Monarch's Bane

by Bowyn Olsen, Alli Hanover (Illustrator), McKenna Christiansen (Editor)

Battle-hardened Captain Vann Ge’bulra, a good soldier who knows his place, has a decision to make when a reassignment puts him in the middle of a treasonous pact. The Lady Avreya Shin'Lotha – the second most powerful woman in the Void – is guilty of treason. Avreya’s sister Elenzia – The Void's most powerful woman – knows of Avreya's treason and wants her dead for it. Guardscaptain Vann must wrestle with two realities: Fulfill duty and protect Lady Avreya at all cost or serve the Monarchy to the letter by exposing the truth. Life was much more simple when Vann simply had to kill targets and fulfill mission objectives. But there are secrets in the Void, and in Avreya’s own family, that nobody can foresee; not even those who sit on the thrones of governance across the stars.

366 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 19, 2023

About the author

Bowyn grew up in rural Northern Utah where he did anything except excel in school, despite his fondness for reading and creating stories. He remembers spending hours creating comics on haphazardly stapled computer paper or building toy scenes and characters with rich backstories to play out complex plots across the universe of his bedroom. Tolkien was the first big influence on his love of all things fantasy and science fiction in writing and film. He graduated from Utah State University in 2017 with a degree in English Education. While in college, Bowyn worked in the audio/visual event field. Bowyn was a high school English teacher and athletic coach for five years before going back into audio/visual event technologies. When not writing or working in A/V, Bowyn can be found adventuring with his wife and five kids, going to church, playing video games, or watching football.

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Reviews

[Maegan Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not usually a fan of science fiction, but this read is an exception. As an avid book reader, my favorite thing is when I can't guess what's coming next. Get ready to emerge in the fantasy of space, battle, treason, and a chance for love. When does the next book come out!?! I am also a huge fan of Avreya; I think I need my own pair of platform combat boots after reading this book. I won't give any spoilers, but holy crap! That ending! I did not see that coming, and nothing makes me happier than that :)

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captain Vann Ge’Bulra’s predicament is an engaging one. He is a prime example of a soldier; by the books, and one hundred percent committed to his cause and empire. To a man who is accustomed to the battlefield, being assigned to protect Avreya Shin'Lotha, who is more socialite than politician in his eyes, feels like a downgrade, even though it's supposed to be a promotion. He learns that his reassignment was brought on by an attempt on Lady Avreya’s life, which makes things a little more interesting, but Vann still butts heads with the bureaucrats and his new, less-than-competent coworkers. Then after a second attack that leaves their battleship stranded, he discovers Lady Avreya’s possible crimes against the monarchy, and it pulls his sense of duty two ways. The captain’s unalloyed service is put into its own treasonous Catch-22: do his job and protect the woman whose service he has been pledged to, or turn her in for the good of monarchy.

Monarch’s Bane delivers on the promise of the premise. Political intrigue, plasma rifles, and a sibling rivalry with intergalactic consequences; everything offered by Olsen is present. What you see is what you get.

The sisters’ relationship is interesting, twisted by their childhood spent being groomed for power. The world of the novel is rich and unique on board the battleships and off.

My problem comes from the representation of other cultures in the novel. There’s a critique of the imperialist war-mongering present, for sure, but there is still a subtle lack of awareness in referring to the victims of the monarchy’s conquest as “tribals,” and a very un-subtle ignorance in associating them with cannibalism. Then there’s also the issue of some…interesting…dialectical choices for some of the soldiers, from which a direct line of inspiration can be drawn to outdated characters of Black people.

Otherwise, it’s an easy-to-read military thriller with deep space and far-away planets as a backdrop. If that sounds like your cup of tea, it’s definitely worth a read.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

futuristic family relationships that destroy people and planets in one sisters desire for revenge and power.

Monarch’s Bane gives a glimpse into a future universe based on greed, competition and a warrior like religion. Two unlikely characters unite to try and change everything. The character development of Avreya and Vann pulled me into the story and I couldn’t put the book down. Bowyn Olsen creates rich characters that you can’t get enough of. I highly recommend Monarch’s Bane to my fellow sci-fi/ fantasy readers. You will love it!