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Vallar #1
Vallar
Seventeen year old Ian Connors is a psychic working for Marscorp, the biggest bully organization on Mars. His job is to use his ability to uncover secrets or hidden bases of other organizations so the Marcs can conquer them. Even though he’s been brought up to believe this is normal, he soon discovers the ugly reality of war. He hates the suffering and death caused by a vision he reported to the admiral. Ian feels responsible after finding a hidden base of a small organization that was only trying to survive.
In order to redeem himself, Ian vows to never let anyone use his ability for death and destruction again. His goal is to escape and live in peace, but the leaders monitor him closely and defectors are known to mysteriously disappear. Despite his age, inexperience and few allies, he refuses to give up. He must outwit a cunning admiral and a powerhouse organization, or he will remain a pawn and forever separated from those he loves.
Word Count: 94,000
In order to redeem himself, Ian vows to never let anyone use his ability for death and destruction again. His goal is to escape and live in peace, but the leaders monitor him closely and defectors are known to mysteriously disappear. Despite his age, inexperience and few allies, he refuses to give up. He must outwit a cunning admiral and a powerhouse organization, or he will remain a pawn and forever separated from those he loves.
Word Count: 94,000
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2011
12 people are currently reading
475 people want to read
About the author
Cindy Borgne
9 books46 followersI tend to have an overactive imagination and the only way to unload is to start writing. My dreams are very vivid and I remember many of them. I love to keep learning and enjoy research, history and science. When it comes to reading, I’m always looking for a unique premise and I strive for the same thing in my books. Currently, my focus is paranormal fiction set in the past involving strong women characters, adventure and romance.
https://cybookz.blogspot.com/
https://cybookz.blogspot.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
June 25, 2011
NOTE: THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW
I finished this book today and I must say, I thought it was an outstanding debut. I gave it four stars instead of five because there are a few places in the book where a word is needed and not included or a term is misused. However, editing without the benefit of a publisher behind you can be an extremely daunting task. As it stands, Vallar is quite an achievement.
Cindy's world is as authentic as they come. She knows Mars down to the names of the canyons and how little wind it would take to start a red dust storm on this mysterious fourth planet. Adding to the mystery, Cindy has created a future in which two corporate giants battle over the fate of a mine and the one that ends up doing the most monstrous inhuman acts is ironically the one that desires to return to earth the most. I find this fascinating because earth is at the heart of humanity (and by being a monster) this guy really shouldn't be allowed anywhere near it. Maybe this is a subtle statement on the author's part in that Beacon knows he's a monster and wants to reclaim his humanity.
The voice of Ian Connors is strong in this book. He's the sixteen year-old protagonist and I envisioned him as looking like the kid named Ryan in two Smallville episodes. In the episodes that I'm referring to, Ryan has been experimented upon by a Dr. Mengele-type person in a laboratory and had a tumor created inside his brain that gives him psychic ability. Superman kind of adopts him as a little brother. I see a lot of parallels between Ryan and Cindy's Protagonist. Ian is a protagonist that we can cheer for as he breaks away from the singular military purpose to which he was created and shackled and uses all of his powers to help the woman with whom he is in love. His sacrifice becomes shocking as he loses his best friend and almost his own life for a person that he knows only from his dreams. Luckily, she seems to share his passion so at the heart of Vallar is a love story.
This book easily stands by itself but also begs a sequel. I expect that Cindy will be letting us know more about Nate and his recovery (he had horrific things done to him) and also there are hints of a new evil bad guy that is rising amidst the ranks of Marscorp (the organization of all evilness). Perhaps we can have some more information about the planet Hinun as well for it intrigues me (and I'm sure it will have this effect on other readers).
The action in the book is pretty much non-stop. If this were going to be adapted into a movie, it would require a significant CGI team. But it doesn't get overwhelming. There are plenty of emotional breaks and even though the novel is told in first person, Ian's ability to project himself psychically and to see outside his own body through portals in the future, allow for many more stimuli that would normally not be available in the context of a book that adhered with a strict first-person point-of-view.
I finished this book today and I must say, I thought it was an outstanding debut. I gave it four stars instead of five because there are a few places in the book where a word is needed and not included or a term is misused. However, editing without the benefit of a publisher behind you can be an extremely daunting task. As it stands, Vallar is quite an achievement.
Cindy's world is as authentic as they come. She knows Mars down to the names of the canyons and how little wind it would take to start a red dust storm on this mysterious fourth planet. Adding to the mystery, Cindy has created a future in which two corporate giants battle over the fate of a mine and the one that ends up doing the most monstrous inhuman acts is ironically the one that desires to return to earth the most. I find this fascinating because earth is at the heart of humanity (and by being a monster) this guy really shouldn't be allowed anywhere near it. Maybe this is a subtle statement on the author's part in that Beacon knows he's a monster and wants to reclaim his humanity.
The voice of Ian Connors is strong in this book. He's the sixteen year-old protagonist and I envisioned him as looking like the kid named Ryan in two Smallville episodes. In the episodes that I'm referring to, Ryan has been experimented upon by a Dr. Mengele-type person in a laboratory and had a tumor created inside his brain that gives him psychic ability. Superman kind of adopts him as a little brother. I see a lot of parallels between Ryan and Cindy's Protagonist. Ian is a protagonist that we can cheer for as he breaks away from the singular military purpose to which he was created and shackled and uses all of his powers to help the woman with whom he is in love. His sacrifice becomes shocking as he loses his best friend and almost his own life for a person that he knows only from his dreams. Luckily, she seems to share his passion so at the heart of Vallar is a love story.
This book easily stands by itself but also begs a sequel. I expect that Cindy will be letting us know more about Nate and his recovery (he had horrific things done to him) and also there are hints of a new evil bad guy that is rising amidst the ranks of Marscorp (the organization of all evilness). Perhaps we can have some more information about the planet Hinun as well for it intrigues me (and I'm sure it will have this effect on other readers).
The action in the book is pretty much non-stop. If this were going to be adapted into a movie, it would require a significant CGI team. But it doesn't get overwhelming. There are plenty of emotional breaks and even though the novel is told in first person, Ian's ability to project himself psychically and to see outside his own body through portals in the future, allow for many more stimuli that would normally not be available in the context of a book that adhered with a strict first-person point-of-view.
June 14, 2011
When I was in my teens and twenties about 50% of my reading was science-fiction. How or why that stopped I just don't know.
I've been meaning to get back into scifi and winning this book was a good start.
Vallar is the story of Martian colonies ruled by corporations. Marscorp, the largest, has as its goal a return to Earth although immigration is not allowed. Marscorp uses fear and intimidation, sometimes resorting to outright war, to take over smaller corporations and increase its power base. They are ruled by a psychopathic admiral who will stop at nothing to attain his goals. He attempts to use psychics to further his aims.
Ian Connors is a 16-yr-old psychic who tells the admiral of a vision he has had of a hidden mine. A terrible battle ensues - some of which he had foreseen and warned about, to no avail. Ian is disillusioned with Marscorp and attempts to escape.
This was a wonderful re-introduction to scifi. The story line was very good and engaging. The character portrayals were spot on - from the young psychic and the fighters in rival corporations to the despotic admiral who is ruthless in his quest for dominance.
The farther I got into the book the more I was looking forward to a satisfying conclusion and I wasn't disappointed.
Highly recommended.
I've been meaning to get back into scifi and winning this book was a good start.
Vallar is the story of Martian colonies ruled by corporations. Marscorp, the largest, has as its goal a return to Earth although immigration is not allowed. Marscorp uses fear and intimidation, sometimes resorting to outright war, to take over smaller corporations and increase its power base. They are ruled by a psychopathic admiral who will stop at nothing to attain his goals. He attempts to use psychics to further his aims.
Ian Connors is a 16-yr-old psychic who tells the admiral of a vision he has had of a hidden mine. A terrible battle ensues - some of which he had foreseen and warned about, to no avail. Ian is disillusioned with Marscorp and attempts to escape.
This was a wonderful re-introduction to scifi. The story line was very good and engaging. The character portrayals were spot on - from the young psychic and the fighters in rival corporations to the despotic admiral who is ruthless in his quest for dominance.
The farther I got into the book the more I was looking forward to a satisfying conclusion and I wasn't disappointed.
Highly recommended.
May 31, 2011
CINDY BORGNE'S "VALLAR" (A REVIEW)
A futuristic story about a young man, Ian Connors that has the power of a psychic, his visions come in dreams and he has been hired by Marscorp to report those visions in order to better their way of life. His loyalty has been to Marscorp for so long that when he begins to have visions that include a beautiful girl he sees as someday being his own, he begins to have doubts that he's on the right path. With his entire life in question he begins to try and find a way to save the girl he seeks out Vallar, a group of rebels that seek only to survive.
I enjoyed this story and usually I'm not one easily interested in Science Fiction or Futuristic novels. This book grabbed me from the beginning and I couldn't help but to stick with it to the end. Cindy Borgne has a way of writing that is paced perfectly and doesn't dwell too much on endless descriptions that can become monotonous and yet she gives us enough to imagine vividly the world she's created. One of the best parts is the love story that flows so easily into the adventure side of this novel. I would definitely recommend this read to anyone that loves Science Fiction writing and even those that are holding back on starting the journey into this genre. Definitely a five star read!
-Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club
A futuristic story about a young man, Ian Connors that has the power of a psychic, his visions come in dreams and he has been hired by Marscorp to report those visions in order to better their way of life. His loyalty has been to Marscorp for so long that when he begins to have visions that include a beautiful girl he sees as someday being his own, he begins to have doubts that he's on the right path. With his entire life in question he begins to try and find a way to save the girl he seeks out Vallar, a group of rebels that seek only to survive.
I enjoyed this story and usually I'm not one easily interested in Science Fiction or Futuristic novels. This book grabbed me from the beginning and I couldn't help but to stick with it to the end. Cindy Borgne has a way of writing that is paced perfectly and doesn't dwell too much on endless descriptions that can become monotonous and yet she gives us enough to imagine vividly the world she's created. One of the best parts is the love story that flows so easily into the adventure side of this novel. I would definitely recommend this read to anyone that loves Science Fiction writing and even those that are holding back on starting the journey into this genre. Definitely a five star read!
-Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club
May 30, 2011
This novel will immediately draw the reader into this strange world of scientific wonder and fascination. The reader will be rooting for the main character throughout the book. There are not many difficult scientific language/words that a reader that does not typically read scientific fiction will need to muddle through; the novel is decidedly more light-hearted and even more enjoyable than the nail-biting science fiction books many readers peruse on the shelves. Ian, the main character, has the special ability to have visions. He is utilized by a military faction to locate other colonies to plunder them. As his visions continue he begins having visions about a young girl who he feels he must know more about, he has one disturbing vision when he attempts to force visions of the girl. He escapes his colony to find and protect the girl, who he is drawn to. In order to fully escape, he joins Vallar-an alliance of rebel organizations willing to stand up to Marscorp. The reader will enjoy this new twist on science fiction, the terrific development of the characters, and the descriptive writing and dialogue of the author. This novel is terrific for young adults and adults who enjoy light science fiction or want to try this genre.
July 31, 2011
Sentence structure and grammar could have been clearer, as some descriptions were difficult to determine and seemed rather odd to me, along with areas of the dialogue. Possibly this is also a first person POV issue, which is increasingly become a mode I’m exasperated by, as too often when not used as expansively as possible, it lends a one-dimensional quality to the work. Repetitive phrasing of the main character’s thoughts also exacerbated this feeling.
Since the main character is a sixteen year old, perhaps that’s whyI found the details to be limited in depth or of a kind I found difficult to visualize. Characterization tended towards “types.” For example, you have Ian, young, misused, sensitive and longing after girl he saw in a vision, in contrast to Beacon, the evil abuser and callous leader of Marscorp. The secondary character Nate was more believeable and likeable when compared to Ian.
I wanted to believe, I wanted to be excited, I wanted to like Ian and empathize with him, but the delivery just didn’t provide it for me. I felt there were a lot of good ideas in Vallar, and the planetscape of Mars is definitely a exotic territory I enjoy being explored in science fiction, but I felt editing and characterization issues held this book back from what it could have been.
Since the main character is a sixteen year old, perhaps that’s whyI found the details to be limited in depth or of a kind I found difficult to visualize. Characterization tended towards “types.” For example, you have Ian, young, misused, sensitive and longing after girl he saw in a vision, in contrast to Beacon, the evil abuser and callous leader of Marscorp. The secondary character Nate was more believeable and likeable when compared to Ian.
I wanted to believe, I wanted to be excited, I wanted to like Ian and empathize with him, but the delivery just didn’t provide it for me. I felt there were a lot of good ideas in Vallar, and the planetscape of Mars is definitely a exotic territory I enjoy being explored in science fiction, but I felt editing and characterization issues held this book back from what it could have been.
April 11, 2012
Flawless.
I grew up a Mars fanatic. Even did a stint at Texas A&M as an Aerospace Engineer major because I always wanted to go to Mars. Martian fiction, therefore, is of special interest to me. I am, after all, a consummate geek. Cindy Borgne's "Vallar" is one of the best Martian fictions I have read.
She opens the story in the media-res with the primary character, Ian, a psychic whose visions are used to forward his company's plans to consume all others on Mars in order to return to Earth. From there, she weaves a seamless tale of Ian's growth from naive pawn of the brutal corporation Marscorp into a young man willing to give his life for those who fight for liberty and peace. Through his visions, Ian learns of love, honor, sacrifice, family, and hope.
It is my honor to recommend "Vallar" to any who enjoy great science fiction.
Ernie Laurence Jr.
Author: Sundered
I grew up a Mars fanatic. Even did a stint at Texas A&M as an Aerospace Engineer major because I always wanted to go to Mars. Martian fiction, therefore, is of special interest to me. I am, after all, a consummate geek. Cindy Borgne's "Vallar" is one of the best Martian fictions I have read.
She opens the story in the media-res with the primary character, Ian, a psychic whose visions are used to forward his company's plans to consume all others on Mars in order to return to Earth. From there, she weaves a seamless tale of Ian's growth from naive pawn of the brutal corporation Marscorp into a young man willing to give his life for those who fight for liberty and peace. Through his visions, Ian learns of love, honor, sacrifice, family, and hope.
It is my honor to recommend "Vallar" to any who enjoy great science fiction.
Ernie Laurence Jr.
Author: Sundered
May 25, 2011
A full review can be found on my blog : http://killie-booktalk.blogspot.com
In the beginning I felt that the story felt rather slow and it took me a little bit to really get a feel for the characters. However, within a couple of chapters it was in full flow and I was hooked. The plot progresses at a nice pace, keeping you interested and wanting to turn the page to find out what happens next. This was enjoyable light Sci-Fi, with the emphasis more on being an enjoyable adventure in a futuristic setting than filling pages with techno-speak and heavy scientific explanations.
Overall, I loved the story and can't wait for Cindy Borgne to write the sequel which is surely coming. If you like trying out Indie authors and Sci-Fi adventures are something you enjoy then I am sure you will like "Vallar".
In the beginning I felt that the story felt rather slow and it took me a little bit to really get a feel for the characters. However, within a couple of chapters it was in full flow and I was hooked. The plot progresses at a nice pace, keeping you interested and wanting to turn the page to find out what happens next. This was enjoyable light Sci-Fi, with the emphasis more on being an enjoyable adventure in a futuristic setting than filling pages with techno-speak and heavy scientific explanations.
Overall, I loved the story and can't wait for Cindy Borgne to write the sequel which is surely coming. If you like trying out Indie authors and Sci-Fi adventures are something you enjoy then I am sure you will like "Vallar".
June 2, 2011
It was an adventure action scifi book. I had to finsh reading it before i went to sleep 2:00am. I enjoyed being taken away to mars.
Ian age 16 and nate in college live with dr. clare. they are an elite class with special privalages because they were raised to be physic. In their dreams they learn about the enemy of Marscorp. Marscorp is one of the biggest firms on mars and rules by fear and takes over other group they want to force their way back to Earth.
Ian sees a mineing operation and tells the general about it. Later tells how a couple of their ships will be destroyed, but the general does not care about the soldiers lives. so ian and nate try to warn them and get shot down and rescued and sees the horror of war and feels it was his vision that caused it. So Ian refuses to dream for the general and rescues others with his visions and the rebels. Lots going on. It keeps you interested in the book.
Ian age 16 and nate in college live with dr. clare. they are an elite class with special privalages because they were raised to be physic. In their dreams they learn about the enemy of Marscorp. Marscorp is one of the biggest firms on mars and rules by fear and takes over other group they want to force their way back to Earth.
Ian sees a mineing operation and tells the general about it. Later tells how a couple of their ships will be destroyed, but the general does not care about the soldiers lives. so ian and nate try to warn them and get shot down and rescued and sees the horror of war and feels it was his vision that caused it. So Ian refuses to dream for the general and rescues others with his visions and the rebels. Lots going on. It keeps you interested in the book.
May 30, 2011
As I began to read this book I was immediately captured, Something I love when beginning a book, That drive and urge to turn the page and find out more. Slowly the story unfolded and I actually loved the pace it came at. It was not rushed but rather well thought out and something of a joy to read. To often some books are rushed to get to the main core of things leaving out the smaller details of the relationships and characters of the story.
The more I read the more I was pulled in feeling for the main character and the things he did and did not have even as a child. All in all it was a wonderful read and I recommend it to anyone with a great ending and just a nice change in pace.
The more I read the more I was pulled in feeling for the main character and the things he did and did not have even as a child. All in all it was a wonderful read and I recommend it to anyone with a great ending and just a nice change in pace.
February 25, 2019
The story was engaging enough to carry me about half way through the book, but not all the way. It reads like a standard Special discovers he's a baddy and atones by becoming a Special for the good guys plot. But the writing is muddy, spending too many words describing inconsequential actions, overdescribing--especially explaining character motivations, which even if this is a YA novel feels condescending--and dialogue that sounds like no human being ever spoke those words in that order before. It felt a bit like "The Lives and Loves of Doby Gillis" meets one of those WWII propaganda films. I imagined Ian and Nate as being portrayed by a young James Stewart and Cary Grant, and I think this made it more entertaining for me. It may be perfectly in character for being sixteen, but our protagonist is actively annoying. He whines. A lot. He has this single-concept tunnel vision where he can only keep one thing in his head at a time. And he's got his heart set on this tragic martyr idea of love, where the pain he suffers shows how much love he feels. If the trilogy is not already finished, I would strongly advise the author to hire a good copy editor and a good editor. There's a story in here somewhere, and I think they can dig it out.
February 20, 2020
This is a pretty good YA science fiction read that can also be enjoyed by adults. It’s not too heavy and is a quick read and was enjoyable. If you’re looking for a quick diversion, you might consider giving it a try.
August 21, 2011
Article first published as Book Review:Vallar by Cindy Borgne on Blogcritics.
In the never-ending road to power and control, other countries, states and continents continue to want what belongs to others. Not at all unique in any way this has been the way of the world for countless centuries. Yet the same control ensues in space, when others have more. The big and mighty look for ways to take what the other worlds have.
In Vallar by Cindy Borgne, Ian Connors and his friend Nate Forshay are seers and have visions of things that are about to happen. Well, the expectation is that they both have visions. Nate has been very adept with his, and they have been instrumental in helping their fleet on its missions. Ian is still struggling with his visions, and yet it is known that he will be able to help in the same way as his best friend Nate. This ability is not common, and they are held in the highest regard. In fact they are elites, giving them strong standing in the army. They report their findings to Admiral Beacon, the man in charge of all missions.
Marscorp has control and intends to keep it so when others begin encroaching on the horizon; they shoot first and ask questions later. There are only a few others, but they will risk it all to gain enough to live by. Marc, though is a bully and wants it all, although not everyone is aware of this. Ian finally begins to have his visions; they are not what he expects. They begin about a girl. As they progress, he gets more information and in an effort to do what is asked, he finally gives Beacon information about a mine in the area, one being sought after by the Genners. As usual, Marscorp goes in with guns blasting, killing and maiming, while the Genners only want to work together, the Marcs want it all.
Worried about the girl in his vision, Ian is also disillusioned by it all. He begins to hide his visions and makes an effort to use them to track down his vision of this girl. What does she mean to him? He feels something but he is not sure. When he has a vision of one of the Marc ships blowing up and those aboard being killed, he takes his concerns to Admiral Beacon. The information makes no difference; the Admiral will not stop in his effort gain control. He does not believe a ship can or will be destroyed, but if it is that is part of this war.
Ian is in disbelief and further hides his visions, not wanting to be a part of what he sees happening. Using his own ship, with his friend Nate along, he decides to go where the action is and try to save those at risk. Little does he know that not only does he risk his own life, but he has also just risked the life of his best friend. When his ship is destroyed, one of the Genners saves Ian, but his friend Nate has disappeared. How does life go forward in such a brutal and hostile environment?
Borgne has developed some great characters, and made them quite human. Ian and his friend Nate are the quintessential teenagers, those we know and see every day. Nate is a bit ahead of Ian in the game, but girls are one of their primary thoughts. Then there is action and adventure, but foremost there are girls. It is interesting to watch Ian develop and become something more, to step beyond the youngster he was to become the young man he is soon to be. His thought process and feelings are quite admirable.
Admiral Beacon is cast as the evil villain, and while he talks a good game of what is right for them as a culture, his cruelty shines through his civility. He is not able to hide the underlying ruthlessness that has put him at the top of his game. He will do what it takes regardless of the consequences, and it will take everything Ian has and more to survive.
Even his foster mother, while you can tell she has feeling for Ian, her fear of Beacon overshadows that love. This is a quick paced and action packed YA Science Fiction adventure that keeps you hopping.
For the young adult reader, the Science Fiction buff, and even those that just enjoy a good action adventure, this is an interesting and quick read. If you are looking for a story to interest your young reader this may be just the thing to keep them reading.
This book was received as a free download from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.
In the never-ending road to power and control, other countries, states and continents continue to want what belongs to others. Not at all unique in any way this has been the way of the world for countless centuries. Yet the same control ensues in space, when others have more. The big and mighty look for ways to take what the other worlds have.
In Vallar by Cindy Borgne, Ian Connors and his friend Nate Forshay are seers and have visions of things that are about to happen. Well, the expectation is that they both have visions. Nate has been very adept with his, and they have been instrumental in helping their fleet on its missions. Ian is still struggling with his visions, and yet it is known that he will be able to help in the same way as his best friend Nate. This ability is not common, and they are held in the highest regard. In fact they are elites, giving them strong standing in the army. They report their findings to Admiral Beacon, the man in charge of all missions.
Marscorp has control and intends to keep it so when others begin encroaching on the horizon; they shoot first and ask questions later. There are only a few others, but they will risk it all to gain enough to live by. Marc, though is a bully and wants it all, although not everyone is aware of this. Ian finally begins to have his visions; they are not what he expects. They begin about a girl. As they progress, he gets more information and in an effort to do what is asked, he finally gives Beacon information about a mine in the area, one being sought after by the Genners. As usual, Marscorp goes in with guns blasting, killing and maiming, while the Genners only want to work together, the Marcs want it all.
Worried about the girl in his vision, Ian is also disillusioned by it all. He begins to hide his visions and makes an effort to use them to track down his vision of this girl. What does she mean to him? He feels something but he is not sure. When he has a vision of one of the Marc ships blowing up and those aboard being killed, he takes his concerns to Admiral Beacon. The information makes no difference; the Admiral will not stop in his effort gain control. He does not believe a ship can or will be destroyed, but if it is that is part of this war.
Ian is in disbelief and further hides his visions, not wanting to be a part of what he sees happening. Using his own ship, with his friend Nate along, he decides to go where the action is and try to save those at risk. Little does he know that not only does he risk his own life, but he has also just risked the life of his best friend. When his ship is destroyed, one of the Genners saves Ian, but his friend Nate has disappeared. How does life go forward in such a brutal and hostile environment?
Borgne has developed some great characters, and made them quite human. Ian and his friend Nate are the quintessential teenagers, those we know and see every day. Nate is a bit ahead of Ian in the game, but girls are one of their primary thoughts. Then there is action and adventure, but foremost there are girls. It is interesting to watch Ian develop and become something more, to step beyond the youngster he was to become the young man he is soon to be. His thought process and feelings are quite admirable.
Admiral Beacon is cast as the evil villain, and while he talks a good game of what is right for them as a culture, his cruelty shines through his civility. He is not able to hide the underlying ruthlessness that has put him at the top of his game. He will do what it takes regardless of the consequences, and it will take everything Ian has and more to survive.
Even his foster mother, while you can tell she has feeling for Ian, her fear of Beacon overshadows that love. This is a quick paced and action packed YA Science Fiction adventure that keeps you hopping.
For the young adult reader, the Science Fiction buff, and even those that just enjoy a good action adventure, this is an interesting and quick read. If you are looking for a story to interest your young reader this may be just the thing to keep them reading.
This book was received as a free download from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.
June 29, 2011
Cindy Borgne's novel "Vallar" has the scope of a wonderfully immersible science fiction story, with genuine twists and turns that will likely stay with you long after the book is finished. The story's told through the eyes of 16-year-old Ian Connors, as he's a intricate part of Marscorp, an organization that seeks to return to Earth through conquering and intimidating smaller colonies with its massive wealth, size, and resources. Ian happens to be an integral part of that mission, as he experiences visions of the future deemed valuable to the ultimate mission of Marscorp, despite the organization's inability to immigrate. But things change when Ian experiences visions of a mine and a girl he finds himself attracted to working for the mining corps army, along with several disastrous events that prompt him to take action. With his friend Nate, he travels to try to prevent the tragedy from happening, only to result in another that leaves him disillusioned with the organization and seeking a way out. Unfortunately, his pursuits don't come without cost, not only in the loss of people he knows and cares about, but more intimate betrayals.
Quite honestly, I didn't expect to be swept away with some of the turns the plot took, and I found it easy to identify with Ian and his struggles to come to terms with the events around him as well as determine his role in the ongoing conflict with Marscorp. I'll admit there were times where Ian's voice grated on me, but it wasn't without due cause, given the tragedies and internal conflict he experiences. I appreciated Borgne's attention to detail, from Ian's sentiments to the accuracy of locations of Mars and the expansion (to some extent) on the psychic abilities the boys have in the scheme of the story, among other details. In the same spectrum, however, I did have qualms with the story, not in the overarching plot or revelation of events, because "Vallar" does a good job with keeping the tension high and the pacing rolling as far as that went. The writing in itself is light and easy to take in through the overall story, though I admit the dialogue felt quite stilted/somewhat repetitive in places. Characterization-wise, I felt that some of them were well shown with steady development and/or strong distinction (Ian, Nate, Becon - who's downright dastardly as an antagonist, Clare, and Sonny - my favorite character in the novel), while others were never realized as much as they could've been (Kayla - who started shining in the last third of the novel, but I wasn't able to connect with her.) With the way the novel ends, it definitely leads into the potential of a sequel, and one with an intriguing hook, so I think there's definitely room for growth in not only the universe that Borgne creates, but with the interactions with the characters that remain in the mission/adventure ahead.
I'm looking forward to reading further along the universe of these characters, and definitely would recommend this as a stronger read in YA light sci-fi. I think there may be people who enjoy this more than I was able to, hence why I give it a high rec and say that it's an adventure worth seeing where it takes you in itself.
Overall score: 3.5/5
Quite honestly, I didn't expect to be swept away with some of the turns the plot took, and I found it easy to identify with Ian and his struggles to come to terms with the events around him as well as determine his role in the ongoing conflict with Marscorp. I'll admit there were times where Ian's voice grated on me, but it wasn't without due cause, given the tragedies and internal conflict he experiences. I appreciated Borgne's attention to detail, from Ian's sentiments to the accuracy of locations of Mars and the expansion (to some extent) on the psychic abilities the boys have in the scheme of the story, among other details. In the same spectrum, however, I did have qualms with the story, not in the overarching plot or revelation of events, because "Vallar" does a good job with keeping the tension high and the pacing rolling as far as that went. The writing in itself is light and easy to take in through the overall story, though I admit the dialogue felt quite stilted/somewhat repetitive in places. Characterization-wise, I felt that some of them were well shown with steady development and/or strong distinction (Ian, Nate, Becon - who's downright dastardly as an antagonist, Clare, and Sonny - my favorite character in the novel), while others were never realized as much as they could've been (Kayla - who started shining in the last third of the novel, but I wasn't able to connect with her.) With the way the novel ends, it definitely leads into the potential of a sequel, and one with an intriguing hook, so I think there's definitely room for growth in not only the universe that Borgne creates, but with the interactions with the characters that remain in the mission/adventure ahead.
I'm looking forward to reading further along the universe of these characters, and definitely would recommend this as a stronger read in YA light sci-fi. I think there may be people who enjoy this more than I was able to, hence why I give it a high rec and say that it's an adventure worth seeing where it takes you in itself.
Overall score: 3.5/5
November 15, 2012
I really wanted to like this book. I admit getting it when it was offered for free but that's how I've found a great deal of very good books written by authors I wouldn't normally have either heard of or given a try. I like a good science fiction book from time to time so I had high hopes for this one.
I was disappointed.
The premise seemed interesting. A military faction on mars is looking to wipe out all competition and they use a pair of young teenaged psychics to find 'rogue' factions as targets. Ian Connors, 16, is one such secret weapon but when he starts having visions of an alluring red head girl, it leads him on a journey that will have him second guessing everything he's been taught about his way of life.
It's kind of a take on Stockholm syndrome where a person is captured or held among the enemy only to find that they're not really the enemy after all and they've been on the wrong side the whole time.
Interesting premise but I found it kind of weak all around.
The technology in this book is weak. At one point, Admiral Beacon (the leader of Marscorp) sends Ian to a factory in order to punish him for giving him false information in regards to his visions. What type of factory? An elevator factory. Yes. Ian's punishment is fixing circuit boards in elevators. I find it hard to believe that in a future where they can make bio domes on the Red Planet, they need a factory tasked only with fixing elevators. With drills that require power cords for operation. Also, they have 'laser' weapons and 'jet packs' in this future. I've seen several reviewers speak of high concept and high tech in this novel but I'm just not seeing it. There was even a passage where a broken down engine required a 'fuel injector'. I have one of those in my car as does pretty much everyone else these days. I would think that if they can colonize mars they'd be beyond that by now. There's talk of bio domes and terraforming, etc, but the inconsistency in the tech totally took me out of the story.
I found the protagonist to be weak as well. Maybe not so much in conviction but the constant crying. I know he's young but in a future where some of the characters have been in college since the age of 16, I would have liked less crying. None of the characters are particularly well fleshed out and at the end of the story I didn't much care what happened to most of them, whether it be the villain, the main character or any of the supporting cast.
As far as the story goes, it wasn't anything earth shattering. I could overlook the light usage of future tech with its lasers and missiles and fuel injectors and corded drills if the story blew me away but it was pretty standard 'I've seen the error of my ways. My way of life is wrong, I'm going to help you guys'. Even with the vision of the girl and Ian's quest to find her it's not surprising or intriguing.
I know it sounds like I'm bashing it but I'm giving my honest opinion. I think this is the author's first book and I commend her for writing it and getting it published. No small feat but at the end of the day, I found the story flimsy and the science in this science fiction novel to be flimsy as well.
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I was disappointed.
The premise seemed interesting. A military faction on mars is looking to wipe out all competition and they use a pair of young teenaged psychics to find 'rogue' factions as targets. Ian Connors, 16, is one such secret weapon but when he starts having visions of an alluring red head girl, it leads him on a journey that will have him second guessing everything he's been taught about his way of life.
It's kind of a take on Stockholm syndrome where a person is captured or held among the enemy only to find that they're not really the enemy after all and they've been on the wrong side the whole time.
Interesting premise but I found it kind of weak all around.
The technology in this book is weak. At one point, Admiral Beacon (the leader of Marscorp) sends Ian to a factory in order to punish him for giving him false information in regards to his visions. What type of factory? An elevator factory. Yes. Ian's punishment is fixing circuit boards in elevators. I find it hard to believe that in a future where they can make bio domes on the Red Planet, they need a factory tasked only with fixing elevators. With drills that require power cords for operation. Also, they have 'laser' weapons and 'jet packs' in this future. I've seen several reviewers speak of high concept and high tech in this novel but I'm just not seeing it. There was even a passage where a broken down engine required a 'fuel injector'. I have one of those in my car as does pretty much everyone else these days. I would think that if they can colonize mars they'd be beyond that by now. There's talk of bio domes and terraforming, etc, but the inconsistency in the tech totally took me out of the story.
I found the protagonist to be weak as well. Maybe not so much in conviction but the constant crying. I know he's young but in a future where some of the characters have been in college since the age of 16, I would have liked less crying. None of the characters are particularly well fleshed out and at the end of the story I didn't much care what happened to most of them, whether it be the villain, the main character or any of the supporting cast.
As far as the story goes, it wasn't anything earth shattering. I could overlook the light usage of future tech with its lasers and missiles and fuel injectors and corded drills if the story blew me away but it was pretty standard 'I've seen the error of my ways. My way of life is wrong, I'm going to help you guys'. Even with the vision of the girl and Ian's quest to find her it's not surprising or intriguing.
I know it sounds like I'm bashing it but I'm giving my honest opinion. I think this is the author's first book and I commend her for writing it and getting it published. No small feat but at the end of the day, I found the story flimsy and the science in this science fiction novel to be flimsy as well.
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August 7, 2011
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program.
Ian Conners is an "elite" for Marscorp, with psychic abilities to predict the future. He finds conflict, though, when a girl from his dreams ends up being a member of Vallar, a rival faction to Marscorp, and Ian finds his loyalties changing as he learns more about how Marscorp treats its citizens.
Overall, the story is okay. There's not a lot of things new here in your basic teenager falls for girl from the other side kind of storyline. There's some initial emotional conflict, since she was engaged to a guy that had saved Ian's life, but it doesn't really become too large a factor, other than delaying the inevitable. There's a subplot about how Marscorp treats its citizens, especially for people that Ian's thinks of as family, but these plots were just sort of dealt with on the surface.
Editing was rough in a number of places. Punctuation in the wrong place, some missing articles here and there. That's always something that a later edition can correct. But the story was rough too... For example, this seems to be a teen book, since the main character is 16 and the story is told in first-person from his perspective. But years on Mars (where Ian has lived his entire life) are around 687 Earth days, which means that he should be about 30 Earth years old. He certainly didn't seem to have the maturity for that age. Maybe the author was using earth timekeeping, which is possible. Easy thing to forget. But she was very detailed about everything else on Mars. Descriptions and names of places, what the climate was like... Forgetting about a longer year was a big gap for me. It's also possible that Marscorp is keeping to an Earth calendar, since their big goal is to return to Earth someday, but that isn't the goal of other groups on Mars, and no one really seemed to think it odd when Ian gives his age as 16.
Motivations for some of the characters didn't seem right in a number of cases. Admiral Beacon seems like a reasonable person...up until he needs to be an evil dictator in the story. Ian seems to think highly of people he knows to be spies shortly after meeting them. In some cases simply because of appearances. Being psychic, I would have expected him to have insight into the type of person they were, rather than care about how they look. Ian's loyalties shift very rapidly, which is probably an accurate depiction of a teenager, but still something I found odd considering the time frame of the story and the actions that are occurring.
The ending was set up for a sequel, and perhaps and older and wiser Ian and a more experienced author will make that a better read.
Ian Conners is an "elite" for Marscorp, with psychic abilities to predict the future. He finds conflict, though, when a girl from his dreams ends up being a member of Vallar, a rival faction to Marscorp, and Ian finds his loyalties changing as he learns more about how Marscorp treats its citizens.
Overall, the story is okay. There's not a lot of things new here in your basic teenager falls for girl from the other side kind of storyline. There's some initial emotional conflict, since she was engaged to a guy that had saved Ian's life, but it doesn't really become too large a factor, other than delaying the inevitable. There's a subplot about how Marscorp treats its citizens, especially for people that Ian's thinks of as family, but these plots were just sort of dealt with on the surface.
Editing was rough in a number of places. Punctuation in the wrong place, some missing articles here and there. That's always something that a later edition can correct. But the story was rough too... For example, this seems to be a teen book, since the main character is 16 and the story is told in first-person from his perspective. But years on Mars (where Ian has lived his entire life) are around 687 Earth days, which means that he should be about 30 Earth years old. He certainly didn't seem to have the maturity for that age. Maybe the author was using earth timekeeping, which is possible. Easy thing to forget. But she was very detailed about everything else on Mars. Descriptions and names of places, what the climate was like... Forgetting about a longer year was a big gap for me. It's also possible that Marscorp is keeping to an Earth calendar, since their big goal is to return to Earth someday, but that isn't the goal of other groups on Mars, and no one really seemed to think it odd when Ian gives his age as 16.
Motivations for some of the characters didn't seem right in a number of cases. Admiral Beacon seems like a reasonable person...up until he needs to be an evil dictator in the story. Ian seems to think highly of people he knows to be spies shortly after meeting them. In some cases simply because of appearances. Being psychic, I would have expected him to have insight into the type of person they were, rather than care about how they look. Ian's loyalties shift very rapidly, which is probably an accurate depiction of a teenager, but still something I found odd considering the time frame of the story and the actions that are occurring.
The ending was set up for a sequel, and perhaps and older and wiser Ian and a more experienced author will make that a better read.
May 30, 2012
On Mars, various organizations and colonies have risen, their ultimate goal to get back to Earth, or Hinun. Thus far, the strongest faction has been a militaristic group, called Marscorp,that uses psychics to show them how to defeat and absorb rival colonies. Alliance is not an option. It is within this milieu that Ian Connors, a growing psychic, discovers the love of his life via visions. The problem? She's on the enemy's side. In his quest to find her, Ian comes face to face with the brutality of war and is forced to make a choice: to save lives or to destroy them.
Vallar is a fast-paced tale, designed for the young adult reader. It is good about playing to one's sense of righteous indignation and the frustration of being ignored and misunderstood. While the forces at work are portrayed in a very uncompromising light (Beacon = evil, Vallar = good), this is the sort of black-and-white worldview that caters to adolescents, even if it doesn't challenge them. In that sense, Ian's limited emotional range is appropriate for the novel, though older readers might crave a little more depth. As for me, I can let it go; my major issue is one common with young adult fiction: the bizarre suddenness with which characters fall in love. In some cases, authors are able to present enough chemistry to make it believable. Unfortunately, that was not the case here.
Incredulity aside, I found this story to be quite diverting. I was quickly pulled into Ian's struggles and shared in his sense of impotence as the adults around him ignored his prognostications. It's a tale as old as time (see Cassandra and the Trojan Horse), but it still rang true and helped me to connect with the character. This, in turn, made his obstacles, triumphs, and failures my own. I wanted him to succeed, just as much as I wanted Beacon to receive his just desserts. In other words, the author successfully made me care about her protagonist and this fictional world.
One of the things that did draw my attention away from the story at hand was the plethora of typographical and grammatical errors. Were my copy a paperback, rather than an e-book, I may have been compelled to whip out a red pen to underline and circle my way along. As it stands, this is definitely not the worst that I've seen, but it was irritating all the same. Some critical proofreading would have benefited this work greatly.
Vallar is an easy, entertaining read for those looking for a quick read and conflicts with clearly drawn lines. For those who prefer subtle nuances and strong character development, this may not be the best fit.
Hide and Read
(Review copy provided by the author)
Vallar is a fast-paced tale, designed for the young adult reader. It is good about playing to one's sense of righteous indignation and the frustration of being ignored and misunderstood. While the forces at work are portrayed in a very uncompromising light (Beacon = evil, Vallar = good), this is the sort of black-and-white worldview that caters to adolescents, even if it doesn't challenge them. In that sense, Ian's limited emotional range is appropriate for the novel, though older readers might crave a little more depth. As for me, I can let it go; my major issue is one common with young adult fiction: the bizarre suddenness with which characters fall in love. In some cases, authors are able to present enough chemistry to make it believable. Unfortunately, that was not the case here.
Incredulity aside, I found this story to be quite diverting. I was quickly pulled into Ian's struggles and shared in his sense of impotence as the adults around him ignored his prognostications. It's a tale as old as time (see Cassandra and the Trojan Horse), but it still rang true and helped me to connect with the character. This, in turn, made his obstacles, triumphs, and failures my own. I wanted him to succeed, just as much as I wanted Beacon to receive his just desserts. In other words, the author successfully made me care about her protagonist and this fictional world.
One of the things that did draw my attention away from the story at hand was the plethora of typographical and grammatical errors. Were my copy a paperback, rather than an e-book, I may have been compelled to whip out a red pen to underline and circle my way along. As it stands, this is definitely not the worst that I've seen, but it was irritating all the same. Some critical proofreading would have benefited this work greatly.
Vallar is an easy, entertaining read for those looking for a quick read and conflicts with clearly drawn lines. For those who prefer subtle nuances and strong character development, this may not be the best fit.
Hide and Read
(Review copy provided by the author)
June 17, 2011
Mars of the future. Still desolate and bleak, but the corporations have found ways to make it livable in domes and underground. But when one Corp wants to make a hostile takeover of another, it has nothing to do with share price. The largest corporation, MarsCorp (the Marcs), is bound to take over every other corporation. Talk about corporate wars! These guys mean business.
Young Ian is a psychic within Marscorp. His job is to report his visions of anything going on with the other corps so that the Marcs can attack and take the resources of the others. However, one day Ian sees a hidden mining operation. Along with that, he sees a girl, Kayla, who is a soldier in the mining corporation's army. The rest of the vision shows not only the location of the mine, but also the destruction of a Marc midrange ship. Ian not only wants to find the girl and save her, but he also wants to prevent the Marc ship disaster.
Ian and Nate pull their "elite" rank status to go along on the raid for the mine. Ian warns the Marc officers of the possibility of the Marc ship destruction. Beacon, the evil Marc commander (and oh boy is he evil!) is only intent on capturing the mine, no matter the consequences.
The rest of the book shows Ian's struggle to find and save the girl, and his dawning realization of the uselessness and horror of senseless wars.
In many ways, this is Ian's coming of age story. He has to discover what kind of person he is and what he wants to stand for. Throughout the story, he does just that with great personal loss to himself and others.
Now I've been caught up in the story, so my "short" intro is getting a little long. I'll finish quickly by saying I enjoyed Vallar a lot. Cindy Borgne has done a great job writing in the first person POV of Ian. Kudos to her for a believable portrait of Ian as he goes from boy to man in a short and brutal revelation.
This is great straight-on scifi. Even the psychic abilities of Ian and Nate are explained scientifically (with a little suspension of disbelief, but that's fine). It's believable and well-written.
Excellent book. I recommend it. I look forward to more from Cindy in the future.
Young Ian is a psychic within Marscorp. His job is to report his visions of anything going on with the other corps so that the Marcs can attack and take the resources of the others. However, one day Ian sees a hidden mining operation. Along with that, he sees a girl, Kayla, who is a soldier in the mining corporation's army. The rest of the vision shows not only the location of the mine, but also the destruction of a Marc midrange ship. Ian not only wants to find the girl and save her, but he also wants to prevent the Marc ship disaster.
Ian and Nate pull their "elite" rank status to go along on the raid for the mine. Ian warns the Marc officers of the possibility of the Marc ship destruction. Beacon, the evil Marc commander (and oh boy is he evil!) is only intent on capturing the mine, no matter the consequences.
The rest of the book shows Ian's struggle to find and save the girl, and his dawning realization of the uselessness and horror of senseless wars.
In many ways, this is Ian's coming of age story. He has to discover what kind of person he is and what he wants to stand for. Throughout the story, he does just that with great personal loss to himself and others.
Now I've been caught up in the story, so my "short" intro is getting a little long. I'll finish quickly by saying I enjoyed Vallar a lot. Cindy Borgne has done a great job writing in the first person POV of Ian. Kudos to her for a believable portrait of Ian as he goes from boy to man in a short and brutal revelation.
This is great straight-on scifi. Even the psychic abilities of Ian and Nate are explained scientifically (with a little suspension of disbelief, but that's fine). It's believable and well-written.
Excellent book. I recommend it. I look forward to more from Cindy in the future.
December 15, 2011
This is from that old school of space opera with lasers and space ships and not a lot of highly technical explanations for everything. It's not as cheesy as say old "Flash Gordon" serials, but it's not "hard" science fiction either. Which is fine for people such as myself who enjoy "Star Wars" and the like.
The story takes place on Mars, which is divided into a bunch of corporate factions. The largest faction is Marscorp, whose goal it seems is to return to Earth. Marscorp's philosophy is that if you don't agree with us, then prepare for a hostile takeover. (And we're not talking about buying out your stock.)
To help them with this, they recruit a couple of young psychics, Ian Connors and his friend Nate. One day Ian has a vision of himself with a beautiful redheaded girl and becomes obsessed with finding her. But she turns out to be part of a rival corporation, Gentech. Ian has another vision of her in trouble during a Marscorp attack, so he goes to the battle to try and help. But that only winds up getting Nate killed and Ian in big trouble.
As the plot progresses, Ian discovers that while he's the one with the visions, a lot of things are not what they appear.
I found the plot intriguing. As I said at the beginning, it's not really hard sci-fi. There aren't explanations of how everything works. That's just as well for me, because that stuff can get tedious. Though I was curious why radar deflection is such a big deal. We have stealth technology on airplanes now that uses radar deflection. There was even a prototype ship made using those principles, though it was too expensive to put into production. Since this is in the future, shouldn't they have something better? At the very least if radar isn't working, shouldn't they have infrared or something to spot the ship?
Other than that, some of the dialog was kind of cheesy. Like many self-published novels it could have used another editing pass to eliminate some errors.
Overall though it was an exciting light read that's worth the discount price.
That is all.
The story takes place on Mars, which is divided into a bunch of corporate factions. The largest faction is Marscorp, whose goal it seems is to return to Earth. Marscorp's philosophy is that if you don't agree with us, then prepare for a hostile takeover. (And we're not talking about buying out your stock.)
To help them with this, they recruit a couple of young psychics, Ian Connors and his friend Nate. One day Ian has a vision of himself with a beautiful redheaded girl and becomes obsessed with finding her. But she turns out to be part of a rival corporation, Gentech. Ian has another vision of her in trouble during a Marscorp attack, so he goes to the battle to try and help. But that only winds up getting Nate killed and Ian in big trouble.
As the plot progresses, Ian discovers that while he's the one with the visions, a lot of things are not what they appear.
I found the plot intriguing. As I said at the beginning, it's not really hard sci-fi. There aren't explanations of how everything works. That's just as well for me, because that stuff can get tedious. Though I was curious why radar deflection is such a big deal. We have stealth technology on airplanes now that uses radar deflection. There was even a prototype ship made using those principles, though it was too expensive to put into production. Since this is in the future, shouldn't they have something better? At the very least if radar isn't working, shouldn't they have infrared or something to spot the ship?
Other than that, some of the dialog was kind of cheesy. Like many self-published novels it could have used another editing pass to eliminate some errors.
Overall though it was an exciting light read that's worth the discount price.
That is all.
August 20, 2011
Sensational, exciting and an emotionally whirlwind!
Ian Connors is a sixteen year-old psychic in this military sci-fi story of love, betrayal and deception. He's works for a militaristic company called Marscorp, and is saddled with the responsibility to use his abilities to gather intelligence on other companies fighting for control of Mars. He cannot control his visions, which wander towards and center on a young girl he's never met. The visions of this young girl captivate him. The more he chases these visions of this girl, the more he changes his fate and the fate of those around him. Eventually, what Ian sees in his visions, cause him to question his place with Marscorp.
Cindy Borgne has a bona fide hit on her hands with Vallar. She expertly weaves a teenager's journey into adulthood, with the pain of combat and the angst of a first love. Ian is a complicated character, which Cindy masterfully captures. He makes mistakes and he is tormented by his mistakes. The reader is drawn into an emotional rollercoaster, cheering Ian as he pushes through hardship, scolding him when he acts immature and crying for him when he suffers.
Additionally, speaking from military experience, Cindy does a superb job of creating combat intense scenes. She writes like a season military veteran. I have to give her a platinum round of applause for keeping this old retired Air Force officer intrigued during the battle scenes.
Vallar is what I call a cross-cutting science fiction novel. It has romance, combat, technical wizardry, suspense and adventure. A definite must read now type of book!
Ian Connors is a sixteen year-old psychic in this military sci-fi story of love, betrayal and deception. He's works for a militaristic company called Marscorp, and is saddled with the responsibility to use his abilities to gather intelligence on other companies fighting for control of Mars. He cannot control his visions, which wander towards and center on a young girl he's never met. The visions of this young girl captivate him. The more he chases these visions of this girl, the more he changes his fate and the fate of those around him. Eventually, what Ian sees in his visions, cause him to question his place with Marscorp.
Cindy Borgne has a bona fide hit on her hands with Vallar. She expertly weaves a teenager's journey into adulthood, with the pain of combat and the angst of a first love. Ian is a complicated character, which Cindy masterfully captures. He makes mistakes and he is tormented by his mistakes. The reader is drawn into an emotional rollercoaster, cheering Ian as he pushes through hardship, scolding him when he acts immature and crying for him when he suffers.
Additionally, speaking from military experience, Cindy does a superb job of creating combat intense scenes. She writes like a season military veteran. I have to give her a platinum round of applause for keeping this old retired Air Force officer intrigued during the battle scenes.
Vallar is what I call a cross-cutting science fiction novel. It has romance, combat, technical wizardry, suspense and adventure. A definite must read now type of book!
July 24, 2011
Teenage inexperience, love and psychic ability triumphs over tyrannical corporate greed and corruption on Mars.
***
More adventure and romance than science fiction, author Cindy Borgne pits free will and love against Marscorp’s hostile takeover of other Mars corporations. Ian Connor in his naive teenage years slowly realizes that only he can stop the corrupt and power hungry irrational admiral from using Ian’s psychic ability to plunder Mars with a wanton disregard for human life. Ian’s struggle and interaction with others illustrates how fear controls reactions and love can force ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
A little slow reading at first, the pace of the story picks up considerably with the first battle scene. From there, the momentum draws the readers to its logical conclusion. The storyline is more appropriate for the action and adventure, rather than science fiction genre. Overall, much more detail is needed for the scenery, equipment and psychic ability to follow generally accepted principles of goods writing for the science fiction genre.
The romantic subplot that began to develop a second dimension for some of the characters wasn’t fully explored. The reader is left wondering what happened to Nate’s girlfriend or why did Nate still have psychic ability but no emotions after his injury.
***
More adventure and romance than science fiction, author Cindy Borgne pits free will and love against Marscorp’s hostile takeover of other Mars corporations. Ian Connor in his naive teenage years slowly realizes that only he can stop the corrupt and power hungry irrational admiral from using Ian’s psychic ability to plunder Mars with a wanton disregard for human life. Ian’s struggle and interaction with others illustrates how fear controls reactions and love can force ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
A little slow reading at first, the pace of the story picks up considerably with the first battle scene. From there, the momentum draws the readers to its logical conclusion. The storyline is more appropriate for the action and adventure, rather than science fiction genre. Overall, much more detail is needed for the scenery, equipment and psychic ability to follow generally accepted principles of goods writing for the science fiction genre.
The romantic subplot that began to develop a second dimension for some of the characters wasn’t fully explored. The reader is left wondering what happened to Nate’s girlfriend or why did Nate still have psychic ability but no emotions after his injury.
March 14, 2013
Borgne's world building is fantastic. Her characters are complex and real, the details about Mars rich. She really got it right with Ian's character. He was smart but a bit naive about the realities of life on Mars. He is at the age where he has two things on his mind: girls (especially the one in his dreams), and questioning everything. His confusion and pain as the story progresses is also real. I found myself wondering how he would find Kayla and Borgne didn't use any of the ways I thought up. I love it when I guess and am wrong.
The turns and twists are wonderful, the fight scenes great. One of the themes I really enjoyed was one of forgiveness and acceptance. There are lots of things that could stand in the way of Ian and Kayla's happiness but they both have a forgiving heart and are willing to accept other people. Sometimes this is what gets them in trouble, but it also shows the hope and potential for the people of Mars.
The only thing that bothered me, and it wasn't a big deal, was that I'm not sure I understood the two opposing views. One wants to go back to earth and one to another planet? I missed why they couldn't go back to earth and why would you have to choose one place or the other? I'm guessing it's tied to the resources available, but I wanted to know more about the other planet and why they want to go there so bad.
The turns and twists are wonderful, the fight scenes great. One of the themes I really enjoyed was one of forgiveness and acceptance. There are lots of things that could stand in the way of Ian and Kayla's happiness but they both have a forgiving heart and are willing to accept other people. Sometimes this is what gets them in trouble, but it also shows the hope and potential for the people of Mars.
The only thing that bothered me, and it wasn't a big deal, was that I'm not sure I understood the two opposing views. One wants to go back to earth and one to another planet? I missed why they couldn't go back to earth and why would you have to choose one place or the other? I'm guessing it's tied to the resources available, but I wanted to know more about the other planet and why they want to go there so bad.
July 31, 2011
Sentence structure and grammar could have been clearer, as some descriptions were difficult to determine and seemed rather strange to me, along with areas of the dialogue. Possibly this is also a first person POV issue, which is increasingly become a mode I’m exasperated by, as too often when not used as expansively as possible, it lends a one-dimensional quality to the work. Repetitive phrasing of the main character’s thoughts also exacerbated this feeling.
Since the main character is a sixteen year old, perhaps that’s why the details were so limited in depth, but that’s something that can be corrected within the narrative itself. Characterization tended towards “types” for me. You have Ian, young, misused, sensitive and longing after girl he saw in a vision, in contrast to Beacon, the evil abuser and callous leader of Marscorp.
I wanted to believe, I wanted to be excited, I wanted to like Ian and empathize with him, but the delivery just didn’t provide it for me. I felt there were a lot of good ideas in Vallar, and the planetscape of Mars is definitely a exotic territory I enjoy being explored in science fiction, but for me, I felt editing and characterization issues held this book back from what it could have been.
Since the main character is a sixteen year old, perhaps that’s why the details were so limited in depth, but that’s something that can be corrected within the narrative itself. Characterization tended towards “types” for me. You have Ian, young, misused, sensitive and longing after girl he saw in a vision, in contrast to Beacon, the evil abuser and callous leader of Marscorp.
I wanted to believe, I wanted to be excited, I wanted to like Ian and empathize with him, but the delivery just didn’t provide it for me. I felt there were a lot of good ideas in Vallar, and the planetscape of Mars is definitely a exotic territory I enjoy being explored in science fiction, but for me, I felt editing and characterization issues held this book back from what it could have been.
July 24, 2011
Vallar is a good, solid science fiction story. It's the age-old struggle between the power-hungry leaders and the common man. This novel would have been enjoyable set in any genre, as it covers the basics of a good tale. There is the powers that be in the corporation using the talents of a young man, Ian. He is loyal to the company that has raised him, until his talents show him there are other people out there. Companies that treat their workers and the planet better. There's romance, loyal friendships, betrayal, an underdog to root for. The book is about the struggle of mankind to survive, but to do it under humane circumstances.
As for the characters, the protagonist was well written. Ian grows in maturity throughout as he learns life isn't quite what it seems in the corporation that controls him. The rest could have benefited from a little more work to make them more three-dimensional, but still they were easy to like, or hate as the case may be.
Vallar is an enjoyable read, and if you like science fiction, give this one a try.
*Disclaimer: I received this book from the author through LibraryThing. I was not required to write a positive review.
As for the characters, the protagonist was well written. Ian grows in maturity throughout as he learns life isn't quite what it seems in the corporation that controls him. The rest could have benefited from a little more work to make them more three-dimensional, but still they were easy to like, or hate as the case may be.
Vallar is an enjoyable read, and if you like science fiction, give this one a try.
*Disclaimer: I received this book from the author through LibraryThing. I was not required to write a positive review.
June 15, 2013
Vallar, by Cindy Borgne is the first installment of a sci-fi series, which takes place on the planet Mars, where corporations battle to pilfer the resources of the planet fighting to be the controlling party.
Ian Conners, was taken from his parents to be brought up by the Marc Corporation, who enhance his psychic abilities to gain knowledge of their competitors.
Ian is distracted by a vision of a beautiful girl, Kayla, who he is sure will become part of his future. After he and his best friend are caught up in a blood thirsty battle, instigated by the Marc's because of one his visions, Ian decides he will not be used again to hurt another person and defects from the Marc Corporation to join the side of Vallar, one Mars organization hoping to bring peace to the planet.
This book by Cindy Borgne, is an action packed sci-fi from beginning to end, as Ian strives to remain free from the Marc's and follow his heart.
Ian Conners, was taken from his parents to be brought up by the Marc Corporation, who enhance his psychic abilities to gain knowledge of their competitors.
Ian is distracted by a vision of a beautiful girl, Kayla, who he is sure will become part of his future. After he and his best friend are caught up in a blood thirsty battle, instigated by the Marc's because of one his visions, Ian decides he will not be used again to hurt another person and defects from the Marc Corporation to join the side of Vallar, one Mars organization hoping to bring peace to the planet.
This book by Cindy Borgne, is an action packed sci-fi from beginning to end, as Ian strives to remain free from the Marc's and follow his heart.
September 3, 2012
Ian Connors is a sixteen-year-old psychic who works for a company called Marscor in a futuristic dystopian Martian society. His job is to uncover secrets of rival factions. Unfortunately, his psychic ability allows him to see a young woman from the enemy camp, and he soon realizes he loves her. He must make some important decisions about whose side he's on.
Vallar is a fast-paced science fiction story with plenty of phantom fighter ship action. It's also a story about the protagonist's emotional struggle to do the right thing. Ian is a character who has fears and insecurities. Author, Cindy Borgne, does a very good job in developing Ian so that readers get a good sense of who he is -flaws and stregnths.
Vallar has a good mix of action and sweet romance to keep readers engaged. Young adult readers who enjoy science fiction will enjoy this book.
Vallar is a fast-paced science fiction story with plenty of phantom fighter ship action. It's also a story about the protagonist's emotional struggle to do the right thing. Ian is a character who has fears and insecurities. Author, Cindy Borgne, does a very good job in developing Ian so that readers get a good sense of who he is -flaws and stregnths.
Vallar has a good mix of action and sweet romance to keep readers engaged. Young adult readers who enjoy science fiction will enjoy this book.
July 8, 2013
Seer of Mars by Cindy Borgne is an intense science fiction thriller. The story is mainly about Ian, a young psychic who has visions for Admiral Beacon and Marscorp. As Marscorp sweeps in to find a mine Ian saw in a vision, Ian and his pal Nate, another psychic fly to the battle scene only to get shot down. Ian is told Nate is dead. As punishment, Ian is sent to work in the factories. He ends up in the elevator shop under Sonny. Gentec, formerly Orissa, holds the mine site. They become allied with Deltoton and merge becoming known as Vallar. The only other corporation that can rival Marscorp's power. Ian has visions of Kayla. So imagine his surprise when he finds her working next door. He knows she's with Gentec because he saw her on the phantom ship. There is far more action then can be posted here. For a good scifi read, I recommend Seer of Mars.
January 2, 2013
One of the best books I've read in a good while, in Vallar Cindy Borgne creates a tangible feuding society on Mars, with an innocent teenager caught in the middle. Ian, a psychic, hates war, and when he causes a skirmish by revealing his visions to his Admiral (which he is required to do), he is disgusted in the results of his actions. Through the pages of this book we follow how he tries to escape from what appears, at first glance, to be his destiny, to reach for a vision he has little hope of achieving. But there are friends to be found in the unlikeliest of places, and sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction.
This is a book that is written to a high standard in both story-telling and language. I simply devoured this story, and hope to pick up more books by Cindy soon!
This is a book that is written to a high standard in both story-telling and language. I simply devoured this story, and hope to pick up more books by Cindy soon!
August 22, 2011
Ian has visions of the future. Living on Mars, he's the asset of a powerful corporation seeking dominance over the planet's resources. But he begins to wonder whether he is on the right side...
I really liked Ian. He feels very young in the story with his insecurities and need of a parental figure - but he is also a strong and dynamic character who takes his fate in his own hands time and again.
The story is written in the first person and is easy to follow, fast-paced and well edited and formatted. I enjoyed reading it and look forward to its sequel!
I really liked Ian. He feels very young in the story with his insecurities and need of a parental figure - but he is also a strong and dynamic character who takes his fate in his own hands time and again.
The story is written in the first person and is easy to follow, fast-paced and well edited and formatted. I enjoyed reading it and look forward to its sequel!
December 10, 2011
Teenager Ian Conner has been brought up as an Elite in the Marcs army. He is psychic and is gathering intel on the rogue faction of Genners. After having visions of a young woman that he belives is his future he starts to do research on the people who have raised him only to find that the enemy is not who it seems. Well written and lots of action. This book was hard to put down. I hope to see more from this author and wouldn't mind reading more stories based on the Ian Conner character. GREAT way to spend and afternoon in the sun!!
June 13, 2012
This was a free kindle book on amazon, so I said 'Why not?' I enjoyed it. My only problem was that the narrator's voice (Ian) didn't always seem very...manly. There were a few phrases like, "darn cute" and an excessive amount of tears and there was even a hug between him and his father figure that made me think of a father hugging his daughter, instead of son.
I liked the story and I would be interested to see where the story goes. It definitely was left open for another book, but it could be a complete work by itself as well.
I liked the story and I would be interested to see where the story goes. It definitely was left open for another book, but it could be a complete work by itself as well.
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