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The SynthBreed Trilogy #1
Bloodstained Skies: The Core of Rage
After years of tension, war has finally come to the Union worlds. Hordes of rebels, seeking revenge for their lost worlds, ravage the Peripheral Zones. One of the leaders of the rebellion is Charon Antares, a strict and shrewd warrior who doesn't accept any weaknesses or cowardice. He has been struggling for years to liberate his planet, Zetherion, from the Union control. When another one of his braver mission ends in disaster, the rich and powerful sovereign plans to deprive him of his authority. To save his status, Antares agrees to execute her insane order that may cost the lives of thousands of his people. A young and easy-going girl named Cerridwen lives in a peaceful world. One day, by accident, she comes in Antares's way. When she finds out about the tragedy that happened to her family, she vows revenge, but without collaboration with Antares and the rebels, she will not be able to fulfil her plan. Meanwhile, a group of the Union scientists decides to end the rebel's invasions, once and for all - they build a deadly, inhumane weapon out of sight of the government. For fans Dune, Halo, Star Wars, Warhammer
261 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 19, 2023
6 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Dagmar Rokita
5 books35 followersDagmar Rokita is a Polish writer and an artist. She writes and illustrates dark sci-fi series called "Bloodstained Skies". There are two things that inspire her: imaginary world of geek culture and the deepest corners of human psychology. Huge doses of heavy metal and history documentaries are her creative fuel. She wants to become a famous artist because she needs money to buy sophisticated food for her cat.
New mail:
d.rokita@mailfence.com
dagmar.rokita@skiff.com
New mail:
d.rokita@mailfence.com
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 22, 2023
The book itself starts out quite overwhelming with the wealth of characters - but so do some of the loved classics like LOTR and GOT or the more recent Expanse.
Opening with a conspiracy that you sort of understand but don’t fully know yet, you follow the protagonist as she is dragged into a war when she’s taken prisoner by a rebel squad that was initially meant to capture her father.
The world building is fun and you clearly see the disparities of life from those who live under the rule of the Union and those that want their independence and dare to defy the Union.
I’m very intrigued to see what happens next!
Opening with a conspiracy that you sort of understand but don’t fully know yet, you follow the protagonist as she is dragged into a war when she’s taken prisoner by a rebel squad that was initially meant to capture her father.
The world building is fun and you clearly see the disparities of life from those who live under the rule of the Union and those that want their independence and dare to defy the Union.
I’m very intrigued to see what happens next!
July 22, 2023
Received a copy from the author for an honest review.
The book is a good sci-fi adventure, though to me it has a few problems which is why I gave it a 3.75 star score. The introduction of characters is a bit rough but once you get them straight it goes better. Plus the storyline at the beginning is hard to figure out.
I do want to read the next book when it comes out, as I can't wait to see what happens next. The book did grab me and kept my attention from about the middle on. I am not going to try to explain the story or name any characters because the storyline has twists in it that would be hard to explain and by the end of the book you're not really sure who's going to still be alive for the next book.
The book is a good sci-fi adventure, though to me it has a few problems which is why I gave it a 3.75 star score. The introduction of characters is a bit rough but once you get them straight it goes better. Plus the storyline at the beginning is hard to figure out.
I do want to read the next book when it comes out, as I can't wait to see what happens next. The book did grab me and kept my attention from about the middle on. I am not going to try to explain the story or name any characters because the storyline has twists in it that would be hard to explain and by the end of the book you're not really sure who's going to still be alive for the next book.
November 24, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. The world draws you in slowly and the author's real skill is she shows, she rarely tells, apart from minor details. You get pieces of the world and what's happening as the novel progresses,
I was impressed by the writing during the riot scene. It was so well described that I could picture everything that was happening. Another highlight was the graphics the author had placed in the book. The battle scene at the end, complete with space battle and ground fighting, is great as well as violent, which really helps ring home the horrors of war. Another thing I loved is both sides seem just as bad as each other in terms of committing atrocities and issuing propaganda in support of their ideology.
This would have been five stars, but I couldn't get past two things. The MC, when she is captured by the rebels, sees a news report. Now, her internal voice says that she can't trust either side because of the propaganda, however, she then follows the news as if it is the truth and uses that to motivate her actions. Also the ending was a bit strange to me and I couldn't work out how she ended up on the ship and who put her there. Maybe these questions will be answered in the sequel, and if so, then I'll change my grade to five stars.
All in all, this book was fantastic.
I was impressed by the writing during the riot scene. It was so well described that I could picture everything that was happening. Another highlight was the graphics the author had placed in the book. The battle scene at the end, complete with space battle and ground fighting, is great as well as violent, which really helps ring home the horrors of war. Another thing I loved is both sides seem just as bad as each other in terms of committing atrocities and issuing propaganda in support of their ideology.
This would have been five stars, but I couldn't get past two things. The MC, when she is captured by the rebels, sees a news report. Now, her internal voice says that she can't trust either side because of the propaganda, however, she then follows the news as if it is the truth and uses that to motivate her actions. Also the ending was a bit strange to me and I couldn't work out how she ended up on the ship and who put her there. Maybe these questions will be answered in the sequel, and if so, then I'll change my grade to five stars.
All in all, this book was fantastic.
April 13, 2023
Thrilling dark fantasy!
“Hearing the door open, he looked behind and narrowed his eyes. Two masked and armoured men in dark blue guard uniforms entered the room. One of them held a LiqBoard and turned on a microphone attached to his helmet.
"Everyone must leave this room," he said. "This is not a drill."
This was my first dark fantasy book, I didn’t know what to expect, but I was nicely surprised by how I enjoyed reading it. The story is well written, intriguing and thrilling. A credit to the author!
“Hearing the door open, he looked behind and narrowed his eyes. Two masked and armoured men in dark blue guard uniforms entered the room. One of them held a LiqBoard and turned on a microphone attached to his helmet.
"Everyone must leave this room," he said. "This is not a drill."
This was my first dark fantasy book, I didn’t know what to expect, but I was nicely surprised by how I enjoyed reading it. The story is well written, intriguing and thrilling. A credit to the author!
April 30, 2023
Core of Rage is a dark, sci-fi space opera that is good for readers who enjoy Dune, Halo, Star Wars, and Warhammer. That is, according to Dagmar Rokita, the author of this tale.
I found it a little difficult to get into at first. I kind of missed the background, but what I got from context is there is a faction calling itself the Union that has taken over governance of numerous worlds, much as the Galactic Empire of Star Wars fame. However, the Union's grip is slipping to a very well-armed rebellion as they fight to take back what they have lost. There isn't a lot of detail about the Union. I can only assume there will be more detail about them as the series moves forward with details.
The strength of this book for me was in the principal character, Cerridwen Felvennis. Another strength I enjoyed was the battle scenes, both in space and hand-to-hand in nature.
Here is the synopsis from the back of the book.
After years of tension, war has finally come to the Union worlds. Hordes of rebels, seeking revenge for their lost worlds, ravage the Peripheral Zones.
One of the leaders of the rebellion is Charon Antares, a strict and shrewd warrior who doesn't accept any weaknesses or cowardice. He has been struggling for years to liberate his planet, Zetherion, from Union control. When another one of his braver missions ends in disaster, the rich and powerful sovereign plans to deprive him of his authority. To save his status, Antares agrees to execute her insane order that may cost the lives of thousands of his people.
A young and easy-going girl named Cerridwen lives in a peaceful world. One day, by accident, she comes in Antares way. When she finds out about the tragedy that happened to her family, she vows revenge, but without collaboration with Antares and the rebels, she cannot fulfill her plan.
Meanwhile, a group of the Union scientists decides to end the rebel's invasions, once and for all - they build a deadly, inhumane weapon out of sight of the government.
The principal character, Cerridwen, is a twenty-year-old female character who is secure in her situation and in herself. She possesses skills that allow her to take care of herself and lives on with her father, who is a politician in the Union. She is captured and taken off planet where she is being held by a rebel who wants all the information she might have. When she learns her father has been murdered, she has a strong suspicion about who may be responsible and becomes obsessed with avenging herself upon the offending party. The problem is that she must allow herself to be used as she uses the rebels to achieve her goals.
The best point in the plot occurs later in the book when Cerridwen thinks her way out of an impossible situation to survive and continue her quest. I thought this was a brilliant bit of writing and I couldn't stop reading until the situation was resolved.
There is a devastating weapon introduced in the story that was also very interesting. A brutal killing machine that seemed unbeatable. It was an invention of the Union and designed to end the rebellion forever. If you're thinking Death Star, forget it. The ultimate weapon in this story is far more believable than any of those introduced in Star Wars, and it is on a much smaller scale, but nonetheless dangerous.
My takeaway from Core of Rage is to remember no matter how one thinks they may know the answer, one must also consider they may be wrong.
I would have to further say that the main theme that came to me from the book is obsession. It can sometimes be tragic when one throws caution to the wind and is willing to continue to chase a goal by compromising one’s own ideals.
I enjoyed Core of Rage for the most part. There were a few times I found myself a little confused because there are a lot of different factions to keep track of. Once in a while, I had trouble keeping track of just who was who in the story. Outside of that, I was engaged and entertained as I read. I look forward to more stories in this series as the author continues to grow and develop.
I found it a little difficult to get into at first. I kind of missed the background, but what I got from context is there is a faction calling itself the Union that has taken over governance of numerous worlds, much as the Galactic Empire of Star Wars fame. However, the Union's grip is slipping to a very well-armed rebellion as they fight to take back what they have lost. There isn't a lot of detail about the Union. I can only assume there will be more detail about them as the series moves forward with details.
The strength of this book for me was in the principal character, Cerridwen Felvennis. Another strength I enjoyed was the battle scenes, both in space and hand-to-hand in nature.
Here is the synopsis from the back of the book.
After years of tension, war has finally come to the Union worlds. Hordes of rebels, seeking revenge for their lost worlds, ravage the Peripheral Zones.
One of the leaders of the rebellion is Charon Antares, a strict and shrewd warrior who doesn't accept any weaknesses or cowardice. He has been struggling for years to liberate his planet, Zetherion, from Union control. When another one of his braver missions ends in disaster, the rich and powerful sovereign plans to deprive him of his authority. To save his status, Antares agrees to execute her insane order that may cost the lives of thousands of his people.
A young and easy-going girl named Cerridwen lives in a peaceful world. One day, by accident, she comes in Antares way. When she finds out about the tragedy that happened to her family, she vows revenge, but without collaboration with Antares and the rebels, she cannot fulfill her plan.
Meanwhile, a group of the Union scientists decides to end the rebel's invasions, once and for all - they build a deadly, inhumane weapon out of sight of the government.
The principal character, Cerridwen, is a twenty-year-old female character who is secure in her situation and in herself. She possesses skills that allow her to take care of herself and lives on with her father, who is a politician in the Union. She is captured and taken off planet where she is being held by a rebel who wants all the information she might have. When she learns her father has been murdered, she has a strong suspicion about who may be responsible and becomes obsessed with avenging herself upon the offending party. The problem is that she must allow herself to be used as she uses the rebels to achieve her goals.
The best point in the plot occurs later in the book when Cerridwen thinks her way out of an impossible situation to survive and continue her quest. I thought this was a brilliant bit of writing and I couldn't stop reading until the situation was resolved.
There is a devastating weapon introduced in the story that was also very interesting. A brutal killing machine that seemed unbeatable. It was an invention of the Union and designed to end the rebellion forever. If you're thinking Death Star, forget it. The ultimate weapon in this story is far more believable than any of those introduced in Star Wars, and it is on a much smaller scale, but nonetheless dangerous.
My takeaway from Core of Rage is to remember no matter how one thinks they may know the answer, one must also consider they may be wrong.
I would have to further say that the main theme that came to me from the book is obsession. It can sometimes be tragic when one throws caution to the wind and is willing to continue to chase a goal by compromising one’s own ideals.
I enjoyed Core of Rage for the most part. There were a few times I found myself a little confused because there are a lot of different factions to keep track of. Once in a while, I had trouble keeping track of just who was who in the story. Outside of that, I was engaged and entertained as I read. I look forward to more stories in this series as the author continues to grow and develop.
November 10, 2024
3.5 stars.
Received this book from the author. My thanks to Dagmar for the book.
This review is based on my reading this book and reflects my honest opinion based on my reading.
I received this book in April this year but started reading it from September.
Dagmar has created an ambitious space opera that pulls you into a galaxy torn apart by war and rebellion. The story follows a young woman on a vengeful trip, who’s captured by rebels while searching for her father, only to find herself caught in the middle of a brutal conflict between the oppressive Union and the rebels fighting for freedom. The world-building is deep and immersive, highlighting the gritty realities of both sides, and the action is intense—especially during a gripping riot scene and a massive battle that combines space combat with ground fighting. While the book’s large cast of characters is overwhelming and the pacing occasionally stumbles, the stakes and atmosphere keep you hooked. Some awkward phrasing and abrupt scene changes can be distracting, but overall, Bloodstained Skies sets the stage for a compelling saga that will appeal to fans of complex, morally ambiguous stories.
What I loved in this story was the intricate world-building which unfolds gradually, and Dagmar excels in showing rather than telling, which allows readers to piece together and visualise the complexities of the setting and the shifting allegiances. One particular riot scene is brilliantly described and the action sequences, including a climactic battle with both space and ground combat, are intense and visceral, emphasizing the brutal reality of war.
The flipside was when on occasions the prose goes overboard, a massive character list that strains the mind, the occasional abrupt shifts in chapters and finally the most important for me was the protagonist's inconsistent handling of propaganda. Initially a sceptic to any and every information from both sides she later seemed to accept almost every news reports at face value.
Overall this is a promising start to a space opera that offers a lot of depth and would appeal to science fiction fans like me with the mega scale adventures.
Recommended.
Received this book from the author. My thanks to Dagmar for the book.
This review is based on my reading this book and reflects my honest opinion based on my reading.
I received this book in April this year but started reading it from September.
Dagmar has created an ambitious space opera that pulls you into a galaxy torn apart by war and rebellion. The story follows a young woman on a vengeful trip, who’s captured by rebels while searching for her father, only to find herself caught in the middle of a brutal conflict between the oppressive Union and the rebels fighting for freedom. The world-building is deep and immersive, highlighting the gritty realities of both sides, and the action is intense—especially during a gripping riot scene and a massive battle that combines space combat with ground fighting. While the book’s large cast of characters is overwhelming and the pacing occasionally stumbles, the stakes and atmosphere keep you hooked. Some awkward phrasing and abrupt scene changes can be distracting, but overall, Bloodstained Skies sets the stage for a compelling saga that will appeal to fans of complex, morally ambiguous stories.
What I loved in this story was the intricate world-building which unfolds gradually, and Dagmar excels in showing rather than telling, which allows readers to piece together and visualise the complexities of the setting and the shifting allegiances. One particular riot scene is brilliantly described and the action sequences, including a climactic battle with both space and ground combat, are intense and visceral, emphasizing the brutal reality of war.
The flipside was when on occasions the prose goes overboard, a massive character list that strains the mind, the occasional abrupt shifts in chapters and finally the most important for me was the protagonist's inconsistent handling of propaganda. Initially a sceptic to any and every information from both sides she later seemed to accept almost every news reports at face value.
Overall this is a promising start to a space opera that offers a lot of depth and would appeal to science fiction fans like me with the mega scale adventures.
Recommended.
March 20, 2024
Bloodstained Skies: The Core of Rage (The SynthBreed Trilogy #1)
Yes that’s a long title - which seems to be the norm now a days. The author calls this ‘military sci-fi’ but I would class it more as a space opera there is a LOT going on. Rebels, politics, greed, bribes, graphic violence, many different alien species, coming of age, and conspiracies involving synthetic beings.
Overall it’s a good story with some over dramatic prose - speaking of which, the phrasing is often odd. I know the author is not a native English speaker and all in all did a good job - there are just odd word choices once in a while.
A few constructive criticisms: Many character names are needlessly hard to pronounce and therefore make them difficult to remember. Many times the characters are referred to by their ‘nationality’ - the Celestian man or the Kenrian woman, which makes for tedious reading. Even worse, a few times we get two Celestian people in the same scene which makes that hard to follow. I wish the chapters were shorter and limited to a particular scene of action - often the action changes abruptly from a spaceship to a completely different scene on a planet in the same chapter with no warning. I had to go back and reread several sections to try to understand what was going on. The story really needs to flow better.
Another issue that seems to crop up in science fiction is the use of ancient technology in the context of the future and interstellar exploration. Does anyone really think people are going to still be using bullets hundreds or thousands of years from now? For one thing gunpowder may not even work in space and the recoil would be disastrous in weightless environments. Please authors, think in the future.
Yes that’s a long title - which seems to be the norm now a days. The author calls this ‘military sci-fi’ but I would class it more as a space opera there is a LOT going on. Rebels, politics, greed, bribes, graphic violence, many different alien species, coming of age, and conspiracies involving synthetic beings.
Overall it’s a good story with some over dramatic prose - speaking of which, the phrasing is often odd. I know the author is not a native English speaker and all in all did a good job - there are just odd word choices once in a while.
A few constructive criticisms: Many character names are needlessly hard to pronounce and therefore make them difficult to remember. Many times the characters are referred to by their ‘nationality’ - the Celestian man or the Kenrian woman, which makes for tedious reading. Even worse, a few times we get two Celestian people in the same scene which makes that hard to follow. I wish the chapters were shorter and limited to a particular scene of action - often the action changes abruptly from a spaceship to a completely different scene on a planet in the same chapter with no warning. I had to go back and reread several sections to try to understand what was going on. The story really needs to flow better.
Another issue that seems to crop up in science fiction is the use of ancient technology in the context of the future and interstellar exploration. Does anyone really think people are going to still be using bullets hundreds or thousands of years from now? For one thing gunpowder may not even work in space and the recoil would be disastrous in weightless environments. Please authors, think in the future.
May 17, 2024
This review was first published on Kurt's Frontier.
Synopsis:
The Union has dominated the galaxy for centuries. Now, rebellion has come to the worlds of Union’s Peripheral Zones. With the rebels looking to avenge their conquered worlds. Commander Charon Antares is a no-nonsense rebel leader trying to liberate his home planet. When a mission not sanctioned by the Rebel hierarchy leads to disaster, he takes a suicide mission to avoid losing command. Cerridwen, a young girl living on a Union world, accidentally becomes entangled with Antares. Believing her adoptive brother, Seth, has murdered her father, she stays with Antares for a chance at revenge. At the same time, Seth becomes involved with Union scientists working with forbidden technology to end the Rebellion once and for all.
Review:
Dagmar Rokita is a Polish citizen and a Dark Science Fiction writer. Let us start by saying the story is, indeed, dark. Union and Rebel forces seem to have little to choose between them. It depends on whose propaganda you believe. After falling in with the Rebels, Cerridwen has begun to figure that fact out.
The story starts slowly, with some names being close enough that the reader can mix them up. As the reader gets into the story, they will find this problem settles down, but it can prove jarring at the beginning. There is plenty of action, and while the Union and Rebellion as institutions are not sympathetic, the main characters are. Cerridwen is a young woman whose innocence the war slowly peels away. Antares and Seth watch themselves becoming the monsters they so hate.
The dark, dehumanizing elements of the story stand in stark contrast to the people the story is about. I’m looking forward to the next book.
Synopsis:
The Union has dominated the galaxy for centuries. Now, rebellion has come to the worlds of Union’s Peripheral Zones. With the rebels looking to avenge their conquered worlds. Commander Charon Antares is a no-nonsense rebel leader trying to liberate his home planet. When a mission not sanctioned by the Rebel hierarchy leads to disaster, he takes a suicide mission to avoid losing command. Cerridwen, a young girl living on a Union world, accidentally becomes entangled with Antares. Believing her adoptive brother, Seth, has murdered her father, she stays with Antares for a chance at revenge. At the same time, Seth becomes involved with Union scientists working with forbidden technology to end the Rebellion once and for all.
Review:
Dagmar Rokita is a Polish citizen and a Dark Science Fiction writer. Let us start by saying the story is, indeed, dark. Union and Rebel forces seem to have little to choose between them. It depends on whose propaganda you believe. After falling in with the Rebels, Cerridwen has begun to figure that fact out.
The story starts slowly, with some names being close enough that the reader can mix them up. As the reader gets into the story, they will find this problem settles down, but it can prove jarring at the beginning. There is plenty of action, and while the Union and Rebellion as institutions are not sympathetic, the main characters are. Cerridwen is a young woman whose innocence the war slowly peels away. Antares and Seth watch themselves becoming the monsters they so hate.
The dark, dehumanizing elements of the story stand in stark contrast to the people the story is about. I’m looking forward to the next book.
September 15, 2023
Whenever I review a book that does not exactly fit into my preferred genres, I try to be as objective as possible. Luckily, though I'm personally not the biggest fan of epic-scale, plot-heavy books, I was pleasantly surprised by the characters in here! So, if you're into action-packed sci-fi, this is definitely for you, but even if you prefer character-focused narratives, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to you as well. Because I ended up enjoying the flawed, believable cast so much, I wish we would have been given a little more background on them, but it's precisely this lack that left me wanting to learn more about them in future books. Antares—self-assured commander with a small (or big?) hero-complex, whose impulsivity and heroism prove to be a fatal flaw—was my favourite character by far, but his entire crew was compelling in different ways (the gullible Quirinus, the selfless Chandri)... Cerridwen, as a character idea, should have been straight up my alley, though I found her revenge-driven descent into madness to be glossed over a little too fast. There's a lot to say for the rest of the cast as well, but I'll leave it to you, future reader, to discover the rest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2024
This was a very enjoyable read. I loved everything about this story - from the strong female protagonist Cerridwen, to the action scenes, and the antagonists which all made the plot run smoothly. Scenes were very well described and I could definitely imagine what was happening. Overall, it was very well written.
The Core of Rage (which is the first book in the SynthBreed Trilogy) feels a lot like Star Wars as it has a similar concept of rebels fighting against an oppressive galactic system (the Union) which has created a system of haves and have nots. Cerridwen is a very good female character whom the audience can easily relate to and root for. I also thought the rebel leader Charon Antares was a very strong character as well.
Just one little issue I had (in fact it wasn't even enough to take away a star) was a few formatting issues, some of the text in various places where the characters were speaking was highlighted in bold. Not sure if this was intended, but it didn't affect my view of the story overall.
In summary, this was an excellent story - 5 stars.
The Core of Rage (which is the first book in the SynthBreed Trilogy) feels a lot like Star Wars as it has a similar concept of rebels fighting against an oppressive galactic system (the Union) which has created a system of haves and have nots. Cerridwen is a very good female character whom the audience can easily relate to and root for. I also thought the rebel leader Charon Antares was a very strong character as well.
Just one little issue I had (in fact it wasn't even enough to take away a star) was a few formatting issues, some of the text in various places where the characters were speaking was highlighted in bold. Not sure if this was intended, but it didn't affect my view of the story overall.
In summary, this was an excellent story - 5 stars.
September 27, 2023
BLOODSTAINED SKIES is gritty science fiction written by an author who truly loves her characters and her story. This is a tale of war between an established force and rebel factions, as a leader, Antares, fights to free his planet from the control of the Union, and a privileged young girl, Cerridwen, who gets caught up in the middle. What I liked: the battle scenes were very nicely described. Much thought was given into describing detail of what was occurring, and this was where the novel really shined. I’m a longtime Star Wars reader and the technical sci fi descriptions here were top notch. There were also many illustrations included throughout the book, some of characters (I liked those especially), and some of little details of worldbuilding, and I thought that was a really nice touch that especially adds to the reading experience for sci fi fans. What I struggled slightly with: the plot and the way characters are introduced felt disorganized at the beginning which led to me being confused what was going on at times. Plot wise, it didn’t feel like A led to B led to C in a methodical way. Overall, this was a great sci fi read, with a few small flaws. 4/5 stars.
November 10, 2023
The Core of Rage has a well plotted story with well paced action to get you over the hump of the first quarter of the novel. You'll be bombarded with characters from a handful of alien races, but the payoff is the political conspiracy and loads of combat. If you find a lack of character development, it's only because they're too busy getting things done. This story is action packed.
You might stumble over an odd turn of phrase here and there, but no errors to speak of. The author loves her genre and it shows in her writing. I felt the story was a four star and the execution closer to a three. 3.5 stars.
You might stumble over an odd turn of phrase here and there, but no errors to speak of. The author loves her genre and it shows in her writing. I felt the story was a four star and the execution closer to a three. 3.5 stars.
June 30, 2024
Bloodstained Skies: The Core of Rage is an excellent dark space opera, full of twists and turns as the young Celestian protagonist is dragged into a galactic-scale rebellion. The writing is excellent, the action incredibly well-done, and with a large cast of characters leap off of the page. There's issues, of course, the plot meanders at times and it can be hard to follow who is talking in scenes with more than two characters. But what the book gets right is scale - it really does feel like a space opera, not like a recent Star Wars show that could take place on three or four Hollywood backsets. The scope is immense and Rokita gets it right. A dark space opera for fans of the genre!
August 19, 2023
I really enjoyed Dagmar's novel. This was my first read of her work, and she did not disappoint. The story line is engaging, and I am glad there is a continuation. Alot going on. Cerridwen, the main character, was someone you felt for, but impressed by her resilience. I am a big Science Fiction, futuristic buff so this was right up my alley. Don't want to spoil the plot, but a must read for off world fans.
Keep up the writing Dagmar!
Keep up the writing Dagmar!
October 4, 2023
The author paints a vivid and detailed world with a unique cast of characters who come alive on the page. The story does take some time to ease into as there are multiple alien races and interstellar politics that take some time to understand and differentiate, but once it does the plot picks up and the paces moves quick as we learn about a sinister conspiracy with an ending that makes me want to read the next book in the series.
August 12, 2024
Good but not excellent
The characters were somewhat interesting.
However, a few of the terminologies, such as "communicational" threw me off. I don't know if this copy was a pre-edit or not, and I'd like to hope that these mistakes were fixed in later copies.
Overall not a bad start, but could become much better.
The characters were somewhat interesting.
However, a few of the terminologies, such as "communicational" threw me off. I don't know if this copy was a pre-edit or not, and I'd like to hope that these mistakes were fixed in later copies.
Overall not a bad start, but could become much better.
December 29, 2023
A massive thrilling adventure into fantasy and more. I loved it!!!!
March 21, 2024
This book is a little rough around the edges but it's a good story with a complex plot.
August 18, 2023
The story is quite dark and the author paints the world with gritty detail. The plot moves quickly, but there are some welcome breaks in the brisk pace.
The story involves several important characters, but the primary character is a strong willed young woman who continuously finds herself in some kind dangerous circumstance.
There are a few interesting characters and plots I wished were more developed. I was particularly interested in learning more about the various cultures depicted.
If you are into dark science fiction adventure with plenty of action, you will not be disappointed. The action, settings and tone of the story will satisfy you.
The story involves several important characters, but the primary character is a strong willed young woman who continuously finds herself in some kind dangerous circumstance.
There are a few interesting characters and plots I wished were more developed. I was particularly interested in learning more about the various cultures depicted.
If you are into dark science fiction adventure with plenty of action, you will not be disappointed. The action, settings and tone of the story will satisfy you.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews