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Showing posts with label Hydra. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hydra. Show all posts

Thursday, January 17, 2019

#NetGalley Book Review: Talon of Scorpio: A Novel of the Shadowstorm by G. T. Almasi

I enjoyed the prior books in this series and this is another action packed volume.
Talon of Scorpio: A Novel of the Shadowstorm
by G. T. Almasi
File Size: 1981 KB
Publisher: Hydra (May 1, 2018)
ASIN: B00Z3G1X2K
Genre: Conspiracies, Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0


Superagent Alix Nico returns in a new Shadowstorm thriller from the author of Blades of Winter, which was hailed as “a hell-bent-for-leather mash-up of spy novel and science fiction” by Jason Bourne novelist Eric Van Lustbader.
Alix Nico, code-named Scarlet, is a one-woman demolition derby. As a top American Level, she’s a cybernetically and biologically enhanced operative fighting a Cold War among the forces of freedom, a Soviet Union that never fell, a China hungry for power, and a Germany that emerged from World War II more powerful than ever.
There’s a mole within ExOps, the covert agency responsible for the security of the United States, who has been working to decapitate the organization’s leadership. And when treason strikes, Scarlet and her partner, Darwin, find themselves matched against a rogue Level known as Talon, a merciless killing machine whose augmentations place her in a league of her own. But behind Talon lurks the real enemy, a traitor whose thirst for control threatens to upset the fragile balance of mutually assured destruction that has kept the four Great Powers from breaking into open warfare—until now.


Review:
Alix Nico, aka Scarlet, is a one-woman army… although demolition derby is perhaps more accurate. She is cybernetically and biologically enhanced, including self-administered pain medicines and calmers that she may be abusing. Alix is generally successful in her missions, working closely with her ExOps partner, Darwin, (a Patrick clone). However, her missions are more often than not messy with injuries and collateral damage.

The ExOps agency is suffering under sabotage and betrayal from a high-level mole. They know who it is but have been unable to locate him and shut him down while he continues to cause damage to the safety of United States and its international relationships. This super enemy now has his own super weapon – a rogue enhanced Level known as Talon. She has enhancements that even challenge Scarlet.

Scarlet and Darwin are off on a fast tract trip chasing Talon and her boss, enemy #1. The chase takes them to Germany, one of the four Great Powers, where havoc ensues. Can Scarlet live through the attacks of super villain Talon and get to the top enemy before he releases more chaos.

When I started to read this, I was glad that I recognized the characters and alternate world from the prior books that I read several years ago. I had to recall that the reader has to get used to the multiple character names or the reader could get lost. What I hadn’t recalled was the ugly language which makes this less enjoyable for me.

Another thing that I recall - and is consistent with this third book- is how busy and quick author Almasi moves the action, settings and characters. It is a wild ride full of fights, shoot outs and bombs. I recommend this fast-paced story to readers who enjoy non-stop action with enhanced characters.

Source: 2018 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2019TBR, 2019NetGalley and 2019 Alphabet.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Book Review: Machinations by Hayley Stone

This story jumps into motion and doesn’t slow down as it speeds along with intense action and emotion.
Machinations
by Hayley Stone

File Size: 1858 KB
Print Length: 343 pages
Publisher: Hydra (July 26, 2016)
ASIN: B018CHA0ZM
Genre: Sci Fi, Dystopian
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0


Perfect for fans of Robopocalypse, this action-packed science-fiction debut introduces a chilling future and an unforgettable heroine with a powerful role to play in the battle for humanity’s survival.
The machines have risen, but not out of malice. They were simply following a command: to stop the endless wars that have plagued the world throughout history. Their solution was perfectly logical. To end the fighting, they decided to end the human race.
A potent symbol of the resistance, Rhona Long has served on the front lines of the conflict since the first Machinations began—until she is killed during a rescue mission gone wrong. Now Rhona awakens to find herself transported to a new body, complete with her DNA, her personality, even her memories. She is a clone . . . of herself.
Trapped in the shadow of the life she once knew, the reincarnated Rhona must find her place among old friends and newfound enemies—and quickly. For the machines are inching closer to exterminating humans for good. And only Rhona, whoever she is now, can save them.


Review:
The computers were given a command to stop the fighting around the world. Their solution was to eliminate the humans. Now Rhona Long has become the symbol of the resistance, even if she hadn’t planned it. As this story opens, Rhona suffers a fatal injury on the front lines and is dying in the arms of the man she loves, Camus.

Rhona awakens with her best friend, Samuel, who was the scientist she trusted with her secret orders – to clone her in the event of death! Samuel and a warrior of a man, Ulrich, have to pull Rhona out of stasis and escape the lab before the machines capture them and kill her…again. Ulrich stays behind to give Samuel and Rhona the chance to escape. They are rescued and returned to the main base where the council questions who Rhona is and whether she can be trusted.

Rhona slowly begins to remember her past but quickly remembers her feelings for Camus. Although he is willing to maintain the charade of their affection, he resents the Rhona clone and resists any true feelings towards her. After all, it has taken six months to bury his grief over Rhona’s death. This emotional upheaval has to take place in the background anyway as at least one person on base is openly hostile towards Rhona. The can protect Rhona from the known threat but the secret saboteur is a different story.

Meanwhile, a neighboring base calls on Rhona’s base for help as the Machines have discovered their location and are attacking. Camus goes on the rescue mission which quickly becomes a trap. Now only Rhona’s fast thinking and decisive action can save the man she loves, … not to mention the remaining humans.

I really enjoyed the non-stop, intense action and emotion in this story. The premise is very interesting and makes you wonder: could you, would you, love a clone of your loved one? I liked the well-developed characters, including nerdy Samuel, brusque Ulrich and sweet Hanna who lost her hearing during an attack and speaks primarily in sign language. I recommend this to readers who like end of the world as we know it scenarios with lots of action. I would like to read more by this author and in this series if it continues.

I received this from the publisher through NetGalley. The title released July 26, 2016. This qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

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