Book Review: The Remaining: Faith: A Novella by D. J. Molles

This is another novella bringing a civilian perspective to this interesting series.
The Remaining: Faith: A Novella
by D.J. Molles

• File Size: 1130 KB
• Print Length: 74 pages
• Publisher: Orbit (May 27, 2014)
• Sold by: Hachette Book Group
• ASIN: B00HK6UA34
Genre: Sci Fi, Post Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

The world is slipping into chaos. A mysterious plague has come stateside, and Clyde Bealey suddenly finds himself with nothing but a suitcase full of worthless things and a desperate sense that he must prove himself to his pregnant wife. As he tries to lead his family to safety through a world filled with madmen, he will learn that the cost of his pride might be more than he can bear.

Review:
This novella fills in early details of the plague effects as it focuses on a civilian couple in an evacuation situation. The behavior of the public is not too surprising and brings home the huge gap between the lifestyle most of us take for granted and the hardships of surviving without basics like electricity, water and society protections. Clyde’s character is a great contrast to the military characters who are primary in the installments so far. But even a man like Clyde might find a place in the new disordered world.

This is an interesting, if disturbing, character study. Again, the novella serves to fill in background and develop a character who will appear in the next installment(s). I would not recommend this book without the full series but this serves to pull in a different, and interesting perspective before moving on to the next full book.

Again, this is pricey for a digital and for an audio book. Still, I am glad I read it as part of the whole series. The novellas strengthen the stage to jump into book 5, The Remaining: Allegiances.

Links to my reviews of the earlier books:
The Remaining, Book 1
The Remaining: Aftermath, Book 2
The Remainig: The Refugees, Book 3
The Remaining: The Fractured, Book 4
The Remaining: Trust: a Novella

I purchased this second novella as it fits in the series before Book 5.

Book Review: The Remaining: Trust: A Novella by D.J. Molles

This Novella presents background material and an important character for this series.

The Remaining: Trust: A Novella
by D.J. Molles

• File Size: 502 KB
• Print Length: 83 pages
• Publisher: Orbit (March 25, 2014)
• Sold by: Hachette Book Group
• ASIN: B00HCKSYAE
Genre: Sci Fi, Post Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

D..J. Molles' stunning Remaining saga continues in this first novella in the series set in a world ravaged by a bacterium that has turned 90% of the population into ravenous animals.
While Captain Lee Harden struggles to fulfill his part in Project Hometown his trusted friend and ally Major Abe Darabie works to hold up his end of the mission. But caught between his responsibility to the mission and the ambitions of a new president Abe must decide where his duty lies and whom he can trust in a country turned upside down.

Review:
This novella focuses on a character who, although mentioned in the previous books, has not been an active character. Major Abe Darabie was Captain Lee Harden’s superior in Project Hometown. They were friends before the plague hit but now it appears that Abe is operating under new orders from the new – or in Lee’s opinion “acting” - president.

Abe is called out to help a team that is retrieving supplies. The team has been attacked and Abe is alarmed when he learns the identity of the attackers. The new information has Abe questioning the changes being implemented by President Briggs. Can Abe trust the ambitious intentions of the new president or should he trust his old orders and duties?

This gives the reader an up close view of Abe and the dilemma that officers face when duty to a superior conflicts with duty to the people. What happens when superior orders are inconsistent with doing ‘what’s right, legally and morally’? Who defines the ‘right’ and where is the line drawn between safety and survival for some but not for all? The novella isn't as action intense as other installments but it serves an informational purpose rather than just more action.

I enjoyed this quick novella and thought it was a good way to fill in the background of the opposition that has declared Lee to be a “non-viable asset”. Abe, and his second hand man, Lucas, are developed so they can appear in the next full installment(s) of the series. The price was a bit high for the product but it was more acceptable in digital format than the price of audio for such a short work.

Links to my reviews of the earlier books:
The Remaining, Book 1
The Remaining: Aftermath, Book 2
The Remainig: The Refugees, Book 3
The Remaining: The Fractured, Book 4

I purchased this Novella which is one of two that fit before the fifth book in the series.

Book Review: Rise of Empire (Riyria Revelations) by Michael J. Sullivan

This is a wonderfully full, swashbuckling action adventure of good individuals fighting corrupt government. Think of Star Wars or The Lord of the Rings adventures. Don't be intimidated by the size of the book as it is really two books in one volume.

Rise of Empire (Riyria Revelations)

by Michael J. Sullivan

• Paperback: 816 pages
• Publisher: Orbit; 1 edition (December 14, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316187704
• ISBN-13: 978-0316187701

Also available in Kindle and other ebook formats.
Genre: Fantasy

My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: December 14, 2011
Series: Riyria Revelations (Book 2)
Royce and Hadrian have been called upon to aid the struggling kingdom of Melengar as it alone stands in defiance against the newly formed empire. As war approaches a desperate gamble behind enemy lines is their only chance at forming an alliance with the Nationalists to the south.

But Royce has plans of his own and uses this opportunity to discover if an ancient wizard is using Riyria as pawns in his own bid for power. To find the truth, Royce must unravel Hadrian's hidden past. What he discovers will lead them to the end of the known world on a journey rife with treachery and intrigue.

And so continues the second tale of treachery and adventure, sword fighting and magic, myth and legend.

When author Michael J. Sullivan self-published the first books of his Riyria Revelations, they rapidly became ebook bestsellers. Now, Orbit is pleased to present the complete series for the first time in bookstores everywhere.

BOOKS IN THE RIYRIA REVELATIONS
Theft of Swords (The Crown Conspiracy & Avempartha)
Rise of Empire (Nyphron Rising & The Emerald Storm)
Heir of Novron (Wintertide & Percepliquis)

Review:

This volume picks up a half a year after the ending of Theft of Swords.  The Imperialist empire, controlled by corrupt church leaders, is trying to train the young farmer’s daughter, Thrace, who has been made Empress Modina.  The sad girl is living like a beggar prisoner, shut away inside herself as if in a trance, refusing to eat or recognize anyone around her.  By unexpected fate a scullery maid, Amilia, is assigned as the new Imperial Secretary and she is slowly able to make progress with Modina. Modina shrewdly uses those around her to hide the fact that she has become aware of her circumstances and isn’t happy being an Imperial pawn.  She has the power to bring down all of the evil Regent Saulder’s plans if she isn't discovered.

Royce and Hadrian, the thieves and heroes from volume one, have become official employees of the king of Melengar, one of the last kingdoms to stand against the Imperial Empire.  The King’s sister, Arista, joins forces with Royce and Hadrian to find the true heir in the effort to defeat the Imperial foes. There are betrayals of supposed friends and eventually the team is divided. Royce and Hadrian infiltrate a ship to discover secrets of their enemy, Merrick Marius, another spy/thief who has sold his services to the Empire. The daring duo pose as sailors gaining friends and enemies. A handful of sailors escape an attack from aliens who are more frightening than pirates.  They manage to get to land and there they face more perils including fighting their way out in an arena battle against larger, faster, carnivorous monsters.

Along their adventures they discover a plot to bring down the kingdom in the south with whom they were hoping to form an alliance. They are unable to convince the leaders of the threat so they try to sneak in to prevent part of the attack. Instead they walk into a trap and once again discover betrayal, treachery, unexpected foes and unexpected friends.

Meanwhile, Arista has shown herself as a much stronger person than merely a pampered princess. She infiltrates the Imperial strong hold as a maid. She is able to meet up with Modina who helps her on her quest. Arista’s magical powers are growing but they may easily get her arrested and executed as a witch.

I loved the non-stop adventure and intrigue. I like the friendships developed among the characters as they travel and plan together. Mr. Sullivan has woven a thoroughly engaging adventure. I sense the despair, fear, and small joys of the characters and I am cheering on the heroes!  This book does recap what happened in Volume One but I think you will miss a lot if you don’t read the first books. I am totally engrossed in the story and am anxious to read the next volume of two books.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Royce tries to understand Hadrian's discontented struggles wanting to be more than a mercenary.

Royce defined right and wrong by the moment. Right was what was best for him--wrong was everything else. He stole, lied, and even killed when necessary. This was his craft and he was good at it. Location 351

The Imperialists try to justify their lies in hiding and imprisoning the true heir as "the protectorate of the faith..."

"We don't want to wallow in superstition like ignorant peasants. ... The truth is a powerful thing....The truth must be kept safe, reserved only for those capable of handling it." Location 4249-4252.

Thank you to Orbit division of Hachette for allowing me to review this through NetGalley.

I will be adding this to my ARC Challenge list.

Book Review: Theft of Swords (Riyria Revelations) by Michael J. Sullivan

This is action packed adventure and very enjoyable entertainment!  Love adventure? Treat yourself to this book, which is actually two books in one.

Theft of Swords (Riyria Revelations) 

by Michael J. Sullivan

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 1082 KB
• Publisher: Orbit; Original edition (November 23, 2011)
• Sold by: Hachette Book Group
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004XWBUKK

     Genre:Fantasy Adventure
     My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Product Description
THEY KILLED THE KING. THEY PINNED IT ON TWO MEN. THEY CHOSE POORLY.
Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater, make a profitable living carrying out dangerous assignments for conspiring nobles--until they are hired to pilfer a famed sword. What appears to be just a simple job finds them framed for the murder of the king and trapped in a conspiracy that uncovers a plot far greater than the mere overthrow of a tiny kingdom.

Can a self-serving thief and an idealistic swordsman survive long enough to unravel the first part of an ancient mystery that has toppled kings and destroyed empires in order to keep a secret too terrible for the world to know?

And so begins the first tale of treachery and adventure, sword fighting and magic, myth and legend.

When author Michael J. Sullivan self-published the first books of his Riyria Revelations, they rapidly became ebook bestsellers. Now, Orbit is pleased to present the complete series for the first time in bookstores everywhere.

Review:
Thieves are not always likeable...but sometimes they are. This is one of those stories. Royce and Hadrian are somewhat like Robin Hood as they tend to steal from the rich and help the poor. They are clearly thieves for hire and have been known in the past to be assassins. Royce was once a member of a well known thieves’ guild. However his successes made someone jealous and fearful so they set him up and got him banished. When he and Hadrian started working together, independent of any guild, they became known as the Riyria - successful and daring thieves who managed always to escape.

They have just returned from a successful job, particularly in light of a double play. They would not normally take another assignment immediately but their greed lets them get talked into the job of stealing a famous sword. Unfortunately for them when they enter the chapel to get the sword they find the King murdered and suddenly they are accused, captured, gagged and sentenced to execution by the Prince without even the chance to speak out.

A surprising source helps them escape provided they kidnap the Prince, for his own protection, and sent off on another adventure. They are hunted criminals with an unhappy companion who takes some understandable convincing of their good, or at least not malevolent, intent.

This story is packed with action and made me think of other great adventures like Robin Hood, Lord of the Rings and others.  There are elves, who are hated and abused. Myths that add to the story. There is a masterful, all but forgotten wizard with riddles and secrets. There are multiple suspects in the King’s daughter, who has studied sorcery and in the King’s brother, who might be protecting the Prince or plotting against him. No sooner do Royce and Hadrian rescue the Prince, a second time, than the Prince must send them out for another, seemingly impossible, rescue. All of the danger is part of a bigger political intrigue and villainy as nobleman and church leaders battle for power.

Theft of Swords contains The Crown Conspiracy and Avempartha, the first two novels in the series.  I was very glad that this story consisted of two books as I wasn’t ready for the adventure to end with the first part. In the second book Royce and Hadrian are sought out by a young farm girl who seeks their services to save her father and village from the biggest, “baddest” (okay that’s not a real word but it fits) beast. She doesn’t have enough coin to pay their fee but their kind hearts are pulled into her plight.

I truly enjoyed these characters and liked that we learned some, but not all their history and secrets, as they struggle through their obstacles. The writing has a good flow that fit with the action. The descriptions bring the scenes alive. The second book ends with a big question that makes me want to get the next book sooner, although I already wanted to get it.  If you enjoy action packed fantasy stories I highly recommend this!

Descriptions to enjoy:
Myron, a monk who had never been outside of the abbey thinks this as he travels with Royce, Hadrian and the Prince:

He had seen snow, of course,... He never had seen how it settled on a forest or glittered on the edges of rivers and streams. Location 3166

The incredibly lustrous blade of Pickering's rapier caught the faint light in the corridor and glowed as it streaked through the air. It flashed and sparked when steel met steel. Location 3439.

Received for review from Orbit through NetGalley.

NOTE to my followers:
New feature: At the end of each month I will be hosting a monthly giveaway of a favorite book that I read that month - most likely books that are not already part of a giveaway. The Theft of Swords is likely to be my pick for February, although the month and reading isn't over yet. I may (possible but not guaranteed) be influenced by comments. So you might want to comment on reviews for books you are particularly interested in as it may effect my choice plus review comments will earn extra credit. :-)