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Star Trek: Voyager
Children of the Storm
"YOU WERE TOLD NOT TO RETURN TO OUR SPACE."
Little is known about the Children of the Storm — one of the most unique and potentially dangerous species the Federation has ever encountered. Non-corporeal and traveling through space in vessels apparently propelled by thought alone, the Children of the Storm at one time managed to destroy thousands of Borg ships without firing a single conventional weapon.
Now in its current mission to the Delta Quadrant, Captain Chakotay and Fleet Commander Afsarah Eden must unravel why three Federation starships — the U.S.S. Quirinal, Planck, and Demeter — have suddenly been targeted without provocation and with extreme prejudice by the powerful Children of the Storm... with thousands of Starfleet lives at stake from an enemy that the Federation can only begin to comprehend...
Little is known about the Children of the Storm — one of the most unique and potentially dangerous species the Federation has ever encountered. Non-corporeal and traveling through space in vessels apparently propelled by thought alone, the Children of the Storm at one time managed to destroy thousands of Borg ships without firing a single conventional weapon.
Now in its current mission to the Delta Quadrant, Captain Chakotay and Fleet Commander Afsarah Eden must unravel why three Federation starships — the U.S.S. Quirinal, Planck, and Demeter — have suddenly been targeted without provocation and with extreme prejudice by the powerful Children of the Storm... with thousands of Starfleet lives at stake from an enemy that the Federation can only begin to comprehend...
415 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2011
90 people are currently reading
848 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
July 25, 2017
As I continue to enjoy these utterly amazing relaunch novels by Kirsten Beyer I feel privileged to do so. To me, Star Trek: Voyager means a lot, and to get a continuation of the story is so appreciated.
The main story in this particular book is an interesting one where we get to experience the species calling themselves Children of the Storm. This species is like nothing I've even heard about previous to reading this book which in itself makes for an interesting read in getting to know a new species and what they are all about. Added to this we also get a bunch of new characters to get acquainted with as the whole fleet that Voyager is included in gets a larger part. At first, I have to admit, this did create a minor confusion as to who was who and what to make of them. But, for me, this quickly settled as I think Beyer has this way in her writing that makes the characters stay with me. She creates a feeling within me for them and it's, in a way, almost like I'm right there with them. Farkas, Phinn and O'Donnell, to mention a few, are really good characters. They add something to the Star Trek universe as it's continuing to expand. Voyager's not as it was back when they were alone in the Delta Quadrant, and neither should it be.
Although there is someone that I miss in this great adventure of exploration, the prospect of war, grief, strained relationships, hope and a mysterious past. And I'm not the only one who misses her...
Every time Kathryn Janeway's name is mentioned I love it. I take it to my heart. Even if it's just a few times. I miss her. This role model who never gave up and did everything humanly possible to get her crew back home. I'm glad she's not just dead and forgotten, but that her life made an impact on these people, as some of them are now continuing to make on me even in this book. The people who doesn't back down when they're told to do what they know in their hearts is wrong, the guy who saves his captain's life, the people who put themselves at risk for the good of the crew, the couple who makes it all go around with both family and careers... Star Trek has so much good in it. So much to learn from, look up to and enjoy.
As always, I'm looking forward to continue on this epic journey in the next book, but I feel that I have to mention that the cover makes my heart dance. And also I look forward to learn more about Eden's past that we continue to get glimpses of every now and then.
The main story in this particular book is an interesting one where we get to experience the species calling themselves Children of the Storm. This species is like nothing I've even heard about previous to reading this book which in itself makes for an interesting read in getting to know a new species and what they are all about. Added to this we also get a bunch of new characters to get acquainted with as the whole fleet that Voyager is included in gets a larger part. At first, I have to admit, this did create a minor confusion as to who was who and what to make of them. But, for me, this quickly settled as I think Beyer has this way in her writing that makes the characters stay with me. She creates a feeling within me for them and it's, in a way, almost like I'm right there with them. Farkas, Phinn and O'Donnell, to mention a few, are really good characters. They add something to the Star Trek universe as it's continuing to expand. Voyager's not as it was back when they were alone in the Delta Quadrant, and neither should it be.
Although there is someone that I miss in this great adventure of exploration, the prospect of war, grief, strained relationships, hope and a mysterious past. And I'm not the only one who misses her...
A sharp spasm caught in his side as he considered how much shorter his first trip to the Delta Quadrant would have been if they'd had a slipstream drive. Still, even with all of its difficulties, Chakotay knew now that he wouldn't have traded a minute of that journey. The memories he kept in his heart of the long days and nights forming some of the most meaningful relationships of his life with his crew and, of course, Kathryn, were tended as the treasures they truly were. On this night, he would have wished more than anything to see his former captain just a few steps ahead of him...
Every time Kathryn Janeway's name is mentioned I love it. I take it to my heart. Even if it's just a few times. I miss her. This role model who never gave up and did everything humanly possible to get her crew back home. I'm glad she's not just dead and forgotten, but that her life made an impact on these people, as some of them are now continuing to make on me even in this book. The people who doesn't back down when they're told to do what they know in their hearts is wrong, the guy who saves his captain's life, the people who put themselves at risk for the good of the crew, the couple who makes it all go around with both family and careers... Star Trek has so much good in it. So much to learn from, look up to and enjoy.
As always, I'm looking forward to continue on this epic journey in the next book, but I feel that I have to mention that the cover makes my heart dance. And also I look forward to learn more about Eden's past that we continue to get glimpses of every now and then.
Had she not accepted this command, Starfleet might have recalled the entire fleet and Eden might have lost the chance forever to discover the truth about her own elusive past. Was that chance really all that had brought her to this moment, and more important, was it worth it?
December 17, 2011
As much as I loved Voyager.
As much as I love to read.
Without Captain Janeway, the entire 'feel' of the book is just off. The story was all right. The events and plot within the book itself were all right.
But without Kathryn Janeway present, it simply did not feel right. A vital part of what made Voyager so attractive to me, a strong female Captain who was not perfect but who was willing to accept the repercussions of her choices and who stood up strong and tall to defend her ship and her crew..
THAT was the heart of the show.
The books now without her..
Whats the point?
As much as I love to read.
Without Captain Janeway, the entire 'feel' of the book is just off. The story was all right. The events and plot within the book itself were all right.
But without Kathryn Janeway present, it simply did not feel right. A vital part of what made Voyager so attractive to me, a strong female Captain who was not perfect but who was willing to accept the repercussions of her choices and who stood up strong and tall to defend her ship and her crew..
THAT was the heart of the show.
The books now without her..
Whats the point?
October 4, 2011
While an intriguing story, it's probably the weakest of Kirsten Beyer's additions to the Star Trek world. There's simply too many new characters being thrown at you from every direction. Who's on what ship and plotting with whom gets downright confusing. It seems like it's not really a Voyager story, so much as a generic Star Trek story that includes the Voyager crew. Not bad on its own, but if you're looking for adventures of your favorite characters, it's lacking here.
July 12, 2012
Sequel to Beyer's Unworthy, which I found delightfully clever structurally - which left me unprepared for the impact of this book. It's a shame this was a tie-in novel, as it'll go under-appreciated. Both an excellent piece of real science fiction with *alien* aliens, a rarity these days, and a work of... the only term is grace.
This is a series of nested musings on understanding the Other, both those labeled "alien," and nearest colleagues alike, in a spirit of acceptance and integrity that is simply humbling, along with being deeply, passionately moving. A related theme of struggling with the balance between security and curiosity is particularly timely.
Again Beyer undertakes something different structurally, that works after what I found to be a confusing start: she tells two parallel stories set two weeks apart but intertwining, one of a disaster in progress and one of the planning of a rescue. The structure allows her to subtly interweave her themes of security and acceptance while uniting them in the simultaneous resolutions.
I can't wait for more of the new characters: the fleet commander recovering from an immense personal betrayal while seeking an understanding of her origins, the science vessel captain whose seeming diffidence masks deep compassion and a deft intellect, a pair of underachieving young officers who rose to a crisis but now have to manage daily responsibility, the aggressively Aspie counselor (!). They're much more fun than the legacy Voyager cast, which just underscores how much better this would have been as original fiction.
This is a series of nested musings on understanding the Other, both those labeled "alien," and nearest colleagues alike, in a spirit of acceptance and integrity that is simply humbling, along with being deeply, passionately moving. A related theme of struggling with the balance between security and curiosity is particularly timely.
Again Beyer undertakes something different structurally, that works after what I found to be a confusing start: she tells two parallel stories set two weeks apart but intertwining, one of a disaster in progress and one of the planning of a rescue. The structure allows her to subtly interweave her themes of security and acceptance while uniting them in the simultaneous resolutions.
I can't wait for more of the new characters: the fleet commander recovering from an immense personal betrayal while seeking an understanding of her origins, the science vessel captain whose seeming diffidence masks deep compassion and a deft intellect, a pair of underachieving young officers who rose to a crisis but now have to manage daily responsibility, the aggressively Aspie counselor (!). They're much more fun than the legacy Voyager cast, which just underscores how much better this would have been as original fiction.
May 14, 2012
This is my first Voyager book (all my other books are Enterprise / TOS books), and I really liked it. Voyager was the first trek series that I had seen 9back in my school days), and this book has brought back memories... but I might need to watch the series again(and read a few more books)to understand some of the nitty gritty details. Anyways, the dramatization and the fast story line keep you hooked and is definitely something that fans of the Voyager series would love. Would be picking up more Voyager books soon.
Towards the closing stages, this book kept reminding me of Buddha's immortal words: "As you think...so you are". Thoughts, feelings and emotions can indeed be really powerful. Voyager and fleet went all the way to the delta quadrant and saw the personification of these simple truths.
Towards the closing stages, this book kept reminding me of Buddha's immortal words: "As you think...so you are". Thoughts, feelings and emotions can indeed be really powerful. Voyager and fleet went all the way to the delta quadrant and saw the personification of these simple truths.
November 3, 2016
The story is very thoughtful and engaging, and the characters are well fleshed-out and "real." The plot is fast-paced and easy to follow, and the story is true to the Star Trek ethos in a way many other stories aren't able to accomplish.
Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2011/07/c...
Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2011/07/c...
May 6, 2012
I found the amount of characters and ships to keep track of very confusing. Also, reading the story as it goes backwards in time was kind of annoying. See read B, sort of get the context, then go back to A to fill in what started the chain of events.
October 7, 2021
6 stars
September 23, 2012
Star Trek: Children of the Storm by Kirsten Beyer is the latest in the series of Star Trek Voyager books that traces the adventures of the crew of the Voyager after they return to Earth.
Star Trek novels are a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine - I really enjoyed the various TV series when they were on (although watching repeats on Foxtel sometimes reminds me to never revisit the things I remember loving!). Still, I've been particularly enjoying the continuation of the Voyager, Deep Space Nine (my favourite of the TV series) and Enterprise stories in book form.
Star Trek: Children of the Storm continues the story of a group of Starfleet vessels, lead by Voyager, that returns to the Delta quadrant using slipstream drive technology. I think this has been a very clever premise for this particular storyline. In some ways, the Star Trek universe has gotten too big and the Federation too powerful to have really interesting stories. The scale of the threat required to trouble the Federation as a whole are so grandiose that the scale of story telling required to match it had become almost impossible to do well.
The move to a nine ship fleet in hostile space means that the stories can be toned down as well, and that is frankly a relief. I enjoyed that aspect of this story.
The story itself was fairly standard Star Trek fare, with an inscrutable alien race, cultural misunderstandings, the threat of war and inter-species understanding triumphing in the end. The story was competently executed, although there was a significant amount of "set up" work this story had to achieve to help establish the fleet and the main characters. It did this well - in some places it was a little clunky, but only in a minor way.
One element grated a little - the constant reference to the miracle of young life in the form of a precocious child was overblown. It reminded me of the way new parents can go on at length about their wonderful child, when everyone else in the room is rolling their eyes (I was/am not immune to this syndrome myself, but in my case it's different - my children really are that fantastic). I was not surprised to read in the author's afterword that Beyer was a new parent. Hopefully that element of her authorial voice will get toned down a little in future books.
Apart from that a well executed novel establishing an interesting story arc for the Star Trek universe. Looking forward to reading more.
I also reviewed this book on my website.
Star Trek novels are a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine - I really enjoyed the various TV series when they were on (although watching repeats on Foxtel sometimes reminds me to never revisit the things I remember loving!). Still, I've been particularly enjoying the continuation of the Voyager, Deep Space Nine (my favourite of the TV series) and Enterprise stories in book form.
Star Trek: Children of the Storm continues the story of a group of Starfleet vessels, lead by Voyager, that returns to the Delta quadrant using slipstream drive technology. I think this has been a very clever premise for this particular storyline. In some ways, the Star Trek universe has gotten too big and the Federation too powerful to have really interesting stories. The scale of the threat required to trouble the Federation as a whole are so grandiose that the scale of story telling required to match it had become almost impossible to do well.
The move to a nine ship fleet in hostile space means that the stories can be toned down as well, and that is frankly a relief. I enjoyed that aspect of this story.
The story itself was fairly standard Star Trek fare, with an inscrutable alien race, cultural misunderstandings, the threat of war and inter-species understanding triumphing in the end. The story was competently executed, although there was a significant amount of "set up" work this story had to achieve to help establish the fleet and the main characters. It did this well - in some places it was a little clunky, but only in a minor way.
One element grated a little - the constant reference to the miracle of young life in the form of a precocious child was overblown. It reminded me of the way new parents can go on at length about their wonderful child, when everyone else in the room is rolling their eyes (I was/am not immune to this syndrome myself, but in my case it's different - my children really are that fantastic). I was not surprised to read in the author's afterword that Beyer was a new parent. Hopefully that element of her authorial voice will get toned down a little in future books.
Apart from that a well executed novel establishing an interesting story arc for the Star Trek universe. Looking forward to reading more.
I also reviewed this book on my website.
May 28, 2025
I eagerly waited the next installment of the nine ship fleet Voyager led into the Delta Quadrant, and I was not disappointed. I loved the brief look we got at the Children Of The Storm in the Destiny trilogy, and I enjoyed learning more about them.
I also enjoyed seeing the revamped fleet roster coming together, ship by ship. Captain Afsarah Eden is now fleet commander, and after returning Captain Chakotay to command of Voyager, she gave Lieutenant Commander B'Elanna Torres the role of Fleet Chief Engineer.
More interesting though, was our introduction to the crews of the Quirinal, the Demeter and the Planck, the three ships assigned to explore the area of space where the Children were first seen. When things went south and the Children responded badly to more Federation ships coming after they told the last one to get out and stay out of their territory, it fell to veteran captain Regina Farkas of the Quirinal (and her offbeat lieutenant junior grade engineer Phinnegan Bryce) and the eccentric Commander Liam O'Donnell, captain of the Demeter, to find a way to talk to the Children and come to an accord before the Children destroyed them all. I liked the solution they found- elegant, believable and in true Starfleet tradition, they discovered more than they bargained for.
Great read- I'm looking forward to the next installment of Voyager in the post-Janeway era
I also enjoyed seeing the revamped fleet roster coming together, ship by ship. Captain Afsarah Eden is now fleet commander, and after returning Captain Chakotay to command of Voyager, she gave Lieutenant Commander B'Elanna Torres the role of Fleet Chief Engineer.
More interesting though, was our introduction to the crews of the Quirinal, the Demeter and the Planck, the three ships assigned to explore the area of space where the Children were first seen. When things went south and the Children responded badly to more Federation ships coming after they told the last one to get out and stay out of their territory, it fell to veteran captain Regina Farkas of the Quirinal (and her offbeat lieutenant junior grade engineer Phinnegan Bryce) and the eccentric Commander Liam O'Donnell, captain of the Demeter, to find a way to talk to the Children and come to an accord before the Children destroyed them all. I liked the solution they found- elegant, believable and in true Starfleet tradition, they discovered more than they bargained for.
Great read- I'm looking forward to the next installment of Voyager in the post-Janeway era
June 15, 2011
The best Star Trek book I have read in a while, or, rather, the Star Trek book I have enjoyed the most in a while. I think people disappointed with the last two entries in the Typhon pact series (and especially the tone and the outcome of the TNG's story) will love this, because it's Starfleet doing what we expect Starfleet to do best: (mostly) keeping their heads and their wits when things go horribly wrong and managing to find a positive outcome without resorting to violence, but through knowledge, empathy and understanding.
Many nice developments for the original Voyager's crew, but the new characters really shine, especially Captain O'Donnell. Who, with the exception of The Amazing Captain Dax(TM), might just become my favorite captain from the books.
Kirsten Beyer has already written a few other excellent Voyager's books, including the two (Full Circle and Unworthy) that preceded this one and basically re-relaunched the series after the ill-advised decision to off Janeway (nope, I'll never get over it). I think Voyager is in great hands with her, just as much as the Delta Quadrant task force is in Captain Eden's.
Many nice developments for the original Voyager's crew, but the new characters really shine, especially Captain O'Donnell. Who, with the exception of The Amazing Captain Dax(TM), might just become my favorite captain from the books.
Kirsten Beyer has already written a few other excellent Voyager's books, including the two (Full Circle and Unworthy) that preceded this one and basically re-relaunched the series after the ill-advised decision to off Janeway (nope, I'll never get over it). I think Voyager is in great hands with her, just as much as the Delta Quadrant task force is in Captain Eden's.
April 3, 2024
I was pretty disappointed in this book. The logic leap the Voyager crew makes to solve the main problem is based on an interpretation of a phrase that could mean anything, but they lock onto one of the weirder ones and run all out, and of course they're right.
The "white man's burden" theme is also a lot disturbing. This is the second book in a row where am alien species says "go away and don't come back", and they're 0/2 on respecting the wishes of other cultures because of COURSE they know better. Their arrogance and the way they don't even NOTICE their arrogant disregard is on the author, and frankly I find it upsetting to see books basically glorifying colonialism. They literally invade alien space and refuse to leave, are attacked by creatures attempting to defend themselves, and plan on committing genocide because "they attacked first and we have the right to defend ourselves!" I'm sorry, but that's like a burglar trying to claim self defence after killing a homeowner because the guy he was robbing was armed. There was one decent guy in the spotlight, so obviously his crew turned on him so they could go all genocide-y for dramatic effect.
The "white man's burden" theme is also a lot disturbing. This is the second book in a row where am alien species says "go away and don't come back", and they're 0/2 on respecting the wishes of other cultures because of COURSE they know better. Their arrogance and the way they don't even NOTICE their arrogant disregard is on the author, and frankly I find it upsetting to see books basically glorifying colonialism. They literally invade alien space and refuse to leave, are attacked by creatures attempting to defend themselves, and plan on committing genocide because "they attacked first and we have the right to defend ourselves!" I'm sorry, but that's like a burglar trying to claim self defence after killing a homeowner because the guy he was robbing was armed. There was one decent guy in the spotlight, so obviously his crew turned on him so they could go all genocide-y for dramatic effect.
September 26, 2021
Kirsten Beyer's third novel in the Voyager relaunch series is the weakest so far, but overall a solid and worthwhile read. The story has a great sci-fi premise and Beyer knows the characters from Voyager well. My main complaint is that Beyer adds a lot of new characters. In fact, most of the story doesn't even take place on Voyager but on other ships in the fleet. These new characters are admittedly pretty interesting and distinct from the characters we've already come to know. But in the end, most of us are reading these books to find out what happens next for Chakotay, Paris, Kim, Torres, Seven, Neelix and the Doctor and in that regard this book falls short. Even though there are some great "Voyager moments" to be found in this book, I'd like there to be a lot more.
Suffice to say, I liked this enough to order the next title in the series almost immediately after finishing this one.
Suffice to say, I liked this enough to order the next title in the series almost immediately after finishing this one.
January 12, 2020
Yikes. A serious drop in quality from Full Circle to Children of the Storm. I had two main problems with this book: confusing and boring. Confusing because the timeline skipped around a LOT, and there were so many POV characters that I never had any idea whose head I was in, even though the book was written entirely in third person. Boring because, and I hate to say this, nothing really interesting happened until the very end. I spent a week trying to get myself to read this book, but I was just so disinterested. The last few ending chapters, however, I liked more than the rest of the book. I enjoyed the scene on Persephone, and the kiss between Seven and Cambridge. My favorite quote from this one was from my favorite character, and it’s a good description of her personality: “ ‘You want me to have him killed?’ he asked with mock seriousness. ‘Yes,’ B’Elanna replied with real seriousness.”
August 24, 2018
"Children of the Storm" isn't a bad book, it has an intriguing plot about strange unknown alien, high stakes decisions, personal drama and starship action. But somehow I didn't like it very much. Maybe it's because most of it was about new characters from new ships from Voyager fleet, and main VOY characters didn't do a lot, and felt like surplus additions to the whole story. Maybe yet another high concept story following the previous book's ("Unworthy") Indign was to much of the same thing for me. Or maybe I just should take a break from Voyager relaunch and read something else, and that's what I'm going to do!
September 28, 2011
This story was somewhat disappointing. I guess I just can't get past the idea of VOYAGER without Kathryn Janeway. Glad I didn't pay anything for this book. A friend was going to toss it and I picked it up to read first. It's going to goodwill tomorrow though doubt anyone will pay for it
In fact, I'd bet money a good number of the glowing reviews here are paid for by the author and publisher trying to make it seem better than it was.
In fact, I'd bet money a good number of the glowing reviews here are paid for by the author and publisher trying to make it seem better than it was.
November 15, 2016
A typical Star Trek story. I enjoyed the book. Looking forward to the next one
June 26, 2024
Children of the Storm by Kirsten Beyer
Adventurous, challenging, dark, emotional, hopeful, informative, inspiring, mysterious, reflective, sad, and tense.
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25 Stars
Coming off the high of Unworthy, and entering into this story...I was a little put off (at first). It did NOT stop me from reading. It actually made me dig my heals in...and allow the author to reveal the story she wanted to tell, not the one I wanted to read (saying this in FULL knowledge, that she knows better than I do).
Obviously, I love Captain Chakotay. His growth in this series, written by Kirsten Beyer...is near flawless. The struggles that have been placed before him, have been huge, but the way that he was able to "move forward", with the help of Lt. Hugh Cambridge, the counselor...has been amazing.
That's another thing that I'd like to say at this point in my review...the way this fleet of Starfleet ships are actually USING the counselors and NOT sweeping these devestating losses under the preverbial carpet, but are "doing the work" and using the help provided by the counselors, to move past the losses and still finding joy in their life. I know this sounds like a BetterHelp commercial, but from someone who's suffered a lot in his life (physical ailments), is most definitely needed. I really like how it is represented here in these books.
That being said, Counselor Cambridge is a hoot. I love how the author has written him, and I'm glad he "ruffles the feathers" of his patients the way he so naturally does.
Seven of Nine's story was not the focus in this story, as much as it has in the past two books, but enough was experienced in this story, that I know there is more to come in the following books
I absolutely love how Lt. Commander Tom Paris and Lt. Commander B'Elanna Torres, along with Miral and now The Doctor...this part of the story has been executed. I smile at the interactions of Miral with her parents, and how they are raising her. I remember fondly our children at/around that age, and I wouldn't exchange that time for anything.
Captain Afsara Eden is such a great leader...and the "Fates" have put her in the exact place that she needs to be in, for herself (and her quest), and as the leader of this fleet, while it's in the Delta Quadrant.
I love how the separation of the story allowed us to inhabit the other ships, and deal with their crews. The losses were not as severe for us, for we didn't know the ships and their crews that well, but now...if any of thes same ships come under fire (or are lost), it will be felt more deeply.
The time that we spent with the USS Demeter crew was powerful. I am happy that we got to know Commander Liam O'Donnell and Lt. Commander Atlee Fife and the rest of the bridge crew. The situations that they were put through were frustrating and intense, and it made for great reading...deep into the night/early morning.
Lastly, Children of the Storm and who they are and how they interacted with our fleet was frustrating (at first), but with experimenting and faith in dubious sources, the calls being made, and further struggles made this story a great one. It was a slow burn...at the beginning, but it eventually did what needed to happen, and in classic Star Trek ways. So good. Not as good as the previous two, but still a really good story.
Now, I'm going to try to NOT read a Star Trek novel for a day or two. Not sure I'll be able to do it, but we shall see. I have so many books that I want to read. Ugh.
Other than that, when I do pick up the next book, it will be The Eternal Tide by Kirsten Beyer.
Adventurous, challenging, dark, emotional, hopeful, informative, inspiring, mysterious, reflective, sad, and tense.
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25 Stars
Coming off the high of Unworthy, and entering into this story...I was a little put off (at first). It did NOT stop me from reading. It actually made me dig my heals in...and allow the author to reveal the story she wanted to tell, not the one I wanted to read (saying this in FULL knowledge, that she knows better than I do).
Obviously, I love Captain Chakotay. His growth in this series, written by Kirsten Beyer...is near flawless. The struggles that have been placed before him, have been huge, but the way that he was able to "move forward", with the help of Lt. Hugh Cambridge, the counselor...has been amazing.
That's another thing that I'd like to say at this point in my review...the way this fleet of Starfleet ships are actually USING the counselors and NOT sweeping these devestating losses under the preverbial carpet, but are "doing the work" and using the help provided by the counselors, to move past the losses and still finding joy in their life. I know this sounds like a BetterHelp commercial, but from someone who's suffered a lot in his life (physical ailments), is most definitely needed. I really like how it is represented here in these books.
That being said, Counselor Cambridge is a hoot. I love how the author has written him, and I'm glad he "ruffles the feathers" of his patients the way he so naturally does.
Seven of Nine's story was not the focus in this story, as much as it has in the past two books, but enough was experienced in this story, that I know there is more to come in the following books
I absolutely love how Lt. Commander Tom Paris and Lt. Commander B'Elanna Torres, along with Miral and now The Doctor...this part of the story has been executed. I smile at the interactions of Miral with her parents, and how they are raising her. I remember fondly our children at/around that age, and I wouldn't exchange that time for anything.
Captain Afsara Eden is such a great leader...and the "Fates" have put her in the exact place that she needs to be in, for herself (and her quest), and as the leader of this fleet, while it's in the Delta Quadrant.
I love how the separation of the story allowed us to inhabit the other ships, and deal with their crews. The losses were not as severe for us, for we didn't know the ships and their crews that well, but now...if any of thes same ships come under fire (or are lost), it will be felt more deeply.
The time that we spent with the USS Demeter crew was powerful. I am happy that we got to know Commander Liam O'Donnell and Lt. Commander Atlee Fife and the rest of the bridge crew. The situations that they were put through were frustrating and intense, and it made for great reading...deep into the night/early morning.
Lastly, Children of the Storm and who they are and how they interacted with our fleet was frustrating (at first), but with experimenting and faith in dubious sources, the calls being made, and further struggles made this story a great one. It was a slow burn...at the beginning, but it eventually did what needed to happen, and in classic Star Trek ways. So good. Not as good as the previous two, but still a really good story.
Now, I'm going to try to NOT read a Star Trek novel for a day or two. Not sure I'll be able to do it, but we shall see. I have so many books that I want to read. Ugh.
Other than that, when I do pick up the next book, it will be The Eternal Tide by Kirsten Beyer.
December 16, 2018
I finally got around to this novel after several months away from the post-Nemesis timeline. While this isn't the best of the bunch, it was good enough to be worth the wait, and was definitely one of the better offerings in post-Nemsis Treklit up to this point.
Basically, the Voyager and its big ol' fleet have returned to the Delta Quadrant, and in this novel, they are exploring the space occupied by some beings called the Children of the Storm (who were introduced in David Mack's Destiny trilogy). I won't reveal too much, but these kids apparently didn't want the Federation to return to them again, and they respond malevolently at first. But they appear taken by the presence of plant life on board the ships. It seemed like a silly thing at first, but I found it to be a very intriguing plot once the intricacies unfolded.
The plot mostly takes place on three ships. First, of course, the U.S.S. Voyager. Chakotay is now its captain, while Asfarah Eden is still the fleet commander and uses Voyager more or less as a command post. It seems that finally, most everyone has cheered up; Chakotay is no longer wallowing in self-pity, Seven of Nine's head is clearing up, and Harry Kim is friends with Tom Paris again. The interpersonal dynamics were a lot more enjoyable in this novel than they were previously, when everyone seemed to hate each other as well as themselves. One exception is the ship's counselor, Hugh Cambridge, who I really grew to dislike in this novel. I realize that he is supposed to be a bit abrasive by nature, but geez, he was a straight up a-hole in this book. He is perhaps my biggest gripe about this book. At one point, he messes up his personal quarters, strewing it with scientific charts and historical data trying to research a hunch that may be important, but nothing much really comes to it. Perhaps an oversight on Beyer's part, but maybe it's just who he is.
The other two ships were interesting, and their inter-crew dynamics very well done. U.S.S. Quirinal puts up a valiant struggle against the Children of the Storm and their odd "spheres." I enjoyed its captain, Farkas, and Phinn Bryce, a young engineer who uses a secret site-to-site transporter to show up to work on time. U.S.S. Demeter, a science vessel, was perhaps the highlight of the novel. It has an unusual arrangement- its captain is Liam O'Donnell, a brilliant botanist who knows little nothing about anything except botany. The first officer, Atlee Fife, is a good tactician who is tasked with handling whatever captaining O'Donnell doesn't. As the threat of the Children of the Storm increases, they start to clash in terms of command styles, but at the end, it pays off pretty well. I seemed most interested in this storyline while reading the novel.
Overall, an excellent effort. It managed to keep my attention, even if there wasn't anything terribly exciting. But it was an ingeniously crafted plot, and a fun story to follow.
Basically, the Voyager and its big ol' fleet have returned to the Delta Quadrant, and in this novel, they are exploring the space occupied by some beings called the Children of the Storm (who were introduced in David Mack's Destiny trilogy). I won't reveal too much, but these kids apparently didn't want the Federation to return to them again, and they respond malevolently at first. But they appear taken by the presence of plant life on board the ships. It seemed like a silly thing at first, but I found it to be a very intriguing plot once the intricacies unfolded.
The plot mostly takes place on three ships. First, of course, the U.S.S. Voyager. Chakotay is now its captain, while Asfarah Eden is still the fleet commander and uses Voyager more or less as a command post. It seems that finally, most everyone has cheered up; Chakotay is no longer wallowing in self-pity, Seven of Nine's head is clearing up, and Harry Kim is friends with Tom Paris again. The interpersonal dynamics were a lot more enjoyable in this novel than they were previously, when everyone seemed to hate each other as well as themselves. One exception is the ship's counselor, Hugh Cambridge, who I really grew to dislike in this novel. I realize that he is supposed to be a bit abrasive by nature, but geez, he was a straight up a-hole in this book. He is perhaps my biggest gripe about this book. At one point, he messes up his personal quarters, strewing it with scientific charts and historical data trying to research a hunch that may be important, but nothing much really comes to it. Perhaps an oversight on Beyer's part, but maybe it's just who he is.
The other two ships were interesting, and their inter-crew dynamics very well done. U.S.S. Quirinal puts up a valiant struggle against the Children of the Storm and their odd "spheres." I enjoyed its captain, Farkas, and Phinn Bryce, a young engineer who uses a secret site-to-site transporter to show up to work on time. U.S.S. Demeter, a science vessel, was perhaps the highlight of the novel. It has an unusual arrangement- its captain is Liam O'Donnell, a brilliant botanist who knows little nothing about anything except botany. The first officer, Atlee Fife, is a good tactician who is tasked with handling whatever captaining O'Donnell doesn't. As the threat of the Children of the Storm increases, they start to clash in terms of command styles, but at the end, it pays off pretty well. I seemed most interested in this storyline while reading the novel.
Overall, an excellent effort. It managed to keep my attention, even if there wasn't anything terribly exciting. But it was an ingeniously crafted plot, and a fun story to follow.
August 13, 2025
The Full Circle fleet encounters a powerful new species!
This book is a tie-in original prose novel of “Star Trek: Voyager”. The seventh in the Expanded Universe line of this spin-off series.
A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS
This book narrates in the first part, events that were occurring at the same time that the events of previous book, Unworthy, here, the sent vessels to assist the Aventine’s discovery of a new species, the USS Demeter, the USS Plank and the USS Quirinal meet the Children of the Storm, an unknown species, even it’s not clear their true nature, but they’re powerful telepaths, but only works with people with psychic abilities, making them able not only to communicate but even controlling humanoids with psychic traits.
The Children of the Storm don’t trust in humanoids due the Borg incursions in the Delta Quadrant, and they’re worried that the Federation would be the same. Due some misunderstandings, the hell breaks loose…
…the USS Plank is destroyed, the USS Demeter gets trapped deeper in the planetary system, and the USS Quirinal crashed landed in a distant world.
In the second part, the USS Voyager and the rest of the Full Circle fleet, after solving the events of previous entry, Unworthy, and Neelix boarding again, they go to look after the missing vessels. Captain Afsarah Eden and Chakotay investigate the origins of this mysterious race, the Children of the Storm, discovering the existence of a world that the Children of the Storm refer as “Mother”.
Since, the Children of the Storm aren’t malignant, and they are only looking for means to feed themselves, the USS Voyager and the rest of the Full Circle fleet will have to find a way to avoid more disaster and trying to restablish a peaceful relationship with this strange new species.
This was a good book, and quite unxpected since I had the impression that the Children of the Storm were some kind of evil antagonists of this relaunched era of Star Trek: Voyager but here, while they were antagonists indeed in the narrative, they weren’t evil, but of course, there are still plenty more book of this relaunch to read, so I don’t know if the relationship between this new species and the Federation would change in following books.
This book is a tie-in original prose novel of “Star Trek: Voyager”. The seventh in the Expanded Universe line of this spin-off series.
A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS
This book narrates in the first part, events that were occurring at the same time that the events of previous book, Unworthy, here, the sent vessels to assist the Aventine’s discovery of a new species, the USS Demeter, the USS Plank and the USS Quirinal meet the Children of the Storm, an unknown species, even it’s not clear their true nature, but they’re powerful telepaths, but only works with people with psychic abilities, making them able not only to communicate but even controlling humanoids with psychic traits.
The Children of the Storm don’t trust in humanoids due the Borg incursions in the Delta Quadrant, and they’re worried that the Federation would be the same. Due some misunderstandings, the hell breaks loose…
…the USS Plank is destroyed, the USS Demeter gets trapped deeper in the planetary system, and the USS Quirinal crashed landed in a distant world.
In the second part, the USS Voyager and the rest of the Full Circle fleet, after solving the events of previous entry, Unworthy, and Neelix boarding again, they go to look after the missing vessels. Captain Afsarah Eden and Chakotay investigate the origins of this mysterious race, the Children of the Storm, discovering the existence of a world that the Children of the Storm refer as “Mother”.
Since, the Children of the Storm aren’t malignant, and they are only looking for means to feed themselves, the USS Voyager and the rest of the Full Circle fleet will have to find a way to avoid more disaster and trying to restablish a peaceful relationship with this strange new species.
This was a good book, and quite unxpected since I had the impression that the Children of the Storm were some kind of evil antagonists of this relaunched era of Star Trek: Voyager but here, while they were antagonists indeed in the narrative, they weren’t evil, but of course, there are still plenty more book of this relaunch to read, so I don’t know if the relationship between this new species and the Federation would change in following books.
March 20, 2025
[2.5/5] Kirsten Beyer's previous two Voyager books were strong, but this one loses the momentum. It tries to tackle a large dilemma and fumbles it in a few too many ways.
Primarily, there are just too many characters thrown at you. I couldn't keep track of them. I couldn't even figure out what species or gender most of them were without regular reminders (of which there were surprisingly few), and a lot of them blurred together. Every time we returned to the "main" crew, it was a relief. I found myself wishing for a character list - only to discover there was one at the BACK of the book, not the front. Useless.
Additionally, the story is told out of sequence with every other chapter being a flashback to a several of weeks/days earlier. This can be an effective device for creating tension, but here it didn't work at all. It just felt confusing, and the locations in these flashbacks shift too much. Which ship are we on? What's this crew's speciality? I couldn't keep it all together, because we haven't gotten to know any of these people enough for it to all be spread so thin.
The book also dangles a couple of unrelated mysteries in the proceedings, and they aren't handled well. There's a puzzle about a character's origins (dropped in here very suddenly and awkwardly) and something about a classified cargo, and far too much time passes between these being introduced and then being brought up again. It also leads to one character acting very strangely seemingly for no reason - honestly, Dr. Cambridge is not a character I'm enjoying at all.
But there is also an epic adventure here with some strong storytelling. The aliens here are very alien and that makes a change from what we usually get. I find myself liking the new positions the familiar crew now find themselves in and I want to explore more of what they'll do. By the end I'd also started feeling a bit of attachment to a couple of the new characters after finally being able to tell them apart, so I'd like to know more.
Primarily, there are just too many characters thrown at you. I couldn't keep track of them. I couldn't even figure out what species or gender most of them were without regular reminders (of which there were surprisingly few), and a lot of them blurred together. Every time we returned to the "main" crew, it was a relief. I found myself wishing for a character list - only to discover there was one at the BACK of the book, not the front. Useless.
Additionally, the story is told out of sequence with every other chapter being a flashback to a several of weeks/days earlier. This can be an effective device for creating tension, but here it didn't work at all. It just felt confusing, and the locations in these flashbacks shift too much. Which ship are we on? What's this crew's speciality? I couldn't keep it all together, because we haven't gotten to know any of these people enough for it to all be spread so thin.
The book also dangles a couple of unrelated mysteries in the proceedings, and they aren't handled well. There's a puzzle about a character's origins (dropped in here very suddenly and awkwardly) and something about a classified cargo, and far too much time passes between these being introduced and then being brought up again. It also leads to one character acting very strangely seemingly for no reason - honestly, Dr. Cambridge is not a character I'm enjoying at all.
But there is also an epic adventure here with some strong storytelling. The aliens here are very alien and that makes a change from what we usually get. I find myself liking the new positions the familiar crew now find themselves in and I want to explore more of what they'll do. By the end I'd also started feeling a bit of attachment to a couple of the new characters after finally being able to tell them apart, so I'd like to know more.
August 1, 2017
This book has its good and bad points.
With regards to the book's good points, I like the way the author is keeping the original Voyager characters familiar to us, while also letting them evolve. [Spoilers to follow.] I like the way they show B'Elanna being a engineer and a mom, sometimes bringing Miral to work with her. I like how Chakotay now has to deal with not being the cautious one as captain. And I like how they brought Neelix back into the fold.
I also like what they've done with some of the newer characters. I am curious to see how the story of Afsarah Eden's origins will unfold. And it was funny to see Hugh Cambridge at a loss for words, for once, by story's end.
As for the bad points, I think that at 400+ pages, the book was a little too long. They could've cut about 100 pages out and still been okay. There was a little too much back and forth between the other ships in the Delta Quadrant fleet and their crews. I think readers buy the Voyager books because they are mostly interested in reading about the main characters from Voyager. The author should've focused more on them with only a few exceptions.
Overall though, the book is a good, quick read and I recommend it.
With regards to the book's good points, I like the way the author is keeping the original Voyager characters familiar to us, while also letting them evolve. [Spoilers to follow.] I like the way they show B'Elanna being a engineer and a mom, sometimes bringing Miral to work with her. I like how Chakotay now has to deal with not being the cautious one as captain. And I like how they brought Neelix back into the fold.
I also like what they've done with some of the newer characters. I am curious to see how the story of Afsarah Eden's origins will unfold. And it was funny to see Hugh Cambridge at a loss for words, for once, by story's end.
As for the bad points, I think that at 400+ pages, the book was a little too long. They could've cut about 100 pages out and still been okay. There was a little too much back and forth between the other ships in the Delta Quadrant fleet and their crews. I think readers buy the Voyager books because they are mostly interested in reading about the main characters from Voyager. The author should've focused more on them with only a few exceptions.
Overall though, the book is a good, quick read and I recommend it.
May 27, 2021
Kirsten Beyer blir allt bättre och bättre. Boken har en bra grundberättelse och presenterar en art som vi bara flyktigt fått träffa i ett tidigare äventyr med USS Aventine och dess kommendör Ezri Dax, arten heter just Children of the storm (sv. Stormens barn). Karaktärsbeskrivningarna är ingående men känns ibland (särskilt i Torres/Paris-förhållandet), allt för klischéartat och påklistrat, en kritik jag tidigare haft mot Beyers skrivande. Nu är dock Voyager-sagan på banan igen, efter en hel del trevande under åren som följde Voyagers hemkomst till Federationen. Den aktuella boken beskriver flera olika skepps öden och man får möjlighet att lära känna fler personer än just de som befinner sig på flaggskeppet USS Voyager. Det är spännande och intressant, särskilt när ramberättelsen i boken för berättelsen framåt för läsaren. Betyget blir 8 av 10 och jag hoppas att, om Beyer fortsätter förbättrar sitt skrivande (och då särskilt fokuserar på att förbättra karaktärsbeskrivningarna), kommande böcker blir allt bättre.
January 17, 2022
This novel is fantastic. It has everything that makes Star Trek wonderful and more. I was actually surprised by the scope this novel and the execution. I think it's the best Star Trek novel I've read yet, and I thoroughly enjoyed the two preceding novels in this series. Kirsten Beyer has done a remarkable job in relaunching Voyager in this original series of novels.
In this novel we are introduced not only to a new alien species, but also to many new crew members across many ships. The crew members are from different backgrounds and all are amazingly crafted. I thought the new alien species was thoroughly engaging, and really want to come across them again.
What made this novel extra special is Neelix played a little bit of a role. I wish he had more pages in the novel. Neelix is one of my favourite characters. Seven's character continues to play an integral role, and that is also amazing to see.
In this novel we are introduced not only to a new alien species, but also to many new crew members across many ships. The crew members are from different backgrounds and all are amazingly crafted. I thought the new alien species was thoroughly engaging, and really want to come across them again.
What made this novel extra special is Neelix played a little bit of a role. I wish he had more pages in the novel. Neelix is one of my favourite characters. Seven's character continues to play an integral role, and that is also amazing to see.
June 10, 2019
When an alien species living in an area of the Delta quadrant previously unexplored requests to be left alone, does the Federation take heed? Of course not. As part of an exploratory fleet Voyager is back in the Delta Quadrant with some new crew members and some old friends like Tom Paris, Harry Kim, Seven of Nine, Chakotay and the Doctor. However, Starfleet Command wants to know more about the Children of the Storm because they seem to have managed to defeat the Borg. Trouble is bound to ensue. After some fighting and the loss of one ship, I was delighted to discover that a botanist saved the day.
January 1, 2021
The 4 stars weren't exactly for the content by itself, but more for the execution.
This book switches between storylines every chapter, if not more often and yet it never gets boring or cuts off in a place where the other storyline feels like a filler. Quite an accomplishment.
Like others have already stated, there are a lot of new characters to get used to and remember, but all of them really grow on you quickly. Some grow on you like a Seska, others like a Doctor.
Overall, a very good effort of a Voyager book that has to deal with a world where Kathryn Janeway isn't around to save the day.
This book switches between storylines every chapter, if not more often and yet it never gets boring or cuts off in a place where the other storyline feels like a filler. Quite an accomplishment.
Like others have already stated, there are a lot of new characters to get used to and remember, but all of them really grow on you quickly. Some grow on you like a Seska, others like a Doctor.
Overall, a very good effort of a Voyager book that has to deal with a world where Kathryn Janeway isn't around to save the day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2016
I found the characterizations a bit sentimental in this novel. The TV series had some moments like that as well so it's not necessarily uncharacteristic it's just not my favourite thing. This novel also spends more time with the new non-Voyager characters. I have to admit it was sometimes a challenge to remember who belonged to what ship and what their role was. Beyer has introduced a huge new cast of characters. There was a helpful appendix that might have been more helpful if it had been at the front of the book!
August 5, 2019
I very much enjoyed this book!
They Voyager Relaunch novels (once Kirsten started helming them) have been exceptional!
Reading them gives you the same feeling as watching Star Trek & the way she writes interactions between characters from the Voyager series are just fantastic! She also does a great job of introducing many new characters without it feeling too overwhelming (some parts were, but if you kept reading it all feel into place). Her timeline may bounce around a bit in this novel but I understand why she did it.
If she keeps writing these I'll keep reading them!
They Voyager Relaunch novels (once Kirsten started helming them) have been exceptional!
Reading them gives you the same feeling as watching Star Trek & the way she writes interactions between characters from the Voyager series are just fantastic! She also does a great job of introducing many new characters without it feeling too overwhelming (some parts were, but if you kept reading it all feel into place). Her timeline may bounce around a bit in this novel but I understand why she did it.
If she keeps writing these I'll keep reading them!
March 6, 2021
I agree with the reviews that state this book has too many side characters. What keeps Trek fans buying the series of books is the concept of a continuation of the stories told in the shows, in this case that of Voyager. This novel is very clearly written from a love of Star Trek, but I wish Beyer could have focused more on Chakotay and our usual crew and less in the three other ships. That said, I do recommend reading this book because it does capture the personality of each character and it’s fun to revisit the Voyager family, even if it isn’t quite the same.
September 6, 2017
Another excellent addition to Kirsten Beyer's Voyager saga
Although I only read the Voyager stories from time to time, when I do the series written by Beyer is the one I come back to most often. The characters are familiar and new ones are quote interesting. This story involves the discovery of an entirely new and different form of life and how the Starfleet crews respond and handle this discovery is really classic Trek.
Although I only read the Voyager stories from time to time, when I do the series written by Beyer is the one I come back to most often. The characters are familiar and new ones are quote interesting. This story involves the discovery of an entirely new and different form of life and how the Starfleet crews respond and handle this discovery is really classic Trek.
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