Book Review: Xenonauts: Crimson Dagger by Lee Stephen

This is fast-based and entertaining story of a joint venture between Russians and Americans to battle aliens.
Xenonauts: Crimson Dagger
by Lee Stephen (Author), Francois Cannels (Illustrator),

• File Size: 3309 KB
• Print Length: 82 pages
• Publisher: Stone Aside Publishing, L.L.C. (June 1, 2013)
• ASIN: B00D52F1A4

Genre: Sci Fi, Fantasy
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

The year is 1958. The Soviet Union and the United States of America are entrenched in a Cold War. But for Mikhail Kirov, captain in the Soviet Fourth Army, life is relatively idle. After serving honorably in Hungary, Mikhail is stationed to the base of Zossen Wünsdorf, south of Berlin, where he lives in a government-issued house with his wife and six-year-old daughter. Gone are the days of quelling the Hungarian Revolution. The biggest challenge he faces now is teaching his little girl arithmetic. But things are about to change.
An object of unknown origin has been intercepted over the Atlantic by the Americans. Nuclear missiles are launched. The object crashes in Iceland. In a tense moment of necessity, NATO contacts the Kremlin. The Americans need help.
Crimson Dagger serves as a prequel to the video game Xenonauts, by Goldhawk Interactive, a real time strategy game set in the Cold War era. It is a story about cooperation amid extraordinary circumstances as rival superpowers are forced into camaraderie to combat a superior foe. Selected as the leader of this unlikely alliance, Mikhail must set aside he and the Americans' differences as they enter the unknown side-by-side, prompting the question: is the enemy of one's enemy truly their friend?

Review:
Mikhail Kirov, a captain in the Soviet Fourth Army, is serving at a quiet station after his heroic efforts during WWII. He is trying to teach his six year old daughter mathematics but she is only interested in learning to be a soldier to fight the Americans. Kirov is pulled away from his family for a special assignment.

Kirov and a team of Russian top soldiers are teamed with a handful of American Green Beret specialists to face a mutual enemy. A ship, apparently alien, has been shot down over Iceland and the joint troop is being flown in to board the ship and stop the aliens before they can do further damage or call for aid.

There is some suspicion between the Russians and Americans so they plan to keep a close eye on each other. However, when they run into the large, lizard-like aliens with highly superior weapons, the trained soldiers must quickly decide who the true enemy is if they want to save their lives. A mighty battle ensues with much loss of life – on both sides. One of the aliens is able to project thoughts into the mind of the humans and it is not clear what the plans are -- whether for escape or reinforcements.

This is a fast-paced and (too) short story. Kirov is a dedicated, intense soldier and I liked his character (including his faith). I also liked the focused sniper, Nina. The aliens and their weapons and modes of travel are nicely creative. I am not familiar with the Xenonauts game and I was only sorry that this story didn’t have a sequel.

This is a title I picked out for “X” for my 2015 Alphabet Soup Challenge.

Book Review: Outlaw Trigger (Epic Book 2) by Lee Stephen

This is an emotionally charged sequel propelling the series toward combustion!

Outlaw Trigger (Epic Book 2)
by Lee Stephen

• File Size: 2369 KB
• Print Length: 300 pages
• Publisher: Stone Aside Publishing, L.L.C.; 2 edition (September 25, 2007)
• ASIN: B0044UHVUY
• Genre: Military Sci Fi
• My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: September 25, 2007
They say every man has a breaking point-every man can be pushed off the edge. Scott Remington entered EDEN with the heart of a lion. He forged glory in the furnace of war. But on the heels of dawn, darkness awaits. Only when stretched to the limit will a man truly learn who he is. That limit is about to be breached. Lines will be crossed. Sides will be chosen. And faith will be put to the test. Will the righteous prevail?

Review:
Scott has told all of his friends about his fiancée, Nicole. They are all excited (him most of all) when she arrives at Novosibirsk, the Russian base, to visit. Everyone finds her as lovely as Scott proclaimed, but at least one person isn’t interested in her beauty and kindness.

The events that occur send Scott into a spiral and cause consternation for all the members of Unit 14. Scott's foundation of faith is challenged as he feels abandoned and turns his anger on God, along with everyone else around him. Initially I wasn't sure why the author spent such time and detail on the sweet romance between Scott and Nicole. However, the reason becomes clear as the book progresses. Emotions run fast with love as a high but despair and horror hot on its heels. There is love, joy, despair, danger, betrayal, conspiracy, sorrow and –maybe– a small spark of hope.

The soldiers deal with upheaval and an expansion of Nightmen troops at Novosibirsk. Meanwhile, Benjamin Archer, the newest member to the Eden Command Council, brings fresh eyes and new ideas to the ruling Judges. Archer has never fought in war but he proclaims himself to be a tactician. He quickly charms many of the Judges with his astute assessment of trouble in the form of General Thoor and the Nightmen. Archer sets out to prove his worth to the remaining skeptic on the Council by introducing a plan to challenge, and ultimately get control of, Thoor.

There are still battles with the puzzling aliens but this book has more relationship time and less action than book one. Still, I was completely caught up in the story, running the gamut of those emotions, and wrenching my heart along the way. I wasn’t happy with what was happening, but I believe I clearly saw the author’s intended message: the best of us become weak and can be manipulated by evil if we lose focus on the right way.

Mr. Stephen has done an excellent job of creating full characters and a gripping, twisting, plot. (I was also challenged to look up the precise meaning of a word that was new to me. I liked that.)  This was a good sequel to book one even though it was more difficult to read because of the intense emotions. Now I am more than anxious to get the next books and learn what happens to the men and women of Unit 14 and to see the implementation of Archer’s plans to rein in Thoor's Machine.

I received this book from iReads for an honest review during blog tour. Please see my review of Book One, Dawn of Destiny, and the GIVEAWAY linked there.

Where to buy the book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Author's Bio:

Born and raised in Cajun country, Lee Stephen spent his childhood paddling pirogues through the marshes of South Louisiana. When he wasn’t catching bullfrogs or playing with alligators in the bathtub (both true), he was escaping to the world of the imagination, creating worlds in his mind filled with strange creatures and epic journeys. This hasn’t stopped.

Now a resident of Luling, Louisiana, Lee spends time every day delving into the world of Epic, the science-fiction series that has come to define him as a writer and producer. Alongside his wife, Lindsey, their sons, Levi and Lawson, and their dog, Jake, Lee has made it a mission to create a series that is unique in its genre—one unafraid to address the human condition while staying grounded in elements of faith.
Connect with Lee:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook

Audiobook Review and Giveaway: Dawn of Destiny (Epic Book 1) by Lee Stephen

I enjoyed this engaging story with its well developed characters and solid action.

Dawn of Destiny (Epic Book 1)
by Lee Stephen

Genre: Sci-fi
Publisher: Stone Aside Publishing, L.L.C.
Published: October 2014
Available in: Mp3
Length: 9 hours, 47 mins
Available in: Print, ebook (mobi for Kindle and ePub) and audiobook (full cast with cinematic sound effects - see more description below)
Content Rating: PG-13 for violence and depictions of war. There is no profanity, sexual content, or drug use.
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: November 4, 2006
Some men go to war for the glory. Some men go to war to escape. For Scott Remington, war is entirely different. It is a belief. It is a calling. It is a destiny. Leaving everything behind-his fiancée, his future, his life-he embarks on a mission of faith into a battle he can barely understand. This is his story. This is his war. This is only the beginning.

Review:
Scott Remington is a Christian young man who has a natural talent for leadership. He did well at the Philadelphia Academy training to be a new soldier for EDEN, the Earth Defense Network. Even though the soldiers are well trained and learn about the alien creatures that are now invading earth, it isn’t the same as suddenly being thrust into the fight and facing live enemies.

Scott applies for assignment to Detroit where his young fiancé, Nicole, is in nursing school. Instead he is sent to Richmond, VA where he meets new friends. David is the eldest, a fourteen year old New York Police officer. Becan is a brash, cocky Irishman. Jayden is a quiet young Texan who is the respected sniper of the group. Scott and the other rookies are assigned to the top unit, the Falcon Platoon. Their commander is less than pleased to be given alpha level privates but they are the only troops available especially after Falcon lost all but three of its members in the last engagement at Cleveland.

The platoon is called out with others to face the purple, eye-bulging Bakma in Chicago. Scott steps into command when his unit leader falls and leads the team to complete a successful mission. The men respect Scott’s quick, calm authority.

Scott’s actions result in his becoming the youngest soldier to be awarded the rare and prestigious Golden Lion medal. Although the press makes a fuss, Scott accepts the honor humbly, sharing credit with others.

The four friends face other enemies and their versatility and successes cause them to be reassigned to Novosibirsk, Russia. The Russian base is under the command of the famed, brutal General Thoor who leads the mysterious Russian unit known as the Nightmen. These are all fierce, highly trained soldiers and rumor has it the initiation price is murder.

Scott and his friends are assigned to unit 14 where they build new friendships and face more serious dangers. There are painful losses even before the troops face a major stealth attack on their base. Scott again gains respect with his fast, decisive actions.

I really enjoyed the fierce and fast paced battle scenes. I also liked how Mr. Stephen’s develops the characters and builds their friendships. The story is not just war but it includes personal interactions that add interest. I appreciated the faith foundation of Scott’s character yet the story does not have religious preaching that might put off some readers. I was also impressed that the author deals in intense situations without resorting to unnecessary swearing. Finishing the first book left me anxious to jump right into the next one.

Audio Notes: The audiobook is a dramatization with background sounds fitting the scenes. The production is well done making the action come alive. The only drawback was the spacing and music at the end of chapters is left a bit longer than necessary. I definitely enjoyed the audio version and recommend it to those who enjoy a full, surround sound experience.

I received this in Audiobook from iRead Book Tours to provide an honest review. This qualifies for my Audiobook Challenge.

The Audiobook:
The Dawn of Destiny audiobook project is a full adaptation of the first book in the Epic series. It's not your typical “audiobook,” even though technically that's what it is. When people hear “audiobook,” there’s a certain type of thing that usually comes to mind. Most likely it’s the thought of someone reading a book to them, occasionally with music playing in the background. This isn't that.

What you’re going to hear in this project, is more of an audio “experience,” the audio equivalent of a summer blockbuster movie. Over thirty voice actors played a role in this. This is ear-splitting sound effects, bombastic music, and characters shouting back and forth in the middle of a war zone. This is unlike anything you've ever heard.

Where to buy the book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Author's Bio:
Born and raised in Cajun country, Lee Stephen spent his childhood paddling pirogues through the marshes of South Louisiana. When he wasn’t catching bullfrogs or playing with alligators in the bathtub (both true), he was escaping to the world of the imagination, creating worlds in his mind filled with strange creatures and epic journeys. This hasn’t stopped.

Now a resident of Luling, Louisiana, Lee spends time every day delving into the world of Epic, the science-fiction series that has come to define him as a writer and producer. Alongside his wife, Lindsey, their sons, Levi and Lawson, and their dog, Jake, Lee has made it a mission to create a series that is unique in its genre—one unafraid to address the human condition while staying grounded in elements of faith.

Connect with Lee:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook

Enter the Giveaway!

Prizes: ​ Win one of 3 sets of books in the Epic series, Dawn of Destiny and Outlaw Trigger; Open to USA & Canada.  Ends July 4, 2015.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

For additional information visit the blog tour page at iRead Book Tours.