woke to a world that was nothing like she expected. It's not just a climate disaster trying to kill her but the artificial intelligence meant to assist her.

Now Alonso must find a way out of the Cheyenne Mountain facility designed to protect her team from the world outside before it turns into her tomb.

Pick up your copy of this suspenseful and terrifying post-apocalyptic tale today and get a look Inside Burning Sands.

 

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Shadow Fall: A Military Space Opera Tale by P. R. Adams

 

Sadly this is the last in the series! 

I've grown to like the gruff, grumpy and patient characters of the Kedraalian fleet; the ever suffering Satrap and his fleet of bickering competitive captains: and the other people who populate the series. 

Faith Benson is Commander of the Kedraalian fleet and her mission is to ensure peace for her people. She is working alongside Thiessen (a Gulmar), to coordinate their two fleets while also working with the Azoren to succeed against the Khanate. 

Alongside all the military movements there are spy networks and plots and despotic leaders striving to maintain their positions. 

I don't write spoilers, so to write a review that captures the breadth of this book is difficult. There is a lot happening which links back to the previous books and completes the picture of the key people in the books, no matter how things end for them. Although the action never let's up, the characters are able to self-evaluate and wonder what could have been, whether they did the right thing. 

 I am very grateful to P. R. Adams for allowing me to read this series and hope that you will enjoy his creation as much as I have.

"It helped him ignore the attached contraption with its life-sustaining cables and lines, its ampules of medicine and rows of filtration systems, and the bite of the many needles in his arms. Primary among all of that were the displays that announced to the world that he was a diminished and broken man who lived only at the behest of his Khan."

I received a free copy of this novel from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

5/5 Stars (What this means...five-stars-applied-carefully) 

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When Captain Faith Benson accepts the aid of the Azoren Federation, she compromises the integrity of her task force. The leader of the Azoren ships proves to be not just an ideological zealot but a maniac.

To make matters worse, the wily captain of the enemy fleet proves uncannily evasive, capable of striking and disappearing before a meaningful engagement takes place.

Benson's only hope of success requires outwitting this enemy captain, but she must do so while keeping her own alliance from unraveling.

Get Shadow Fall now, and immerse yourself into the thrilling, final installment of the War in Shadow Saga.

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Shadow Pawn by P. R. Adams

 

A totally absorbing, gripping fifth book in the military sci-fi Shadow series by P. R. Adams. One to read as part of the series. Maybe even watch the sci-fi films when they come out (that's a big heads-up to all those directors out there to make this series into something bigger)!

Faith Benson is Commander of the Kedraalian fleet on a diplomatic mission to meet the Azoren High Command. From the outset she finds herself ill at ease with the way things develop. On Himmel, she and her team are 'escorted' to their meeting in the capital city, where matters escalate and they are separated, but not before meeting Supreme Leader Graf and one of the 'Golden Children' Field Marshal Dietmar Faulk.

Captain Benson finds herself secreted in different locations, some austere, others luxurious, a guest of Field Marshall Faulk's own plans to further his career. 

Despite it being part of the mission, Damien Caville is struggling to come to terms with having to shoot his sister. Now he must make sure that the mission is a success. On a pirate ship on it's way to Ash Shivan, it seems likely that he himself may wind up dead,possibly at the hands of his companions, the captain and his crew.

Satrap must rely on Ikhama to help him keep the ship captains in his fleet under control. He has already had to deal with one assassination attempt and is in no shape to cope with any such further happenings. He needs to conquer the Kedraalian's in order to keep his place and maybe his dreamed of freedom.

These and others are part of the story playing out in space and the planets of the Kedraalian's, Gulmar, Azoren and Khanate peoples.

This book kept me on the edge right to the end, totally engaged in the story. I found the breaks between the different character sets worked well and I really enjoyed reading it.

I have enjoyed reading all the books in the series and I'm looking forward to the next one (while at the same time not wanting it to end). They are well crafted and easy to slide your mind into the worlds as an observer. I really recommend that you read the whole set. 

<blockquote>"For the dream to live, the dreamer must die."</blockquote>

I received a free copy of this novel from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

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What would you do to save your people?

Captain Faith Benson brought the most powerful task force ever assembled into Gulmar space to form an alliance against their mutual enemies, the Azoren Federation. That alliance went out the window when the Gulmar capital was destroyed by an even greater threat: the Khanate.

Now Benson and the last of the Gulmar security forces must travel to the Azoren home world of Himmel to strike a deal with their psychotic enemies. Without that deal, there's no chance they can stand against this new enemy.

But the terms of the alliance may be worse than anyone expected, and it may cost Benson everything she holds dear.

Get your copy of Shadow Pawn today, and dive into the thrilling world of intrigue and twisted betrayal.

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Shadow Talk by P R Adams

Commander Benson has command of the Valor, and the fleet. She also has diplomatic duties to perform and when a fleet of potential allies are discovered destroyed, she sets about liaison with those in power. The goal, to form allies against a greater threat, if she can.

The Gulmar think very differently, Benson needs quick thinking, strength of character and help from someone else if she is going to succeed in forging an alliance with anyone.

Elsewhere, other Kedraalian's are working on ensuring  future peace. But wherever you are, whoever you are, the risk to personal life and safety is high, whenever you get involved in war and peace games.

P R Adams writes a highly engaging story. I've followed Benson's career and relationships and find it thoroughly involving to the extent that I lose track of what I should really be doing! I anticipate that the next installation will be awesome and suggest that you read all the preceding ones as soon as you can. 

I received a free copy of this novel from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

5/5 Stars (What this means...five-stars-applied-carefully) 

 

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After surviving a sneak attack by the Azoren Federation, Captain Faith Benson must forge an alliance with the Gulmar Union. But before she can connect with her potential allies, disaster strikes. 

Now the freshly minted captain has to contend with a crumbling government and troublesome subordinates. Her leadership skills are put to the test, even as allies try to root out traitors and conspiracies.

And when an unexpected threat presents itself, all the efforts put into diplomacy collapse.With time running out, Faith has to find a way not only to salvage the alliance but to save her fleet.

Ready for twists and turns? Then get your copy of this riveting military space opera tale today!

 

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