Audible Book Review: Legend: Four Horsemen Tales, Book 1 by Christopher Woods

I liked this mercenary space story.

Legend: Four Horsemen Tales, Book 1
By: Christopher Woods
Narrated by: Marc Vietor

Series: Four Horsemen Tales, Book 1
Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins
Release date: 10-30-18
Publisher: Podium Audio Length
Genre: First Contact, Military, Space Opera
Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
2018 Dragon Award Finalist for Best Military Sci-Fi Novel
In the era of the original Four Horsemen, there comes a Legend.
At a time when Humans were just starting to venture forth into the Galactic Union as mercenaries, Martin Quincy survived long enough to do something no one else had - he retired.
There was only one problem: He got bored.
After battling aliens for many years - killing aliens and getting paid - retirement didn’t suit him, and he decided to strap on the combat armor and go back to the stars. Along with his old friend Kal, Martin joined Cartwright’s Cavaliers, humanity’s best merc company. Life was exciting!
But he got bored. Again.
What does a "legend" do when even the merc life gets boring? He starts his own company! Can Martin form a merc company out of non-merc races and stand up for the downtrodden of the galaxy, or has his long string of good luck finally run out? One thing is for sure - with Torvasi and Andori troopers, and a Sirra’Kan princess as his partner, he won’t get bored again!
Includes Shattered Crucible, a bonus novella in The Four Horsemen series.
©2018 Seventh Seal Press (P)2018 Podium Publishing

Review:
Martin Quincy found he was successful as a warrior, so much so that he is known as the “Legend”. Martin doesn’t encourage this characterization, but he keeps adding to it. He had retired but got bored and found himself back in the mercenary action. After a successful mission he is asked by a Sirra’Kan to go into business with her in a new mercenary company. They begin to gather a crew and suddenly find themselves with a whole race of fierce troopers.

The story initially seems a little light on plot but as it proceeds the plot line develops along with a couple of the characters. I enjoyed the action and the unique alien races. I found this entertaining for a quick enjoyable listen. I recommend this to readers who enjoy mercenary action.

Audio Notes: Marc Vietor is a strong narrator. He provides distinct voices, clear emotion and a feeling of action. I enjoyed the audio experience.

Source: 8/15/2021 from Audible Plus. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet goals.

Audible Book Review: Prominence by A.C. Hadfield

This is an action-packed, but disjointed, space sci-fi.
Prominence
By: A.C. Hadfield
Narrated by: Marc Vietor

Series: Blackstar Command, Book 1
Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 10-09-18
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Alien Invasion, Colonization, Military Sci-Fi
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
They tried to destroy our planets. Our way of life. They tried to send us into extinction. But we, the Coalition, fought them and won. That was a decade ago. We had assumed they were beaten for good.
We were wrong.
They’re known as the Host: a cabal of aliens seeking to dominate our sector of space. And they’re back - with help from a powerful new enemy.
Against their wrath, we must stand. We’re outnumbered and unprepared. If we lose, we lose everything.
But there is hope. An ancient race of long-dead but technologically advanced aliens called the Navigators have a ship called the Blackstar that could potentially turn the tide. That is if I, Kai Locke, a humble ship racer, can find it and learn how to harness its power in time.
If I fail, the Coalition will fall, and the Host will consign us to a distant memory. I refuse to let that happen. I will fight to my last breath for the Coalition’s survival.
For fans of Star Wars, Firefly, Battlestar, and Guardians of the Galaxy.
©2017 A.C. Hadfield & Colin F. Barnes (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Kai’s father disappeared on a secret mission to find an alien ship known as the Blackstar. Although his mother keeps trying to pull him into the military, to follow in his parent’s footsteps, Kai chose to be a ship racer pilot, seeking to make his own way. Kai struggles to win the local race, with the help of his childhood friend, half-human Senaya. They are desperate to win the money to get off the planet where illness, known as the blight, is spreading.

Kai and Senaya are pursuing a salvage ship that crashed in the wilderness. When they arrive at the site they are attacked as they discover pirates have beat them to the prize. Surprisingly, the infamous pirate leader lets Kai escape with his father’s locker and a mysterious alien artifact.

Suddenly life is disrupted again with news that the great space enemy, the Host, has returned. Kai soon learns that others are tracking the alien artifact. He realizes he has to get help from the pirate brigand and when he and Senaya find him the three have to make a rushed escape.

Kai finally consents to work with the military when they give him a mission to search for his father and the Blackstar. They are only one step ahead of pursuers as they manage to get to the hidden world. Even if Kai can return with the Blackstar will that be enough to fight the Host?

The story moves along at a good pace with plenty of action from beginning to end. Some of the scenes are initially disjointed until the reader gets accustomed to the author’s jumps from Kai’s situation to scenes of his mother. Maybe the primary character’s youth, (age 17) made him seem less compelling as a character. I did like the pirate character though. There was a bit of telling rather than showing which tends to make sections a slog. There is an ending to this book but it also springs off into a new alien world. Although I found the story to be acceptably entertaining, I didn’t find myself caught up and eager to get the next book in the series.

Audio Notes: Marc Vietor does a good job with the narration, working with the weaker writing. He provides distinct voices and some energy. I am glad that I listened to this.

Source: 4/2/19 Audible Daily Deal $2.95. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.