Audio Book Review: Alliance by S. K. Dunstall

This is a strong, engaging installment continuing from The Linesman.

Alliance
Author: S. K. Dunstall
Narrator: Brian Hutchison

Length: 13 hrs and 17 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:02-25-16
Publisher: Recorded Books
Genre: Sci Fi, Space Military
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

As the Linesman series continues, linesman Ean Lambert finds himself facing an alien ship he doesn't understand-and a terrifying political threat he cannot fight The lines. The soul of every ship. It was once thought there were only ten, but that was before an alien vessel appeared at the edge of space-before Ean Lambert heard more lines singing. Ean's ways of communicating with lines is strange. But his abilities make him a valuable tool-or weapon-to command. Captain Selma Kari Wang has lost everything-her ship, her crew, her legs. But the New Alliance of Worlds is not done with her yet. After they rebuild her broken body, they send her to captain one of the new alien ships, teaming her up with Ean, the only one who can understand the alien lines. Kari Wang and Ean are poised on the threshold of discoveries that could change the world. But not everyone wants the New Alliance to control the secrets they uncover-and those who oppose won't hesitate to do whatever it takes to stop them.

Review:
Ean is busy building his relationship with the alien lines while training Rossi, Fergus and other linesmen how to communicate through singing rather than thought manipulation. Abram has been promoted and required to leave the Lancastrian Princess. The new bodyguard for Michelle sees Ean as a dangerous weapon and a major risk. She is intent on getting him off Michelle’s ship and it looks like Ean will be sent as the primary linesman on the alien ship known as the Eleven.

The New Alliance leadership has recruited a mixed crew from all the allies to learn to operate the Eleven. Although not everyone supports the assignment, Captain Selma Kari Wang, a traumatically wounded officer, has been chosen as the captain. Selma is the sole survivor of an attack that destroyed her former ship. Suffering from survivor’s guilt, she doesn’t want a new ship. But Eleven, and its powerful lines, are ready to accept Selma as Captain and have already begun to respond to her even though she doesn’t ‘sing’ to the lines. The ship and those working on it are endangered when Selma’s negativity impacts the lines. Ean and friends recognize new abilities in the Eleven and ask to make some dangerous tests.

While the linesmen and new crew are training, Selma faces some unusual mishaps. It appears that someone, in addition to Selma, does not want her to become the new captain of Eleven. Two ‘odd’ members of the new crew, an old salt linesman and a young, passionate woman, who could be his daughter (granddaughter?), come to the rescue of Captain Selma and adopt her as theirs to protect.

An assassin still lurks in the shadows and Ean is almost kidnapped again. Other leaders stage a coup to gain back some control and a powerful enemy is exposed. It’s all part of the intrigue and danger that Ean deals with on a regular basis.

I loved book two as much as book one and stayed glued listening whenever I could. I really like Ean and his close companions, including the new quirky crew members. This book did not have as much action and suspense as book one but it had enough that added to the character developments to keep it interesting and to keep me fully engaged.

I do recommend reading the series in order as this book would lose a lot if a reader hasn’t read The Linesman. I am really looking forward to book three, The Confluence, even as I fear I will be sorry when it ends.

Audio Notes: Once again, Brian Hutchinson does a very good job with the narration. Once or twice I think I noted a missed character voice but for the most part he kept them all straight. He also kept good pacing even through the slower scenes in this installment. I love this series on audio and have already picked up book three.

I received this audio book from the publisher through Audiobook Jukebox. It qualifies for my 2017 Audio Challenge.

Audible Book Review: Linesman by S. K. Dunstall

I really like the characters and the unique storyline in this. I’m ready to listen to more.

Linesman
Written by: S. K. Dunstall
Narrated by: Brian Hutchison

Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:06-30-15
Publisher: Recorded Books
Genre: Sci Fi, Space Military
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
First in a brand-new, thought-provoking space opera series.
The lines. No ship can traverse the void without them. Only linesmen can work with them. But only Ean Lambert hears their song. And everyone thinks he's crazy.... Most slum kids never go far, certainly not becoming a level 10 linesman like Ean. Even if he's part of a small and unethical cartel, and the other linesmen disdain his self-taught methods, he's certified and working. Then a mysterious alien ship is discovered at the edges of the galaxy. Each of the major galactic powers is desperate to be the first to uncover the ship's secrets, but all they've learned is that it has the familiar lines of energy and a defense system that, once triggered, annihilates everything in a 200 kilometer radius. The vessel threatens any linesman who dares to approach it, except Ean. His unique talents may be the key to understanding this alarming new force and forever reconfiguring the relationship between humans and the ships that serve them.
©2015 S.K. Dunstall (P)2015 Recorded Books

Review:
Ean Lambert is a linesman but his skills are different than most linesmen. Lines are paths of energy which serve specific purposes on space ships. Lower lines (1 through 5) control more basic systems not needed for space travel, and these are on planets too. The technology is not completely understood and no one yet knows the purpose of lines 7 and 8. Most linesmen have a special extra sensory perception and have been taught to manipulate the lines by pushing them into place to keep them working properly. The linesmen are certified at the highest level, 1-10, that they can manipulate.

Ean’s contract is with one of the least respected cartels but Ean was glad to sign on for the training and the chance to become a linesman. His boss did manage to get him certified as a Level 10, although it was all a bit unorthodox because Ean doesn’t manipulate the lines like the others. He hears the songs of the lines and sings to them – and they respond. Ean doesn’t get the respect the other high linesmen get, but while other 10s were out at the ‘confluence’ trying to learn the secrets of an alien ship, Ean has been busy fixing lines on many ships and gaining a reputation as a reliable, if strange, linesman.

Ean’s life is suddenly changed when his contract is bought by an angry woman from the Lancastrian Princess. Ean was raised in the slums of Lancia so he doesn’t have warm feelings towards their rulers. The crew doesn’t welcome him warmly, although the lines do. Slowly the crew, especially the ship’s owner, Michelle, her high-ranking bodyguard, Abram, and eventually the ship’s captain, Helmo, begin to appreciate Ean’s unique talents. When they realize that Ean can communicate with the mysterious alien ship, he quickly becomes their secret weapon. He discovers line 11 on the alien ship, learns the purposes of the other lines and realizes that he can use the lines collectively. Which is a big help when enemies first try to attack the alien ship and then try to kidnap Ean.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Ean and the lines. (I suppose some might relate if they have a car or other object they pat and croon too.) The story is told in third person primarily focused on Ean but rotating to other characters too. One of these is Jordan Rossi, an arrogant, rival Level 10 who thinks Ean is crazy and dangerous. Ean is assigned his own bodyguard, Radko, and I like her no nonsense attitude. There is political intrigue that Ean becomes entangled in even though he doesn’t fully understand it all.

The story is full of strong, likeable characters and has a fresh storyline full of action and intrigue. The writing flows well; mostly at a quick pace. When I had to turn it off, I was anxious to get back to listen to more. This book has an appropriate ending but there is clearly more for the next book and I look forward to continuing the adventure.

Audio Notes: Brian Hutchison does a wonderful job with the narration. He gives each character their unique personality, flair and emotions, and his narration flows so well that you aren’t conscious of the reading. There are a few slower points in the story and he manages to maintain a good flow even through those. The narration definitely enhanced my enjoyment of this story and I highly recommend this in audio format.

This book is from my Audible Library (September 2016). It qualifies for my 2017 Audio, Mount TBR and “L” in Alphabet Challenge.

Audio Review: The Sniper and the Wolf: A Sniper Elite Novel by Scott McEwen, Thomas Koloniar

This is full of entertaining, intense action and danger.
The Sniper and the Wolf: A Sniper Elite Novel
Written by: Scott McEwen, Thomas Koloniar
Narrated by: Brian Hutchison

Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins

Series: Sniper Elite, Book 3

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:05-12-15

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Genre: Military Thriller

My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
From the coauthor of the number-one New York Times best seller American Sniper comes a heart-pounding military thriller in which American hero and SEAL team sniper Gil Shannon joins up with an unlikely ally in order to stop a terrorist plot bent on destruction across Europe.
Hot on the trail of The Wolf, a rogue Russian military sniper turned Chechen terrorist, Gil Shannon turns from hunter to hunted when his mission is exposed by a traitor high up in US government. Shannon must turn to an unlikely ally - a deadly Russian special operative - to help even the odds. But when they discover that The Wolf is just the tip of a global terrorist plot whose goal is to upend the US economy and the stability of the Western world, Shannon and his team of operatives must track the terrorists down before their plan comes to fruition.
Shannon comes head to head with legions of enemy fighters all across Europe in this breathtakingly cinematic and realistic military thriller, ending with a faceoff between Gil and the one sniper who may be his equal shot. Will he survive?
This third action-packed and battle-filled adventure in the Sniper Elite series takes listeners along for a white-knuckle ride across Europe in the company of American soldiers, Russian special operatives, and global leaders - and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final scene.
©2015 Scott McEwen and Thomas Koloniar (P)2015 Simon & Schuster

Review:
Gil Shannon is a CIA operative called the Sniper. He is known for his fierce determination to see a mission through and remove any terrorist threats he can reach. He has been sent to remove one threat but comes upon a conspiracy that included false identity, agency betrayal and ties to Sasha Govolanko, a renowned former Russian sniper known as the Wolf. Gil joins up with a Russian specialist, Degrunov, as they chase the Wolf through Paris, Sicily, Turkey and ultimately Russia. Along the way Gil and Degrunov become the hunted prey of the Wolf, as well as the hunters.

Meanwhile several dishonest CIA operatives around the world are juggling and running as a strict leader, Robert Pope, intent on cleaning house, becomes the newly appointed commander of the CIA. As Pope, and other leaders at the highest levels, including the President and a General, share information about Gil’s locations and actions they learn how easy it is to speak too freely around employees who may have been compromised or turned by greed. There is a lot of behind the action, political maneuvering to balance and negotiate interests. Gil keeps creating ‘messes’ and his superiors are continuing to use the problems to their best political interest and advantage.

I enjoyed the fast paced, dangerous action and the intrigue. Scenes bounce from one side of the world to the other as Gil deals with foreign killers and an assassin tracks the rogue CIA agents. There are parts of the story that sounded like an armory inventory. There is some harsh language and, of course, much violence. The writing has a feel of Marvel comic heroism to it which provides good entertainment.  The level of realism is either scary or questionable - I am undecided. I recommend this to readers/listeners who like action, military thrillers.

Audio Notes: This was slow going as the format required that I listen to it on my computer instead of my player. I would much prefer to download this through Audible than in the format from the publisher. The quality of the production is very good and Brian Hutchison does a good job with the narration. He provided varied voices and accents and conveyed the intensity of the story. The audio enhanced my enjoyment for the story.

I received this audio from the publisher through Audiobook Jukebox. It qualifies as part of my Audio Challenge.