All posts by Nathan

Review

Torchship

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Torchship is a mix of civilian and military space opera, leaning mostly on the civilian side. The background of the universe is that Earth and some of its original colonies have been lost to the nightmare combination of out-of-control Artificial Intelligence and grey-goo nanotech. That has left Earth’s remaining colonies in two factions, divided over their varying levels of AI paranoia, and it has also left a lot of spaceships doing navigation with sextants and pencil-and-paper math. Out protagonist Michigan Long is one of those navigators, and she flies on the Fives Full under the command of Captain Schwartzenberger, though there are strong hints that she has her own agenda.

We see an interesting mix of various freight and tourism missions before they have a chance at the brass ring. A client wants to recover his family’s long-lost treasure trove of ancient Earth artifacts hidden on a comet in AI-controlled space. Meanwhile a crazed group of pilgrims want to charter a mission to Earth itself to be uplifted/absorbed into what they are convinced is still a well-meaning AI group-consciousness. It’s a dangerous mission to be sure, but the reward is potentially great.

I really enjoyed the mix of characters as well as seeing some of the old tropes of space opera shown in a new and interesting light. There’s a sequel out already, so I look forward to checking it out as well.

About the reviewer:

dan_thompsonDan Thompson started writing fiction at the age of ten. Luckily for the world, all copies of that early Star Wars rip-off have been lost to time and Sith retaliation. Moving on from that six-page handwritten epic, he has self-published two books with more on the way – honest!

He lives near Austin with his wife and three children, drives old police cars, wears kilts when the weather permits, and is generally considered to be the weirdo next door. Fortunately, the neighbors don’t know how weird he really is.

Find out more about Dan at http://www.danthompsonwrites.com

General

A Modern Witch

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This isn’t the first book I read from Debora Geary. I haven’t read everything she’s ever written under all her pen names, but the witch series has a fond place in my heart. This is contemporary fantasy at its best.

The main character – Lauren – is only the appetizer in this literary feast. The ensemble cast of fire, water, air, and earth witches elbows into the story to help their newest member come to grips with the changes happening in her life. This is a coming of age story in a certain sense, or a coming into power story – as are all the witch tales. I found myself – or at least parts of me – in the various characters and every book hit home for me.

If you like fantasy but aren’t exactly enamored of vampires and the were-beasts, maybe grab a sample. It might be the series you’re looking for.

Disclaimer: I know Deb online and count her as a friend and colleague. I’ve no vested interest in this title nor do I expect to get anything in return from this review. There’s a long story behind this that’s not mine to tell.

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Ships Of My Fathers

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Dan Thompson and I have been trading online comms for a couple of years now, ever since he floated this cover for Ships Of My Fathers. I thought it was a confusing title, but it works. I read the story as soon as it came out and I’ve been waiting for the sequel ever since. The good news: He says it’ll be any day now. The bad news: It’s not today.

I’ve a soft spot in my heart for any SF novel with a trading ship background. When Malcolm Fletcher dies, he places his son Michael in a difficult situation. He’s inherited the ship but can’t fly it, but that’s the easy part. After that it gets dicey.

As always, I liked the characters. Dan sets up a universe filled with mystery and mayhem with a healthy dose of double-cross and skulduggery to keep things moving along. If you grab a sample now, maybe he’ll have the sequel out before you’ve finished.

It could happen…

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Saving Mars

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I had the privilege of beta reading this book before Cidney Swanson published it. The thing that made it stand out for me is the characterization. I’m sucker for good characters and Cidney delivers. The main character – Jessamyn Jaarda – has all the spunk and fearlessness of youth which she has to tame and temper in order to succeed. Her brother, Ethan, adds an interesting counterpoint with his autistic spectrum savant skills. Every character has something that adds to the whole and brings the story to life.

While the characters shine, the universe pulls no punches either. The notion of a Mars isolated from Earth for generations lays a solid foundation for the conflicts that arise – starting from being able to leave Mars, visit Earth, and return without dying – or being killed.

This series pulled me in and kept me coming back for more. It’s listed as YA but don’t let that put you off. There’s a story here for all ages. I can’t recommend it highly enough, but grab a sample and see what you think. I think you’ll be glad you did.

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Courtesan

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As I wander through my earliest ebook purchases, I’m finding more and more of these books that impressed me. Courtesan was the first book I read from D. A. Boulter. There are others – Pelgraff, Ghost Fleet, and The Steadfasting – and I’m pleased to see he’s kept going going while I’ve been distracted.

Courtesan has all the potential of a really bad story about prostitutes in space but Boulter does a masterful job of not telling that story. Instead he tells a story of a scientist in a bind, a spacer with a bunk, and a bit of family drama when the spacer takes the scientist home to meet the folks. I liked the “every day” feel of Boulter’s fiction. While there’s an inevitable amount of overt conflict in the tale, his ability to make the two main characters engaging in their own ways pulled me right into a well-crafted plot.

But don’t take my word for it. Grab a sample and see for yourself.

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Griffin’s Daughter

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Year’s ago and miles away I used to be published by a small press. One of my fellow authors there wrote a delightful fantasy series called Griffin’s Daughter. Book one shared the title with the series. As I was wandering through my oldest Kindle titles, I found this and was reminded.

This story has been through a lot of changes. I listened to it on Podiobooks even before I read it. The story of a girl who’s neither fish nor fowl, who has to find her way in a world where history lives and where prophecy can take shape, has stayed with me over the years. This first volume was a smooth read, easily drawing me into the world and leaving just enough to hook me into the following books. Moore has a sharp touch with world building and the ability to bring even the most fantastical happenings into the real.

I enjoyed the saga. Perhaps you might try a sample and see if you agree.

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

The Scrapyard Incident

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I read this back in 2013. When I saw it in the list, I thought “Oh, yeah!” This book!

This is a straight-up space opera. Intergalactic empires at war. Space navies doing battle. The works. This series is total popcorn. I’ve read the first two and just noticed there’s a third book which I’ll have to grab. There’s also an omnibus edition. The basic casus belli for this book happens when the bad guys shoot up a junkyard – no spoiler there – but there was enough here to keep me turning the pages and looking forward to digging into book three – even years after reading book one.

I found some fun storytelling behind those covers. Grab a sample and see for yourself.

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Justice Calling

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Technically, I’ve never met Annie Bellet. We’ve crossed paths on the Science-fiction and Fantasy Writers of America site but I’ve know about her for a long time. She’s who I want to be if I grow up. That woman can herd words like nobody’s business. I’ve been in awe of her production for a long time.

Now I’m in awe of her writing. I picked up a boxed set of the first three books of the series and I’ve practically mainlined them in the last day. I’m in the last few pages of the third title now and I really need to put it down to get some work done. It’s that engrossing. Jade Crow – the main character with her dodecahedron focus – grabbed my be the ears and dragged me into this series. Her voice – lushly profane, peppered with pop culture references from Buffy to Leroy Jenkins, sharp and pointed as a splinter in your thumb – made me believe she’s a sorceress. Hiding in a village of shifters and mundanes, the story kicks off when the new sheriff (figuratively speaking) comes to town. I’ve just been holding on for the ride ever since.

These first three are shorter works. Longer than novellas but shorter than my usual fare. I’m not holding that against them. I don’t normally go for the short but having seven of them out there? I’m willing to go that distance for what is turning into my favorite paranormal since Harry Dresden.

Caveats: Jade uses the F-bomb – straight up, no chaser and with it’s maternal variants – regularly. For Jade, a street urchin, this is not as gratuitous as it might seem. There’s a depth here that’s being woven with big weft on tight warp. The language, the D&D references, the backstory, the whole thing feels a lot bigger than some f-bombs tossed on a whim. If that word bothers you, then maybe skip this. There’s also some romance. It’s nicely done, I think. It adds depth to the surface story by giving Jade someone to care about besides herself – and more immediately than “everybody else in the world who will die.”

So? Feeling daring? Want a book about a heroine who has to eat her enemies hearts to kill them? (Yeah. Really.) The first taste is free, but I’m betting you’ll be hooked.

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Stranded On Haven

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Way back in 2015, before the recent Troubles, I remember reading William Zellman’s Stranded On Haven. I don’t remember how I found it but my Amazon catalog lists a few of Mr. Zellman’s works.

Stranded On Haven isn’t high literature, just a cracking good tale of some poor schlub stranded in a ship full of goodies that he doesn’t really know how to deal with. They find a colonized planet and hi-jinks ensue. Yeah, this is pop-corn-lit. The story might have too many breaks that go in Jerd’s favor. He might be a little too good to be true. There may be plot holes and handwavium, but these days a feel good story might be just what the doctor ordered.

Two years later and I remember it as a fun read and good enough to keep me reading on in Zellman’s oeuvre. You might grab a sample yourself and see what you think.

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Secret Blend

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The first book of Jennifer Bramseth’s Bourbon Springs series hooked me. I knew nothing about bourbon and what I knew of Kentucky was limited to what I’d learned by teaching remotely. Now I find myself eyeing the Kentucky whiskey and bourbon displays at the local and wondering which one might be to my liking.

Yeah, this is a romance. The heat comes from more than just the bourbon and every book has a couple of scenes where the characters heat up. I never found them to be gratuitous nor salacious and I read quite a lot of this series (like eight of them, I think). I’d read more but I need to get my head away from Woodford’s Reserve.

The thing for me was the town – Bourbon Springs. Bramseth did such a great job painting in the town to create a stage for her stories to play on. That depth, woven over time with layers of culture and history, gave each of her pairings more depth as the series unfolded. I did not find the problem of “cookie cutter” stories as each new couple paired off and followed the same story line over and over. Loners and misfits, misunderstanding and miscommunication all contribute to the richness of Bourbon Springs.

I’ve included the link to the free box set of the first three books. If you ever thought about trying some romance – and even if you haven’t – this is a nifty place to start. Why not grab your copy, settle in with whatever beverage of choice you enjoy, and begin to discover the warmth of a good Kentucky Hug.

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]