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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
When we first meet Caspian Robeaux, his life is considered quite rough. He is on the run, he doesn't have much money, and his ship is falling apart. As the story unfolds we begin to see how he can possibly turn his life around and redeem himself.
Cas was in the very organization that he is on the run from and on his path gets trapped in another hard situation. When we meet Cas, he is very closed off and does not want a part of either organization. He just wants to take his ship and his robot, Box, and explore space and move on with his life.
I really enjoyed this book, the pacing was really well done and the different characters were very enjoyable. The author did a great job of not only creating great characters but he created a whole universe that you want to know more about. I am excited to see what happens next to our friends
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Cas was in the very organization that he is on the run from and on his path gets trapped in another hard situation. When we meet Cas, he is very closed off and does not want a part of either organization. He just wants to take his ship and his robot, Box, and explore space and move on with his life.
I really enjoyed this book, the pacing was really well done and the different characters were very enjoyable. The author did a great job of not only creating great characters but he created a whole universe that you want to know more about. I am excited to see what happens next to our friends
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
medium-paced
**I was provided a published electronic copy by the author through BookSirens in exchange for honest review.**
Eric Warren provides a science fiction novel full of all things great about the genre with Caspian's Fortune. We follow Captain Caspian Robeaux, who may or may not have committed war crimes resulting in defection from the Coalition where he served as an engineer. Cas, however, is more than your common criminal and has valuable information about corruption within the Coalition. Enter Lieutenant Commander Evelyn Diaval. Evie is tasked with bringing Cas back to the Coalition for one more mission. And possible imprisonment, but mostly the mission.
Warren gives us spaceships, space battles, new alien species, the standard lovable robot sidekick, and military overtones. Basically, this is a book that someone who is already a scifi fan is probably going to really enjoy. Is it the most accessible for new fans to the genre? Probably not, but I'm not mad about it. Not every book has to be a good intro book. Warren definitely has a good setup for the rest of the series with this one, and does a good job developing Cas' character so that a reader is invested in seeing him succeed. I wasn't really invested in the side characters, which I admit is very odd for me since I typically am a reader who focuses more on characters than plot.
I really enjoyed that Warren didn't give us a romance where it wasn't necessary, and found the lack of romance to be actually refreshing.
Overall, an enjoyable read and I would be happy to read more of Warren's work.
Eric Warren provides a science fiction novel full of all things great about the genre with Caspian's Fortune. We follow Captain Caspian Robeaux, who may or may not have committed war crimes resulting in defection from the Coalition where he served as an engineer. Cas, however, is more than your common criminal and has valuable information about corruption within the Coalition. Enter Lieutenant Commander Evelyn Diaval. Evie is tasked with bringing Cas back to the Coalition for one more mission. And possible imprisonment, but mostly the mission.
Warren gives us spaceships, space battles, new alien species, the standard lovable robot sidekick, and military overtones. Basically, this is a book that someone who is already a scifi fan is probably going to really enjoy. Is it the most accessible for new fans to the genre? Probably not, but I'm not mad about it. Not every book has to be a good intro book. Warren definitely has a good setup for the rest of the series with this one, and does a good job developing Cas' character so that a reader is invested in seeing him succeed. I wasn't really invested in the side characters, which I admit is very odd for me since I typically am a reader who focuses more on characters than plot.
I really enjoyed that Warren didn't give us a romance where it wasn't necessary, and found the lack of romance to be actually refreshing.
Overall, an enjoyable read and I would be happy to read more of Warren's work.
A space adventure with an unlikely captain. You start out not knowing if will like this guy that is the captain or not as he does have a rough side. As the story unfolds you find out his back story and why he does some of the things he does and start to understand him more. By the end of the book i was cheering for him. Then throw in Box, who is the Robot with him. Box is hilarious and i would want him around even after a while i might regret that decision. I started out the story and the next thing i knew i was done. It wasn’t because the story was short as it is 218 pages long, but because it drew you in and kept you caught up. I was glad that no one was around as then i didn't have to stop reading. It is going to be a series but it has an ending where you could walk away but if like me won’t want to as want to see what else happens next. I like reading lots of genres so it was a nice break from others i was reading to read this book. I did receive an ARC from Hidden Gems for an honest review. I would recommended this book to friends and family who would appreciate this kind of book. I am really hoping the author has the next book coming out soon as would like to see more adventures with Captain Caspian.
I received a copy of this book to review from Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity.
This book was a quirky and fun space opera with a cast of likable and unique characters. The reader is drawn in very quickly and the action is very fast paced. The dialogue is witty and the book is an easy read for those who are fans of Sci fi.
The science is not very in depth and the world building is lacking at times. Hard core Sci fi readers may not find it detailed enough.
On the whole, a good read.
This book was a quirky and fun space opera with a cast of likable and unique characters. The reader is drawn in very quickly and the action is very fast paced. The dialogue is witty and the book is an easy read for those who are fans of Sci fi.
The science is not very in depth and the world building is lacking at times. Hard core Sci fi readers may not find it detailed enough.
On the whole, a good read.
This was fun. I'm already onto the second book as I'm writing this review.
The cool bits are that we've got a wide-ranging space story. I'm hesitant to call it Space Opera™ because it fails to live up to the amazingness of [a:Iain Banks|7628|Iain Banks|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1374456581p2/7628.jpg]'s work, which is Opera indeed. (Of course, if I'm being true to Opera, sometimes Opera was cheap entertainment for the masses, so....)
What I liked:
- I could read it fast. It's a lightweight, fast-moving book. A good pool / beach read that doesn't require you to wrap your brain around complex sci-fi topics. Yea, we have super-fast space drives that apparently use something called "Undercurrents" to get thru space quickly, but we don't bother explaining that. He just states it, and goes on with the story.
- Classic unrequited love. This trope has been around a long time, but when it's working, it makes for good levity. It works here.
- The snarky robot. Box is fun as a character both because his name is SOOO unsuited to the cleverness of the character, and because the dialog for Box is funny. Reminds me a bit of Marvin the Paranoid Android in THHGTTG.
Why not 5-stars?
- Because it's a beach read. This should not be seen as a bad thing. I'm already reading the 2nd book, after all - and I'll read all he writes in this series. It's just not an "Oh, my - I need to read this again right now in order to internalize it" book, and I reserve my 5-star reviews for that type.
Just read it. It's fun.
The cool bits are that we've got a wide-ranging space story. I'm hesitant to call it Space Opera™ because it fails to live up to the amazingness of [a:Iain Banks|7628|Iain Banks|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1374456581p2/7628.jpg]'s work, which is Opera indeed. (Of course, if I'm being true to Opera, sometimes Opera was cheap entertainment for the masses, so....)
What I liked:
- I could read it fast. It's a lightweight, fast-moving book. A good pool / beach read that doesn't require you to wrap your brain around complex sci-fi topics. Yea, we have super-fast space drives that apparently use something called "Undercurrents" to get thru space quickly, but we don't bother explaining that. He just states it, and goes on with the story.
- Classic unrequited love. This trope has been around a long time, but when it's working, it makes for good levity. It works here.
- The snarky robot. Box is fun as a character both because his name is SOOO unsuited to the cleverness of the character, and because the dialog for Box is funny. Reminds me a bit of Marvin the Paranoid Android in THHGTTG.
Why not 5-stars?
- Because it's a beach read. This should not be seen as a bad thing. I'm already reading the 2nd book, after all - and I'll read all he writes in this series. It's just not an "Oh, my - I need to read this again right now in order to internalize it" book, and I reserve my 5-star reviews for that type.
Just read it. It's fun.
Disclaimer: I have voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a free copy from Hidden Gem Books.
The review may contain very minor spoilers!
I have to admit – despite my love for the sci-fi genre and all the opportunities it presents, I haven’t actually read many books that were straight out space operas with spaceships, aliens and grand intergalactic adventures. I have, obviously, consumed other media from the genre but the books for some reason rarely found their way to my shelf. Because of that, when I read Caspian’s Fortune’s description, I immediately thought that this was exactly what I was looking for to help me fix that obvious oversight on my side.
Caspian Robeaux is an outlaw and his life isn’t an easy one. He has a huge debt with a dangerous and influential Priestess Veena, his ship (a rather necessary tool to run his courier jobs) is in dire needs of repairs and the money from his most recent job was stolen and almost gambled away before he managed to get it back. Not to mention that his only friend and companion is a sassy robot called Box, who spends all his days teasing him and watching soap operas on the internet. He doesn’t need any additional trouble but it comes anyway in shape of a Coalition Commander who will do everything to make Caspian return to his used-to-be home and face the injustice he’d experienced in the past.
The plot is simple enough - the local depressed prick is forced to get a grip and change his miserable situation for the better with the help of quirky, colorful companions. There are space ship battles, sassy banter and mysteries to be uncovered. I felt like the beginning was a little slow and it took me a bit to get into it but it might have been because it was my first ARC and I wasn’t sure what to expect, so I was rather critical at first. Nevertheless, I began really enjoying the book only after Cas and his friends left the Devil’s Gate.
The characters were solid, likable an easy to root for. Caspian, despite doing his best to look like an asshole who doesn’t care about anything other than his own business, is just genuinely a good guy. He’s willing to put the well-being of others above his own safety and freedom. He always chooses to do the right thing while complaining about it throughout the whole process. Despite his bitterness about the way Coalition treated him, he clearly misses the days he’d spent serving on their ship and enjoys the moments when he’s allowed to act as a part of the crew, fitting in with them naturally. I found the moments when he reacted like a crew member would just to think “Wait, I’m not a part of this anymore” a few seconds later quite cute.
Box was a delight most of the time, although he did have some annoying moments, especially when he kept suggesting Cas and Evie should hook up. Besides that, he had a fun, vibrant personality which nicely contrasted with the common trope of a stoic, emotionless robot companion. Also, binge-watching tv shows when you’re stressed is totally relatable.
Evie gave me a lot of mixed feelings when she first appeared. On one hand, soldier lady with a huge sword is a big yes in my books, on the other I was so afraid that she will become one of those women that are only introduced to fall in love with the main character and once they do, they lose any hint of personality and skills they might have had before. I was just waiting for Cas to save her from grave peril or say something nice so the awkward romance could unfold.
And then it didn’t happen.
Evie stayed badass but also kind through the whole book. She is loyal to her crew, strong and resourceful. Despite being often annoyed with Cas but always willing to see the best in him and ready to call him out on his bullshit. I really appreciated that she didn’t end up getting the sexist treatment female characters often get.
Besides the three main characters, Caspian’s Fortune has a solid cast of supporting characters, mostly the crew of the Tempest. My personal favorites were Greene, who was a good leader with a strong moral compass and Laura, whose little crush on Evie was adorable. There were also very interesting alien characters from different races, each one diverse and properly described, despite not playing that big of a role in the story. It was a nice piece of worldbuilding that I appreciated.
Besides the alien races, the worldbuilding was rather limited. We got to learn about the places where the action took place, mostly the Coalition and its relationships with neighboring planets and territories. I felt like there wasn’t enough info about Veena and the Sargans overall. What was the Priestess of? What was the deal with the Sargan Commonwealth? However, as it wasn’t really the focus of the story, it didn’t bother me that much, just something that made me curious.
All in all, Caspian’s Fortune is a really enjoyable read with a likable cast of characters and fast-paced action. It’s not revolutionary and has some flaws like limited worldbuilding and a bit of a slow start but it’s a solid beginning of a promising series. I’m definitely interested in seeing more of Cas’ adventures when another book comes out.
The review may contain very minor spoilers!
I have to admit – despite my love for the sci-fi genre and all the opportunities it presents, I haven’t actually read many books that were straight out space operas with spaceships, aliens and grand intergalactic adventures. I have, obviously, consumed other media from the genre but the books for some reason rarely found their way to my shelf. Because of that, when I read Caspian’s Fortune’s description, I immediately thought that this was exactly what I was looking for to help me fix that obvious oversight on my side.
Caspian Robeaux is an outlaw and his life isn’t an easy one. He has a huge debt with a dangerous and influential Priestess Veena, his ship (a rather necessary tool to run his courier jobs) is in dire needs of repairs and the money from his most recent job was stolen and almost gambled away before he managed to get it back. Not to mention that his only friend and companion is a sassy robot called Box, who spends all his days teasing him and watching soap operas on the internet. He doesn’t need any additional trouble but it comes anyway in shape of a Coalition Commander who will do everything to make Caspian return to his used-to-be home and face the injustice he’d experienced in the past.
The plot is simple enough - the local depressed prick is forced to get a grip and change his miserable situation for the better with the help of quirky, colorful companions. There are space ship battles, sassy banter and mysteries to be uncovered. I felt like the beginning was a little slow and it took me a bit to get into it but it might have been because it was my first ARC and I wasn’t sure what to expect, so I was rather critical at first. Nevertheless, I began really enjoying the book only after Cas and his friends left the Devil’s Gate.
The characters were solid, likable an easy to root for. Caspian, despite doing his best to look like an asshole who doesn’t care about anything other than his own business, is just genuinely a good guy. He’s willing to put the well-being of others above his own safety and freedom. He always chooses to do the right thing while complaining about it throughout the whole process. Despite his bitterness about the way Coalition treated him, he clearly misses the days he’d spent serving on their ship and enjoys the moments when he’s allowed to act as a part of the crew, fitting in with them naturally. I found the moments when he reacted like a crew member would just to think “Wait, I’m not a part of this anymore” a few seconds later quite cute.
Box was a delight most of the time, although he did have some annoying moments, especially when he kept suggesting Cas and Evie should hook up. Besides that, he had a fun, vibrant personality which nicely contrasted with the common trope of a stoic, emotionless robot companion. Also, binge-watching tv shows when you’re stressed is totally relatable.
Evie gave me a lot of mixed feelings when she first appeared. On one hand, soldier lady with a huge sword is a big yes in my books, on the other I was so afraid that she will become one of those women that are only introduced to fall in love with the main character and once they do, they lose any hint of personality and skills they might have had before. I was just waiting for Cas to save her from grave peril or say something nice so the awkward romance could unfold.
And then it didn’t happen.
Evie stayed badass but also kind through the whole book. She is loyal to her crew, strong and resourceful. Despite being often annoyed with Cas but always willing to see the best in him and ready to call him out on his bullshit. I really appreciated that she didn’t end up getting the sexist treatment female characters often get.
Besides the three main characters, Caspian’s Fortune has a solid cast of supporting characters, mostly the crew of the Tempest. My personal favorites were Greene, who was a good leader with a strong moral compass and Laura, whose little crush on Evie was adorable. There were also very interesting alien characters from different races, each one diverse and properly described, despite not playing that big of a role in the story. It was a nice piece of worldbuilding that I appreciated.
Besides the alien races, the worldbuilding was rather limited. We got to learn about the places where the action took place, mostly the Coalition and its relationships with neighboring planets and territories. I felt like there wasn’t enough info about Veena and the Sargans overall. What was the Priestess of? What was the deal with the Sargan Commonwealth? However, as it wasn’t really the focus of the story, it didn’t bother me that much, just something that made me curious.
All in all, Caspian’s Fortune is a really enjoyable read with a likable cast of characters and fast-paced action. It’s not revolutionary and has some flaws like limited worldbuilding and a bit of a slow start but it’s a solid beginning of a promising series. I’m definitely interested in seeing more of Cas’ adventures when another book comes out.