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lyndajdickson's review
5.0
Dominion Rising is a collection of 23 Fantasy and Science Fiction novels by 25 different authors. This review is for Mind Raider, the first book in the new Kalamatra Rebellion series by S. M. Blooding and P. K. Tyler.
The book is set in the Black System, comprised of four separate systems, at the center of which is the Kalamatra Station. This world is inhabited by different classes: the Elite, the Families, the military, the spacers, and the terrans, each with their own physical and mental attributes.
Keva is an engineered soldier who is left to die for disobeying a direct order but is rescued and recruited by the Codex Syndicate. Her current mission is to find out everything she can about a bioweapon called Batch D-65. She enlists the help of her AI ILO who is developing a personality of her own, Captain Hale Reeve and his spaceship the Allorian, an Elite woman who constantly surprises her (in a good way), and a bunch of rag-tag hangers-on. Will they be able to locate the weapon before it's too late?
This is a rollicking space adventure, not my usual kind of read but entertaining nevertheless. It's full of likable characters and strong female leads. Coming from a science background, I really enjoyed the scientific aspects of the story. But I would like to have seen a bit more romance! While this book concludes this part of the story and we do get some answers, there is so much more I still want to know. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Warnings: coarse language, sexual references, graphic violence.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
Full blog post (8 August): https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com/2017/08/dominion-rising-by-p-k-tyler.html
The book is set in the Black System, comprised of four separate systems, at the center of which is the Kalamatra Station. This world is inhabited by different classes: the Elite, the Families, the military, the spacers, and the terrans, each with their own physical and mental attributes.
Keva is an engineered soldier who is left to die for disobeying a direct order but is rescued and recruited by the Codex Syndicate. Her current mission is to find out everything she can about a bioweapon called Batch D-65. She enlists the help of her AI ILO who is developing a personality of her own, Captain Hale Reeve and his spaceship the Allorian, an Elite woman who constantly surprises her (in a good way), and a bunch of rag-tag hangers-on. Will they be able to locate the weapon before it's too late?
This is a rollicking space adventure, not my usual kind of read but entertaining nevertheless. It's full of likable characters and strong female leads. Coming from a science background, I really enjoyed the scientific aspects of the story. But I would like to have seen a bit more romance! While this book concludes this part of the story and we do get some answers, there is so much more I still want to know. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Warnings: coarse language, sexual references, graphic violence.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
Full blog post (8 August): https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com/2017/08/dominion-rising-by-p-k-tyler.html
foulkwolf's review
3.0
I was sent a pre-release copy of "The Other" by Marilyn Peake which is in this collection. Nonetheless, this review is honest, and impartial, with spoilers avoided where possible unbiased.
“Yup, the world was melting down.” – Peake’s world has potential, but weakens in places
The protagonist of The Other aptly describes a world very like our own: one of suspicion, constant surveillance, racism, corrupt police officers, a cold-war environment, and a fascination of the supernatural over scientific. We are thrown into the analytical mind of Cora Frost (PhD).
A brutal form of PTSD repeatedly enters the narrative with an interesting setup. She grew up in a cult. She had a twin who was poisoned by a woman we can infer to be their mother. This trauma results in her no-nonsense, fact-demanding attitude, and led her to become a Psychology professor. Her backstory is promising and I was looking forward to finding out more, which, unfortunately, didn’t really happen. As the plot develops, Cora goes on a research field mission with a colleague of hers, a dynamic which, again, I wish was explored further as what was shown had potential to be rather interesting. Cora’s theory of mass hysteria surrounding a so-called “alien disease outbreak” is grounded, and allows us to view her character as an outsider and above all the reactionary, superstitious fear spreading across the country. She is refreshingly flawed. The end of her narrative is so abrupt and shocking, you reread just to ask yourself, “that definitely just happened, right?”
By the second part of the novel, I began to miss Cora’s narrative voice, as we are introduced to an apparently isolated character – a teenager called Jade Whitaker. She describes mundane jobs, a chronic pain in her abdomen, and decides her ability to understand people almost telepathically is probably just a coping mechanism. She has recently lost her adopted mother and after some health issues decides to look for her biological mother. Jade’s aspect of the story almost became tedious and predictable, although I found the exploration of Max Davenport, one of Jade’s clients, to be a good attempt by the author to both maintain our intrigue, and showcase Jade’s abilities. Overall, Jade’s character shone through in internal dialogue, and we are sympathetic to her situation.
The third part of the novel is subtle and full of information relevant to another perspective of this story. It is the most important part of the book and I will not fully describe it for fear of spoilers. I wonder why the author waited so long to introduce this narrative voice: was it to build suspense? To lull us into a sense of security with Cora and Jade as our narrators? If so, it was effective. Elements that Peake brings into this part really drive a better understanding of what story the author was trying to tell, and it’s a shame these chapters are not better expanded and explored, as Peake delves into new and exciting ideas. In my opinion, the entire point of the novel is clarified within these chapters, to the point where this would have been an excellent stand-alone short story.
The Other holds many plot points in front of your face: teased a few, spoons fed others, and some were dropped. It’s a shame because it sometimes leaves the novel feeling disjointed, and the final chapter unbelievably rushed, as the mysteries tie together in a way that is not all satisfactory, nor well-elaborated. Characters in the final chapter act in a way that seems, from what we’ve previously been presented with, out of character. We are unsure of the timeline. Unsure of the situation. Uncertainty is not fun when the ending isn’t purposefully ambiguous. Conversations and events have occurred to which readers were not privy, or so you must assume. By this point I was frustrated as it was clear the author missed prime opportunities to flesh out her characters and to allow them to interact in a way that felt natural. The organic feel of Cora’s narrative, the candid tone of Jade’s narrative, and the intriguing explanatory tone of the third narrative are missing from the final moments of the book.
Despite all this, I sincerely hope a second, or a third story is written, if only for my own closure considering the ideas that Peake has introduced, presented, and glossed over, and for the characters to fully reach their potential. (And the other characters to be included; Nat, Cora’s brother, Jade’s father, Aubrey, etc.)
Peake’s comedic, academic, and thrilling writing styles are displayed when necessary, sometimes in a way that really took my breath away. I would recommend reading this book for the potential this story holds, and for the strong intrigue and suspicion that Peake’s writing induces... if only the story was a tad more solid in some places.
“Yup, the world was melting down.” – Peake’s world has potential, but weakens in places
The protagonist of The Other aptly describes a world very like our own: one of suspicion, constant surveillance, racism, corrupt police officers, a cold-war environment, and a fascination of the supernatural over scientific. We are thrown into the analytical mind of Cora Frost (PhD).
A brutal form of PTSD repeatedly enters the narrative with an interesting setup. She grew up in a cult. She had a twin who was poisoned by a woman we can infer to be their mother. This trauma results in her no-nonsense, fact-demanding attitude, and led her to become a Psychology professor. Her backstory is promising and I was looking forward to finding out more, which, unfortunately, didn’t really happen. As the plot develops, Cora goes on a research field mission with a colleague of hers, a dynamic which, again, I wish was explored further as what was shown had potential to be rather interesting. Cora’s theory of mass hysteria surrounding a so-called “alien disease outbreak” is grounded, and allows us to view her character as an outsider and above all the reactionary, superstitious fear spreading across the country. She is refreshingly flawed. The end of her narrative is so abrupt and shocking, you reread just to ask yourself, “that definitely just happened, right?”
By the second part of the novel, I began to miss Cora’s narrative voice, as we are introduced to an apparently isolated character – a teenager called Jade Whitaker. She describes mundane jobs, a chronic pain in her abdomen, and decides her ability to understand people almost telepathically is probably just a coping mechanism. She has recently lost her adopted mother and after some health issues decides to look for her biological mother. Jade’s aspect of the story almost became tedious and predictable, although I found the exploration of Max Davenport, one of Jade’s clients, to be a good attempt by the author to both maintain our intrigue, and showcase Jade’s abilities. Overall, Jade’s character shone through in internal dialogue, and we are sympathetic to her situation.
The third part of the novel is subtle and full of information relevant to another perspective of this story. It is the most important part of the book and I will not fully describe it for fear of spoilers. I wonder why the author waited so long to introduce this narrative voice: was it to build suspense? To lull us into a sense of security with Cora and Jade as our narrators? If so, it was effective. Elements that Peake brings into this part really drive a better understanding of what story the author was trying to tell, and it’s a shame these chapters are not better expanded and explored, as Peake delves into new and exciting ideas. In my opinion, the entire point of the novel is clarified within these chapters, to the point where this would have been an excellent stand-alone short story.
The Other holds many plot points in front of your face: teased a few, spoons fed others, and some were dropped. It’s a shame because it sometimes leaves the novel feeling disjointed, and the final chapter unbelievably rushed, as the mysteries tie together in a way that is not all satisfactory, nor well-elaborated. Characters in the final chapter act in a way that seems, from what we’ve previously been presented with, out of character. We are unsure of the timeline. Unsure of the situation. Uncertainty is not fun when the ending isn’t purposefully ambiguous. Conversations and events have occurred to which readers were not privy, or so you must assume. By this point I was frustrated as it was clear the author missed prime opportunities to flesh out her characters and to allow them to interact in a way that felt natural. The organic feel of Cora’s narrative, the candid tone of Jade’s narrative, and the intriguing explanatory tone of the third narrative are missing from the final moments of the book.
Despite all this, I sincerely hope a second, or a third story is written, if only for my own closure considering the ideas that Peake has introduced, presented, and glossed over, and for the characters to fully reach their potential. (And the other characters to be included; Nat, Cora’s brother, Jade’s father, Aubrey, etc.)
Peake’s comedic, academic, and thrilling writing styles are displayed when necessary, sometimes in a way that really took my breath away. I would recommend reading this book for the potential this story holds, and for the strong intrigue and suspicion that Peake’s writing induces... if only the story was a tad more solid in some places.
vitskapsdama's review
It's a big anthology and I'm parking it for the time being until I'm in the mood to finish the remaining books.
laffingkat's review
4.0
This box set offers 23 new scifi and fantasy novels that are currently not available anywhere else. At this time, I've only read Mind Raider by [a:S.M. Blooding|5234671|S.M. Blooding|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1489933986p2/5234671.jpg] and [a:P.K. Tyler|14678447|P.K. Tyler|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1448410086p2/14678447.jpg], so my review is primarily based on my opinion of that novel, but I'm familiar with quite a few of the other participating authors, so I feel pretty confident in recommending this set to SFF fans. Given the price, even if you only like a couple of the stories, it's a great deal!
Mind Raider is a space opera involving engineered humans, smugglers, and sentient AIs. I had a little bit of a hard time getting into the story right at first, but both the plot and the characters soon captured my attention. There's plenty of action and intrigue here, but what I loved most was the characters, human and otherwise! I am a huge fan of stories that allow me to watch the characters learn and grow, and we get to watch several very satisfying character arcs develop here. I would not consider the ending a cliffhanger, but it does end with enough plot points left open that I will be anxiously awaiting the next book in the Kalamatra Rebellion series!
My only complaint is that I was sometimes distracted by typos and grammar and punctuation problems. If you're not too sensitive to editorial problems, you may not notice or mind, because the problems weren't severe enough to hinder understanding.
Mind Raider is a space opera involving engineered humans, smugglers, and sentient AIs. I had a little bit of a hard time getting into the story right at first, but both the plot and the characters soon captured my attention. There's plenty of action and intrigue here, but what I loved most was the characters, human and otherwise! I am a huge fan of stories that allow me to watch the characters learn and grow, and we get to watch several very satisfying character arcs develop here. I would not consider the ending a cliffhanger, but it does end with enough plot points left open that I will be anxiously awaiting the next book in the Kalamatra Rebellion series!
My only complaint is that I was sometimes distracted by typos and grammar and punctuation problems. If you're not too sensitive to editorial problems, you may not notice or mind, because the problems weren't severe enough to hinder understanding.
mouseg's review
Reign of Bone and Steel by Gwynn White & Erin St Pierre – 4 stars
Mind Raider by PK Tyler & SM Blooding – 2 stars
Sorcery & Science by Ella Summers – 3.5 stars
Spectral Shift by Daniel Arthur Smith – DNF. Made it to chapter 6 but got bored. Loved the idea but nothing engaged me.
Petra by Cheri Lasota – 3 stars
Infinite Waste by Dean F Wilson – 3 stars
Girard, The Guardian by Ann Christy – 4 stars
Flicker by Rebecca Rode – 4 stars
Star Compass by Anthea Sharp – 4.5 stars
Vengeance by SM Schmitz & Lisa Blackwood – 3 stars
Touching Infinity by Eric Hayes – 3 stars
Death Plaque by KJ Colt - ZERO stars. This book was horrible. I'm amazed I finished it. I just kept hoping it would get better; it didn't. TW - rape, incest, paedophilia. I will avoid this author in the future.
ULTRAS by Timothy C Ward - 1 stars. This reads like a 1st or 2nd draft. Needs more editing.
Curiouser and Curiouser by Melanie Karsak – 3.5 stars
The Waking of Grey Grimm by Tony Bertauski
Blood for Stone by Logan Thomas Snyder
The Incurables by Felix R Savage
FERROMANCER by Becca Andre
The Other by Marilyn Peake
New York by JC Adrijecki
Rift Cursed by Margo Bond Collins
The Zoon at the End of the World by Samuel Peralta
Iron Tamer by Tom Shutt
Mind Raider by PK Tyler & SM Blooding – 2 stars
Sorcery & Science by Ella Summers – 3.5 stars
Spectral Shift by Daniel Arthur Smith – DNF. Made it to chapter 6 but got bored. Loved the idea but nothing engaged me.
Petra by Cheri Lasota – 3 stars
Infinite Waste by Dean F Wilson – 3 stars
Girard, The Guardian by Ann Christy – 4 stars
Flicker by Rebecca Rode – 4 stars
Star Compass by Anthea Sharp – 4.5 stars
Vengeance by SM Schmitz & Lisa Blackwood – 3 stars
Touching Infinity by Eric Hayes – 3 stars
Death Plaque by KJ Colt - ZERO stars. This book was horrible. I'm amazed I finished it. I just kept hoping it would get better; it didn't. TW - rape, incest, paedophilia. I will avoid this author in the future.
ULTRAS by Timothy C Ward - 1 stars. This reads like a 1st or 2nd draft. Needs more editing.
Curiouser and Curiouser by Melanie Karsak – 3.5 stars
The Waking of Grey Grimm by Tony Bertauski
Blood for Stone by Logan Thomas Snyder
The Incurables by Felix R Savage
FERROMANCER by Becca Andre
The Other by Marilyn Peake
New York by JC Adrijecki
Rift Cursed by Margo Bond Collins
The Zoon at the End of the World by Samuel Peralta
Iron Tamer by Tom Shutt
chanel's review
5.0
Disclaimer: I have not read the entire book bundle. My review is specifically about one of the books in the bundle, Ferromancer: Iron Souls Book One by Becca Andre, which I received an early read copy in exchange for my honest review.
Definite recommendation! I absolutely LOVED it and it takes place in my home state!
Meet Briar Rose. Captaining canal boats has always been in her blood since she was little. She's also very curious and adventurous. Lately she's been concerned that her way of life might be taken over because locomotives and railroads have become increasingly popular over canal boats. One night, she decides to go "explore" these locomotives when she witnesses a murder. Shortly after, she finds out that her uncle is looking to sell her beloved canal boat. She decides that this can't happen and ends up kidnapping the engineer her uncle was looking to establish a business relationship with over a new locomotive. However, everything is not as it seems and she ends up getting a crash course in all things ferromancy and the soulless.
Fantasy, steampunk, mystery and adventure are just a few of the reading elements you'll find in this book. The characters are written so well. My favorite character, Lock, is a construct that Briar took an instant liking too and was the reason she dove deeper into the ferromancy world. You can easily relate to Briar in that she's trying to find her place in a man's world but also trying to handle her own issues. She often finds herself in situations that potentially threaten her livelihood and her life. The relationship she has with her crew members often goes misunderstood even though each and every one are loyal to her even when she tries to shield them from the real world. Another unique trait about the characters is that you can't really define who's the hero or who's the villian. At times, I found myself questioning who the "enemy" truly was including Briar herself.
By the end of the story, you will definitely want so much more! There is so much more to look forward to with Briar, her crew, as well as a few other characters. You must give this story a try and, really, buying the whole bundle is no brainer.
Definite recommendation! I absolutely LOVED it and it takes place in my home state!
Meet Briar Rose. Captaining canal boats has always been in her blood since she was little. She's also very curious and adventurous. Lately she's been concerned that her way of life might be taken over because locomotives and railroads have become increasingly popular over canal boats. One night, she decides to go "explore" these locomotives when she witnesses a murder. Shortly after, she finds out that her uncle is looking to sell her beloved canal boat. She decides that this can't happen and ends up kidnapping the engineer her uncle was looking to establish a business relationship with over a new locomotive. However, everything is not as it seems and she ends up getting a crash course in all things ferromancy and the soulless.
Fantasy, steampunk, mystery and adventure are just a few of the reading elements you'll find in this book. The characters are written so well. My favorite character, Lock, is a construct that Briar took an instant liking too and was the reason she dove deeper into the ferromancy world. You can easily relate to Briar in that she's trying to find her place in a man's world but also trying to handle her own issues. She often finds herself in situations that potentially threaten her livelihood and her life. The relationship she has with her crew members often goes misunderstood even though each and every one are loyal to her even when she tries to shield them from the real world. Another unique trait about the characters is that you can't really define who's the hero or who's the villian. At times, I found myself questioning who the "enemy" truly was including Briar herself.
By the end of the story, you will definitely want so much more! There is so much more to look forward to with Briar, her crew, as well as a few other characters. You must give this story a try and, really, buying the whole bundle is no brainer.
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