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Stories of the Pelted Military
Alysha's Fall
What is the definition of strength? At what point is there nothing more to learn than the limits of endurance? When is darkness no longer contrast to light but a suffocation, and how close to that line can a person walk before she risks her soul? Ten years after she graduated from the Fleet Academe at Terracentrus, Alysha Forrest was captain of the battlecruiser UAV Stardancer with more honor to her name than any other officer her age. But before that dawn there was a night, and it is in the darkness that souls are made...or broken.
- GenresScience FictionFantasy
150 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2000
8 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
M.C.A. Hogarth
145 books386 followersDaughter of two Cuban political exiles, M.C.A. Hogarth was born a foreigner in the American melting pot and has had a fascination for the gaps in cultures and the bridges that span them ever since. She has been many things—-web database architect, product manager, technical writer and massage therapist—-but is currently a full-time parent, artist, writer and anthropologist to aliens, both human and otherwise.
Her fiction has variously been recommended for a Nebula, a finalist for the Spectrum, placed on the secondary Tiptree reading list and chosen for two best-of anthologies; her art has appeared in RPGs, magazines and on book covers.
Her fiction has variously been recommended for a Nebula, a finalist for the Spectrum, placed on the secondary Tiptree reading list and chosen for two best-of anthologies; her art has appeared in RPGs, magazines and on book covers.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 20, 2022
The various chapters seem to be a chronological collection of short stories about Alysha's life. First one about her life before the Academy. Second one, "Two Uniforms", is about her trying to get accepted into the Academy and warrants a trigger warning for rape. It's brief and not graphic, but it's not in the off either.
"A Cold and Gentle Dark" is another pretty grim chapter. And it continues like that. Much darker than expected and overall not what I expected, based on the author's other works I have read so far.
With "Blood Money" the story picked up for me and with "Steel" I was hooked.
"Steel" is a great chapter. Brighthaven is an excellent addition to the cast and the storyline holds enough surprises to build up suspense.
In the foreword of the book Alastar is likened to a Vulcan and that observation is spot on, all the way to the pointy ears.
The last three chapters made the book for me. I even got pretty emotional towards the end. Some of these characters I want to meet again.
There are a few baffling spelling mistakes, as if an autocorrect hasn't been caught.
Recommend for fans of the author, but a better starting point is her "Her Instruments" series, beginning with Earthrise.
+*+*+
Alysha Forrest novels:
(Prequel) Alysha's Fall — this one, read
1. Second — owned, unread
2. Who is Willing
3. Sword of the Alliance
4. Either Side of the Strand
"A Cold and Gentle Dark" is another pretty grim chapter. And it continues like that. Much darker than expected and overall not what I expected, based on the author's other works I have read so far.
With "Blood Money" the story picked up for me and with "Steel" I was hooked.
"Steel" is a great chapter. Brighthaven is an excellent addition to the cast and the storyline holds enough surprises to build up suspense.
In the foreword of the book Alastar is likened to a Vulcan and that observation is spot on, all the way to the pointy ears.
The last three chapters made the book for me. I even got pretty emotional towards the end. Some of these characters I want to meet again.
There are a few baffling spelling mistakes, as if an autocorrect hasn't been caught.
Recommend for fans of the author, but a better starting point is her "Her Instruments" series, beginning with Earthrise.
+*+*+
Alysha Forrest novels:
1. Second — owned, unread
2. Who is Willing
3. Sword of the Alliance
4. Either Side of the Strand
July 14, 2020
Despite my rather high star rating (primarily for the character and world building), I can not recommend this book to anybody. The author cautions that it's rated R - this is a vast understatement. Were this reality, the main character would not have survived with her sanity intact, no matter how strong her will. Even steel burns when exposed to too much heat.
And the worst part - the least believable part? All of this comes about because this Federation-alike world doesn't have ROTC, a GI Bill equivalent, or even student loans.
And the worst part - the least believable part? All of this comes about because this Federation-alike world doesn't have ROTC, a GI Bill equivalent, or even student loans.
March 5, 2018
Way too dark for me, but I was warned. I felt it necessary to get the background on this character before reading the sequels.
November 10, 2018
Maudlin martyr-porn.
If martyr-porn is your jam, then this is the PERFECT book for you.
Not only does the MC suffer, she suffer excessively, and she does so in part to protect others.
There's just a TINY little flaw in the premise.
1) Girl is poor.
2) Poor girl wants expensive education.
3) All scholarships are taken by the rich, all high-paying jobs require experience.
4) Therefore poor girl chooses to prostitute herself in a "blood makes the best lube" kinda place.
Now, she's not being forced into prostitution, she's not kept as a prisoner, she's not even brought back to the brothel for the declawing, no, she returns of her own volition.
This obviously does not excuse the abuse heaped upon her, but she CHOOSES to remain, for FINANCIAL gain, and the maudlin tone the author elects to use clashes deeply with what is an expression of agency. Terribly flawed agency, but still.
Other than the discordant morality/tone issue, the writing is quite good.
If martyr-porn is your jam, then this is the PERFECT book for you.
Not only does the MC suffer, she suffer excessively, and she does so in part to protect others.
There's just a TINY little flaw in the premise.
1) Girl is poor.
2) Poor girl wants expensive education.
3) All scholarships are taken by the rich, all high-paying jobs require experience.
4) Therefore poor girl chooses to prostitute herself in a "blood makes the best lube" kinda place.
Now, she's not being forced into prostitution, she's not kept as a prisoner, she's not even brought back to the brothel for the declawing, no, she returns of her own volition.
This obviously does not excuse the abuse heaped upon her, but she CHOOSES to remain, for FINANCIAL gain, and the maudlin tone the author elects to use clashes deeply with what is an expression of agency. Terribly flawed agency, but still.
Other than the discordant morality/tone issue, the writing is quite good.
May 15, 2022
Not quite as good as Hogarth's other books, but still very readable. Somehow in the translation into an ebook, many words starting with f - flee, flew, field in particular, became nee, new and meld! I am very annoyed at Amazon, who charge a lot of money for electronic books, but don't make sure they are of appropriate quality.
May 26, 2020
This is a brutal read, but very well done inded. Of note, in the edition I have, the person introducing the work (not Hogarth) bloody well spoils a key plot point. The book is top-notch amazing, but Skip The Introduction Thing. Seriously.
October 4, 2021
Dancer Dilemma
What would you be willing to do for your. dreams. Alysha has had a difficult life and dreams of going to the stars. Unable to obtain a scholarship, nor able to enlist in the work program, she finds a job that will pay for her education, though at what cost.
What would you be willing to do for your. dreams. Alysha has had a difficult life and dreams of going to the stars. Unable to obtain a scholarship, nor able to enlist in the work program, she finds a job that will pay for her education, though at what cost.
February 3, 2023
Excellent sci fi adventure
But there weren't enough trigger warnings. Fall is extremely dark with rape, torture, physical abuse, starvation, PTSD, and mental abuse. Alysha is a fascinating character, and the book is well-written, but the story isn't a happy one.
But there weren't enough trigger warnings. Fall is extremely dark with rape, torture, physical abuse, starvation, PTSD, and mental abuse. Alysha is a fascinating character, and the book is well-written, but the story isn't a happy one.
July 15, 2020
Excellent. Having read and loved the Dreamhealers books, so excited to find a whole new series! Thank you.
November 1, 2020
Engaging
Read the prequel first. Definitely want to see what’s next for Alysha! Such a strong character. I’m fascinated with the Pelted Universe.
Read the prequel first. Definitely want to see what’s next for Alysha! Such a strong character. I’m fascinated with the Pelted Universe.
March 1, 2017
clearly an early work
September 18, 2011
From my Amazon review:
This is, as the book itself says, a collection of short stories that theme together more as sections in a larger work. Despite the name, it is the story of Alysha's rise -- through darkness, desperation, and awful choices.
In some ways, it's obviously one of the author's earlier works; the prose is lush, but occasionally flirts with "lavender" (though never quite reaching "purple prose" status). Some of the plot complications are perhaps simplified or slightly exaggerated. On the other hand, most characters are rock-solid, and carry the plot firmly. The antagonists are not so well-sketched as in later works (especially "Second"), but they're quite good enough to fill their roles.
It does have Disturbing Stuff going on. It includes the topic, the themes, of prostitution and it's not the happy-romanticized-fully consenting kind. I'm *not* criticizing the work for this, but it's worth knowing in case of personal triggers. It's not graphically graphic, but the fades to black are there less to hide, and more to avoid dwelling on ugliness more than is absolutely necessary for character and plot.
There are some minor technical flaws: in the conversion from a prior form, almost all instances of the word "field" turned into "meld," and a few "fl" combinations (flee, flew) became a "n" (nee, new). I wouldn't mention it if I hadn't spent a few moments puzzling over the use of "meld" in a particular sentence, and wondering why it hadn't been defined as a world-specific usage.
I've mentioned the minor weaknesses -- but I'm giving this one five stars, because even with those weaknesses, the thematic stuff going on is good, there are some unexpected developments (or possibly un-developments), there are expected developments that affirm the narrative we know in our hearts, and it wraps up with a quite satisfying conclusion. As a story arc, it has a good, solid structure, with satisfying emotional tones -- and it's not too long, nor too short. It sketches a world that is both alien and familiar. And, ha, it still contains the underlying themes: humanity, through the furred lens of the Pelted, is still human, with all that means.
This is, as the book itself says, a collection of short stories that theme together more as sections in a larger work. Despite the name, it is the story of Alysha's rise -- through darkness, desperation, and awful choices.
In some ways, it's obviously one of the author's earlier works; the prose is lush, but occasionally flirts with "lavender" (though never quite reaching "purple prose" status). Some of the plot complications are perhaps simplified or slightly exaggerated. On the other hand, most characters are rock-solid, and carry the plot firmly. The antagonists are not so well-sketched as in later works (especially "Second"), but they're quite good enough to fill their roles.
It does have Disturbing Stuff going on. It includes the topic, the themes, of prostitution and it's not the happy-romanticized-fully consenting kind. I'm *not* criticizing the work for this, but it's worth knowing in case of personal triggers. It's not graphically graphic, but the fades to black are there less to hide, and more to avoid dwelling on ugliness more than is absolutely necessary for character and plot.
There are some minor technical flaws: in the conversion from a prior form, almost all instances of the word "field" turned into "meld," and a few "fl" combinations (flee, flew) became a "n" (nee, new). I wouldn't mention it if I hadn't spent a few moments puzzling over the use of "meld" in a particular sentence, and wondering why it hadn't been defined as a world-specific usage.
I've mentioned the minor weaknesses -- but I'm giving this one five stars, because even with those weaknesses, the thematic stuff going on is good, there are some unexpected developments (or possibly un-developments), there are expected developments that affirm the narrative we know in our hearts, and it wraps up with a quite satisfying conclusion. As a story arc, it has a good, solid structure, with satisfying emotional tones -- and it's not too long, nor too short. It sketches a world that is both alien and familiar. And, ha, it still contains the underlying themes: humanity, through the furred lens of the Pelted, is still human, with all that means.
February 8, 2015
What a hard and painful story
It still almost doesn't make sense to me that Alysha managed to become the person she did after so little love and so much abuse, but I'm so glad some of us do grow through the suffering we've endured and manage to become the beautiful broken people we are and to grow into we're meant to be - in some sense because of the pain rather than despite it.
It still almost doesn't make sense to me that Alysha managed to become the person she did after so little love and so much abuse, but I'm so glad some of us do grow through the suffering we've endured and manage to become the beautiful broken people we are and to grow into we're meant to be - in some sense because of the pain rather than despite it.
February 13, 2017
These stories are well written and enjoyable. The first part of the book is a bit graphic, which may surprise you if you've only read her later stories, but the violence is not out of place.
January 11, 2017
This was dark -- rape warning -- but built an understanding of a strong character. I would have liked more introspection.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews