Charlie and Bawb have definitely joined forces by this time, although not necessarily by their own choice. Without revealing any details, they are nowCharlie and Bawb have definitely joined forces by this time, although not necessarily by their own choice. Without revealing any details, they are now back on Earth, but at least a thousand years in Charlie's past. As you can probably guess from the title, he is now Dragon King Charlie, and never realized just how difficult it is to be King. I mean, it's probably better than being a slave, but being king requires way more responsibility and in some ways, more challenges. This story was fun and definitely was a mix of adventure, science fiction, fantasy, and historical fiction (think Camelot). While I think I still liked the second book more, this was a lot of fun, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the next book will bring! ...more
I definitely liked this one more than the first book. Yes, it's probably in part because Bawb shows up and I really wanted to know what happened to hiI definitely liked this one more than the first book. Yes, it's probably in part because Bawb shows up and I really wanted to know what happened to him after the last book in his series. I'm still not sure I'm correct about the timeline, but I think the last book of Bawb overlaps the end of Dragon Mage #1 and much of this one. I think the end of this book is probably where the last book of Bawb ends.
Either way, I love the blend of science fiction, fantasy, and magic. It's fun seeing our Earth technology through the eyes of their world and thinking it's evil (bad magic) or something to fear because it doesn't obey the rules of their world. For Charlie, it's fun watching him try to figure out their magic using his unconventional thinking. I love Charlie's friendship with some of the other slaves, and as I mentioned, I particularly loved it when Bawb showed up and all sides had to figure out what the heck was going on. The Zomoki is one of my favorite characters, and way things go a bit nuts with magic when she and Charlie connect is just so much fun. The stuff with the feces some might consider juvenile, but I loved it.
Overall, this is a fun blend of fantasy, sci-fiction, adventure, and humor and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series!...more
I discovered this series because another series by the author, The Book Of Bawb, was one that I loved, and while the last book wrapped up sat3.5 stars
I discovered this series because another series by the author, The Book Of Bawb, was one that I loved, and while the last book wrapped up satisfyingly, it ended with Bawb running into Charlie which made me think I would be able to see more of Bawb, so I was excited to see this book on Booksirens. However, to be clear, Bawb does not show up in this book except in passing, and had I not also gotten the audiobook as a 3-book bundle, I would have been kind of disappointed and may not have continued.
I was not thrilled by Rika suddenly disappearing as I thought she would become a strong character that would be a nice contrast to Charlie's personality. Yet, knowing this author and what he did with Bawb's series, as well as Hozark's series, she would probably show up later.
In any case, this was a decent introduction to this universe, but if you weren't thrilled by this first book, I would suggest continuing as I enjoyed the next book much more! But I'm a sucker for dragons, especially dragons who are connected to a person.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Booksirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more
This was a very enjoyable collection of short stories, with two novellas and a number of shorter stories, some only a few pages long. The stories are This was a very enjoyable collection of short stories, with two novellas and a number of shorter stories, some only a few pages long. The stories are a mix of science fiction and fantasy and are sandwiched between the two novellas. The first of the novellas is Commander Annie and could be a "real" science fiction adventure or could purely be in the imagination of Annie. I like to think she's able to access the adventure and the world she visits through her imagination, but they are as real as Earth.
My favorite stories were Commander Annie, Katelyn and the Hummingbird, The Soul of the Forest, and the second novella (and last story), Nawry the Noodlebeast, which read more like mythology to me, although not any mythology I've ever heard of.
I've read books from this author before, but the other books were very much Star Trek-inspired science fiction with anthropomorphized animals (cats, dogs, birds, etc.). This was a nice mix of stories and I enjoyed seeing a different side to the author's imagination. While not every story grabbed me the way my favorites did, I enjoyed reading all of the stories in this collection. I can easily recommend this collection to lovers of science fiction and fantasy. If you want a sense of how this author writes, this would be a good place to start.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from BookSirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more
This was a satisfying conclusion to what seems like a sub-trilogy in the bigger universe. Many of the immediate plot points are somewhat resolved, incThis was a satisfying conclusion to what seems like a sub-trilogy in the bigger universe. Many of the immediate plot points are somewhat resolved, including the story of the all-powerful hive mind, original Bob's favorite sentient beings, and the slow-developing love story between Bridget and Howard. Also included are what happens to Earth and the responsibility the Bobs feel towards the ultimate well-being of humanity, whether or not some of them deserve it. I am really glad Taylor wrote the first three books as a mini-trilogy, and while I am looking forward to continuing in the series, I may wait just a bit before the next(?) subseries is complete because I hate having to wait in the middle of a series for a book to be written. Thankfully, Taylor appears to be quite prolific in his writing, although he seems to have his hands in multiple projects. Still, this seems like a good time to take a pause in this series and perhaps take a peek at some of the other things that he's written.
The audio was wonderfully done and if you're into audiobooks, I can definitely recommend it. ...more
I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected, considering this story is a complete aside to the whole saga. But you find out a little bit about how BobbiI enjoyed this a lot more than I expected, considering this story is a complete aside to the whole saga. But you find out a little bit about how Bobbie is reacting to the battles she fought in Caliban's War (not well) and due to her nephew's stupidity (let's face it--although to his defense, times are not easy in Mars, so his behavior is understandable), she basically wakes up to what she's been doing and where she needs to go from here. But she doesn't really show up until the end, so this story is mostly on him. And yet, for whatever reason, I ended up really enjoying it and listened to it in one sitting. This story is not necessary for the whole saga, but it still adds to the universe and I found it enjoyable.
Merged review:
I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected, considering this story is a complete aside to the whole saga. But you find out a little bit about how Bobbie is reacting to the battles she fought in Caliban's War (not well) and due to her nephew's stupidity (let's face it--although to his defense, times are not easy in Mars, so his behavior is understandable), she basically wakes up to what she's been doing and where she needs to go from here. But she doesn't really show up until the end, so this story is mostly on him. And yet, for whatever reason, I ended up really enjoying it and listened to it in one sitting. This story is not necessary for the whole saga, but it still adds to the universe and I found it enjoyable....more
I liked this story and I liked the ending, but I felt like it was a pretty weak ending to what has been a really fun series. First off, the w3.5 stars
I liked this story and I liked the ending, but I felt like it was a pretty weak ending to what has been a really fun series. First off, the whole time travel thing started to get confusing in the last book, but it really ramped up in this one. I got confused about which timeline we were talking about, and Second's genius became completely off the charts as we learn what he was able to accomplish as a 13-year-old with regards to time travel. In fact, by that point, I couldn't remember if he had known about time travel before that or if he'd had previous experiences or if there was one timeline where he did or did not know; I was somewhat lost about that whole thing. I also wasn't a fan of Jordan, who was really kind of a spoiled brat. Looking back, I think he was kind of like how Jonah was at the very beginning, except we've had the opportunity to watch Jonah (and Katherine) mature over 7 books. Jordan seemed to do a similar maturing, except he did it much faster and that just seemed a bit unrealistic. Despite these flaws, I do like how redemption was possible for Second, and the way the author accomplished the redemption was fitting, especially when it comes to the Skidmore family. As unrealistic as the speed of Jordan's maturity and understanding of time travel was, I did like how he came to understand how fortunate he really was. But this series has always been about Jonah (and Katherine), as well as JB, and I feel like they didn't get nearly the amount of screen time I wanted them to have. So I liked this book, but I didn't love it. I would still recommend the series though!
Merged review:
3.5 stars
I liked this story and I liked the ending, but I felt like it was a pretty weak ending to what has been a really fun series. First off, the whole time travel thing started to get confusing in the last book, but it really ramped up in this one. I got confused about which timeline we were talking about, and Second's genius became completely off the charts as we learn what he was able to accomplish as a 13-year-old with regards to time travel. In fact, by that point, I couldn't remember if he had known about time travel before that or if he'd had previous experiences or if there was one timeline where he did or did not know; I was somewhat lost about that whole thing. I also wasn't a fan of Jordan, who was really kind of a spoiled brat. Looking back, I think he was kind of like how Jonah was at the very beginning, except we've had the opportunity to watch Jonah (and Katherine) mature over 7 books. Jordan seemed to do a similar maturing, except he did it much faster and that just seemed a bit unrealistic. Despite these flaws, I do like how redemption was possible for Second, and the way the author accomplished the redemption was fitting, especially when it comes to the Skidmore family. As unrealistic as the speed of Jordan's maturity and understanding of time travel was, I did like how he came to understand how fortunate he really was. But this series has always been about Jonah (and Katherine), as well as JB, and I feel like they didn't get nearly the amount of screen time I wanted them to have. So I liked this book, but I didn't love it. I would still recommend the series though!...more
I'm enjoying this series quite a bit and liked this more than the first, in part because although you could say there is one main character, there reaI'm enjoying this series quite a bit and liked this more than the first, in part because although you could say there is one main character, there really are multiple characters as duplicates/clones/copies of Bob are developing very distinct personalities. While they acknowledge that they share much of their knowledge, they also realize they are distinct and have the freedom to go their own way. But because they are all a product of Bob (or a product of a product ... of Bob), there are some things that seem to crop up in all the different Bobs. I believe that 40 years have now passed since original Bob headed out to space, but he has gotten waylaid by a planet of sentient beings, but also has to deal with the Brazilians and a dangerous foe whose identity I won't specify. Technology has continued to develop and the different Bobs are figuring out ways to share their findings and work on things together. I love that we have the story of the Bobs that went back to Earth to see what happened after original Bob left, the story of original Bob and the sentient beings, as well as the stories of the ones that headed out further into space, one of whom encounters the powerful aliens who seem to destroy all in their path. There are discussions of the Prime Directive, the personhood of AI, philosophies of how one should go about exploring and preparing a galaxy for other Bobs or for humanity, and various other sci-fi tropes that often crop up in TV, movies, and books.
I get the feeling that these are books that either just grab you or feel slow-moving. Personally, I am really enjoying this series and am hoping it won't take the author too long to complete the series. The good news is that the first three books seem to be a trilogy of sorts and the fifth book just came out. So I will probably pause after book 3 and wait for possibly the next trilogy to be complete? No idea. I've read that the author is envisioning 10 books or so for this series.
In terms of the audio (I read along to the narration), I'm having a blast with it. Ray Porter is the perfect narrator for this series and I'm hoping he ends up doing all the books.
Highly recommended if you're looking for a fun sci-fi series. ...more
Are you a fan of Star Trek, Star Wars, and pop culture? Looking for a fun sci-fi story that's just a bit quirky? Do you love to imagine what it would Are you a fan of Star Trek, Star Wars, and pop culture? Looking for a fun sci-fi story that's just a bit quirky? Do you love to imagine what it would be like to die, have your brain preserved, and wake up in the future as the brain of a ship or android? This is the perfect story for you. I am listening to this audiobook (and reading along occasionally) and having a blast following the story of Bob and his "clones" who are not quite clones. I'm sure I've missed some references to pop culture, but this story is filled with references that make it fun. But I also happen to really like Bob (original Bob) and many of the variants. It's a really fun series if you're looking for something new. Although there are now 5 books in this series, and the author has indicated he might have 10 books in the series), the first three books give you a very nice stopping point. The audio is narrated by Ray Porter and excellently done.
I am so happy with this ending! I have not read the Bad Luck Charlie books, but this is apparently the back story to Bawb who is part of the adventureI am so happy with this ending! I have not read the Bad Luck Charlie books, but this is apparently the back story to Bawb who is part of the adventures of Charlie in those books. I love how Bawb ends up being a connection between the Space Assassin series and the Bad Luck Charlie books. I have no idea if I will like the Bad Luck Charlie books, but I am all for continuing Bawb's adventures, so I will probably check out that series next.
Many years have passed since the third book, and Bawb has been working hard as the Geist, while continuing to keep feelers out about clues to Hozark's murder. Even while making quite the name for himself, he has also continued to do things his own way, which includes his strong friendships with his former classmates, teachers, and of course Henni and Bud, as well as the pirates. I have also loved his friendship with his Konus, and while I still wonder where it came from (I guess this is a mystery we'll never know?), we at least have some clues about its purpose and why Hozark gave it to him in the first place.
I absolutely love Bawb and I think I might like this series even more than the original series with Hozark, but possibly because Bawb was introduced a world I already knew and had grown to love. I highly recommend this series, and while you can read this without reading the other series first, I would at least recommend you read the Hozark series first because it does a great job introducing us to the world.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from BookSirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more
This is one of those books that worms its way into your heart. On the one hand, it covers a lifetime, and things seem to move slowly and inevitably toThis is one of those books that worms its way into your heart. On the one hand, it covers a lifetime, and things seem to move slowly and inevitably to the end of the world as you know it. And yet--it gives you hope that no matter what we as humans do to screw things up, nature will find a way. The story follows the life of Wanda, a girl born in the middle of a hurricane in Florida, where each hurricane seems to be worse than the last one and each hurricane season seems to last longer every year. The story takes place in the near future and is a little bit of realistic fiction, science fiction, magical realism, and dystopian. It is filled with loss, pain, and guilt, but balanced with love, found family, and hope. There is much to reflect on as you read this novel and would be the perfect book for a book club. I think it would also be perfect for an AP Environmental Science class (maybe summer reading?). I highly recommend this book and can't wait to discuss this with my book club!...more
Confession--I was not a fan of Rieden Reece when I started this series. But elements of it were interesting enough that I wanted to keep on reading afConfession--I was not a fan of Rieden Reece when I started this series. But elements of it were interesting enough that I wanted to keep on reading after finishing the first book. The second book was more of the same, and part of it was that Rieden Reece is not the most instantly likable of protagonists. But I think that works for him because how many of us have gone through middle school feeling like you're the odd man out? I liked the third book much more, partly because Rieden had grown on me, but also because you can feel his frustration and confusion as well as his anger, and given what he's gone through, it's understandable. However, this is the first time when Rieden even acknowledges that he's no longer sure whether he's looking at alternative realities, other worlds, or if it's possibly all in his head and his so-called friends (except Brian--he's definitely Rieden's friend) are just humoring him. You also start to wonder if Rieden SHOULD trust some of the adults around him or if he's right to not trust them. I'm often not a fan of books that send the message that children shouldn't trust adults, but I think there's enough nuance here that as Rieden works through his different relationships, he's starting to make distinctions between the different adults. The other thing I like is that more than Rieden Reece just growing on me, he really does do some maturing throughout these four books including how he relates to his peers and to the adults around him, and that's good to see. Without heading into spoiler territory, there are times in this book when he acknowledges that maybe he's been wrong about girls as Shelley and Lisa act like superheroes in a major battle. That was a pretty fun scene and Matt Guzman's imagination of Ri's imagination as he creates the tools he needs with the glove is pretty wild. I think middle school kids would have a lot of fun with that scene.
Overall, I'm really enjoying this series and am looking forward to the next one!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Book Sirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more
I really enjoyed this novella about a calico cat (Mazel) with an ancient computer chip in her head that gives her the experiences and memories of counI really enjoyed this novella about a calico cat (Mazel) with an ancient computer chip in her head that gives her the experiences and memories of countless lives before her. She ends up on a war-torn space station that has been recently freed from the evil Reptassans. The station is located near the ninth nexus (i.e. wormhole) that has been discovered so far in their galaxy but has not yet been studied. Without revealing the rest of the story, Mazel's task as a scientist is to study the wormhole and see what might lie on the other side. But with her new chip, she has other reasons she wants to study the wormhole.
The author is obviously a lover of the Star Trek universe, but I love that she is also obviously an animal lover as the main characters are "uplifted" cats, dogs, frogs, bears, birds, and insectoids. I love the interspecies relationships (both romantic and nonromantic, as well as work-related), as well as the creativity the author uses to imagine what an uplifted insect might be like.
This was a fun adventure and one that I think that teen readers would enjoy, especially animal lovers as well as fans of light sci-fi. I would recommend this story as well as the author.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from BookSirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more
This was a fun story that was a mix of Romeo and Juliet, steampunk, Groundhog Day, and possibly other things that I didn't catch. It was fun 3.5 stars
This was a fun story that was a mix of Romeo and Juliet, steampunk, Groundhog Day, and possibly other things that I didn't catch. It was fun seeing the old R&J story from B&M's perspective, and I really LIKED who they were. I don't remember all the details of the play, so I don't know what their personalities were like in the original, but I liked how different they were from each other, and yet they fit together. I liked the way being on the lgbtq+ spectrum was not a big deal for the society. Unfortunately, for several of the characters, being from the wrong family or coming from different social statuses WAS a big deal. Overall, I enjoyed the idea of Benvolio building a time traveling device to try to fix everything so that everyone he cared about could be happy. Where the story fell short was in some of the dialogue, and also the randomness of Demons and Fae. It just seemed to come out of nowhere. I found it challenging to figure out the rules of the world. I guess the world building was the weakest part of the story. They mentioned steam-powered carriages (as well as horse powered carriages) in their time, making me think that perhaps it was possible in several decades, Benvolio could find the instructions for building a time machine.
But all this said, if you're willing to not trying to make everything make sense, including the rules of time travel, and just sit and enjoy the ride as Benvolio and Mercutio desperately try to fix everything so that they can have their own happy ending, it's a fun yarn. My favorite part was watching them both realize they were in love with the other, and that the other loved them back. I also liked that they learned something from each hop back, similar to Groundhog Day.
I would recommend this story if you enjoy retellings, imaginative stories that focus on the people, and you don't mind minimal world building.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from BookSirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Aww man, why did you have to go and do that?! Okay, so I'm really liking Bawb's character arc, and okay, I suppose the author had to do what he di4.5
Aww man, why did you have to go and do that?! Okay, so I'm really liking Bawb's character arc, and okay, I suppose the author had to do what he did, and I guess I even predicted it, but it still hurts.
With that out of the way, Bawb is now an Assassin Adept, the rank below Maven, which is below Master. Many years have passed and he has been training with intense focus, with Hozark as a special trainer, and Demelza also giving him extra sword lessons. He is starting to go out on missions, but there is a traitor who is apparently working for someone on the Council of Twenty that is taking out Ghalians, either while on mission, or as the target of an assassination.
This is a well-crafted series that delivers a wonderful protagonist, interesting supporting characters, plenty of action and emotions, with humor in all the right parts. While this is directly connected to the previous Hozark series, one could start with this series as an introduction to the universe and go back and read the Hozark books. Regardless I would recommend that one read both series, although I really think the first series hit its stride in book 3.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from BookSirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more
I'm definitely enjoying this spinoff series from the Space Assassin's series. Without revealing spoilers, Bawb is a student at one of the Ghalian traiI'm definitely enjoying this spinoff series from the Space Assassin's series. Without revealing spoilers, Bawb is a student at one of the Ghalian training facilities and along with his cohort, is attempting to become one of the Ghalian Assassins, although Bawb's ultimate ambition is to become not just a Master Ghalian, but one of the Five, the elite group of 5 masters who lead all the Ghalians. In the first book, Bawb is "adopted" from the orphanage where he was partially raised, and brought to the facility. Although he has no idea what is in store for him, he quickly accepts his fate and trains hard to first transition from a Null to a Novice, while making some allies among the other students. In some ways you can say it's Harry Potteresque, except of course Bawb will eventually learn how to kill as a profession.
At the beginning of this book, he has completed his Novice years, surpassed the Aspirant level, and is now a Vessel, so quite a few years have passed between the first and second books. Hozark, Henni, and Bud show up a bit more often, and I enjoyed seeing what they are all up to, even while they work with Bawb. Like in the first book, there is a side story regarding pirates and the Council of Twenty from the first series, and Bawb becomes involved. The only thing about these books is that I KNOW Bawb will somehow come out on top, so despite almost dying a few times, I know he's going to pull through somehow, so it's not as intense in that way. Still, I love seeing how he thinks outside the box and what he will come up with as a solution for different situations. I also love how Hozark is mentoring him and that despite Ghalians having a reputation as a cold-blooded killer, he shows pride in Bawb. The other thing that was rather amusing was how sex showed up in this story. Yes, Bawb is actually old enough now, but the way it shows up was pretty entertaining. This is turning out to be a fun series, and I can't wait for the next book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from BookSirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more
This was a surprisingly good adaptation of the original novel, but it's been years since I read the original, so I'm not sure how faithful the story iThis was a surprisingly good adaptation of the original novel, but it's been years since I read the original, so I'm not sure how faithful the story is. Bradbury's note seems to indicate he took the original story and inspiration from his other short stories and worked with Tim Hamilton to create this adaptation. After reading this, I am inspired to pick up the original and give a read because I am curious!
This book was lent to me by one of my students who had to read it in their English class and their teacher happens to be a huge fan of Bradbury and thought this would be a good introduction for them. Regardless how faithful this story is to the original, the ideas are there and the students said they had some really interesting discussions in class about it. They ended up reading several short stories by Bradbury in addition to this graphic novel and I believe their final exam had to do with the different stories.
The graphics are mostly dark, with red, yellow and orange (especially when fire is depicted), or different shades of blue, grey/black with yellow. They are very fitting to this dystopic novel. I found this to be an excellent read and it makes me want to read some of his original works. I think this graphic novel would be a great book for teachers to use in the classroom, especially as a way to introduce them to Ray Bradbury, but also as a vehicle for discussing critical thinking and as a reading for analysis, as my student's teacher did. ...more
I've enjoyed the occasional steampunk novel over the years, but I think this is probably the first one (that I can remember) that was written for a yoI've enjoyed the occasional steampunk novel over the years, but I think this is probably the first one (that I can remember) that was written for a younger audience. Ermin is a 13-year-old gifted mechanic who does not have an aptitude for magic, not necessarily because she can't physically do it, but because her learning style (possibly dyslexic?) makes it impossible for her to read, learn, and retain all the spells. She has been trying to get into the Guild for a long time but can't seem to pass that stupid entrance exam. As gifted as she is, it is illegal for her to sell her skills to make a living, so she is forced to do it on the sly or have to rely solely on what the orphanage provides--which isn't much. Her two best friends are magicians, but in the illegal sense of the word. Because while it is legal for one to do "magic", one can only do it through spells and other devices. Being a real magician with magic flowing through your veins is illegal and those who have been caught are often tortured and drained of their magic. That is the setting for this story.
I really liked this story and think it would be a good introduction to the Steampunk genre as well as to sci-fi/fantasy in general. Ermin is a likable character and while she disagrees with her friends, she still cares for them and tries to keep them safe. The ending is very much open-ended, but you're not left hanging. It's a good pause point but it makes me want to keep on reading. I can think of a few of my students who would enjoy this. I don't know how quickly Linda Browne will be able to write the next book, but I will be looking forward to it!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Booksirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more
This was a fun book with imaginative "uplifted" creatures that have characteristics that are true to the animal of origin. It's kind of an animal variThis was a fun book with imaginative "uplifted" creatures that have characteristics that are true to the animal of origin. It's kind of an animal variant fan fiction of Star Trek Voyager, with the main character being a Norwegian Forest Cat, Captain Carroway. It took me awhile to get through the book because I kept getting interrupted by real life, but it otherwise was a quick read. The "science" was very imaginative, and while much of it is completely fantastical, you can see many elements of the Star Trek universe being incorporated into this story.
This is the third series in the Tri-Galactic Trek Novel, and I believe the author plans on releasing two sequels to this particular book, and I plan on reading them. However, she has said they probably won't be released until next year.
In the meantime, I will probably check out the other two Tri-Galactic novels, one that seems to be based on The Next Generation, and the other which seems to be based on Deep Space Nine.
Overall, this author is new to me, but I'm glad the cover caught my eye. I think this book could be classified as "cozy sci-fi" if there is such a thing and could be enjoyed by nearly all ages, especially those who enjoy reading books with anthropomorphized animals.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from BookSirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more
I loved this book, so much that I read the bulk of it in two days, even with my busy schedule. This series is a sequel to the Space Assassins series, I loved this book, so much that I read the bulk of it in two days, even with my busy schedule. This series is a sequel to the Space Assassins series, which was my introduction to this author. I remember being surprised by the book, partly because I had never heard of Space Opera, but also because the first book was a novella, and novellas are hit or miss for me.
My initial impressions of that series was that it felt like watching my husband play his RPG games (so maybe this falls in the category of litRPG?), except there isn't a leveling up system, per se. I'm currently reading something that is most definitely litRPG, many aspects of a true RPG game are absent from this series and the previous one. Still, I was intrigued by the main character Hozark, and the more I read, the more I loved the series. By the third book of that 5-book series, I was completely hooked and I am planning on rereading the series at some point in the near future. I will also say that when I closed the last book, I was sad to say goodbye to Hozark and company. So I was delighted when I heard he was starting a new series with Bawb, who is mentioned in an epilogue in book 5.
I'm going to stay away from spoilers as much as possible, because I think it's worth you checking out the previous series. That said, you CAN read this book (and probably the rest of the series) without having read Space Assassins. Just know that there are things mentioned in this book that will act as spoilers for Space Assassins, so if you have any intention of reading that series, you may want to start there.
On to the good stuff. The main character is Bawb and I really like him. This story begins when he is an orphaned child and is eventually picked up and brought to the academy where Hozark grew up and developed. This is kind of Harry Potterish in that he is an orphan who didn't know he had any special abilities, he's brought to a school, Hozark is kind of like Dumbledore, and he even has an "enemy" that's like Draco Malfoy. He has a ton of potential, but he's thought of as "too soft" by the masters, but we have to remember that this is an academy for assassins, so that makes sense. Still his heart is both a weakness and a strength and it's at this academy that he has to learn how to find the right balance.
I love that Hozark and his crew all show up at various times, yet this is a book that is focused on Bawb. He is very much a likable character, and the friends he surrounds himself with are also very interesting. His classmate "enemy" has the potential to go either way, so it will be interesting to see how that storyline develops.
The story does open in the future (present) when Bawb is in the middle of a mission and then he reflects back on these years. They never return to the present, so I'm wondering if the rest of the books will just continue where this one left off or if it will revisit the "present" before continuing with the story. Either way, I can NOT wait for the rest of the books in this series!
This is an excellent start to this series and I plan to pick up the rest of the books as they come out!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from BookSirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more
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