Virtues of War: Ghosts of War by Bennett R. Coles

Virtues of War #2

by Bennett R. Coles

No-one ever said coming home was easy…With a colonial rebellion put down, the veterans of Expeditionary Force 15 can return to Earth. But the welcome they may have expected isn’t waiting for them. Finding themselves in a world that is in some ways just as hostile as the colonial battlegrounds, the veterans must hold close to each other amongst the chaos of a peace no-one thinks will hold, combatting enemies from without and, most of all, from within.In this much-anticipated sequel to Virtues of War, author Bennett R. Coles sweeps the reader back into the futuristic world of the Terran Astral a world where love and loyalty are painted in shades of grey,and where truth is very often the first casualty of war.

Genres: Science Fiction, Adult, Science Fiction Fantasy

Paperback

First published April 30, 2013

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Casualties of War" I won from Goodreads Giveaways and found it to be a captivating story of the physical and mental destructiveness that war in space has on the lives of its veterans. In the aftermath of a bloody Terran attack on Centauri, Katja Emmes, the daughter of a decorated hero, is stricken with posttraumatic stress syndrome and finds little support in her distress. After a disastrous reassignment she is condemned to medical leave, but finds the strictures of civilian life not only restrictive but psychologically destructive. Lieutenant Commander Thomas Kane, the ambitious war hero cannot curb his voracious appetite to climb the military ladder of success, even seeking a convenient marriage to a beautiful Jovian socialite. But even as his goals seem within reach he's haunted by an unforgettable love affair from the past. Jack Mallory, a young brash pilot with superior intelligent is troubled by a severe injury that haunts him, but like Thomas Kane finds some solace in his reassignment to the Neil Armstrong, a research vessel looking into Dark Bomb technology. Into this mix add another casualty of war, Kete Moro, a Centaurian spy whose hatred for Katja Emmes after his family's killed, propels him to infiltrate the Terran homeland to uncover intelligence to be used for a surprise Centaurian attack. This a story of struggle not just between the colonies and Terra, but between the veterans of war and the demons that haunt them. The characters are strong and complex, and the reader falls prey emotionally to the twists and turns of their thoughts and actions as the plot thickens. This is a story filled with intrigue, betrayal and deceit but also with elements of friendship, love and loyalty, although at times the lines between them seem grey.
I enjoyed this book so much that I plan to backtrack and read "Virtues of War" the first book. This is a great series and look for another book to follow Casualties of War.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Virtues Of war series by Bennett R. Coles. This series is Military Science Fiction. The first book was full of action with many space battles as well as ground action. It took place when the space colonies of Terra were revolting against the homeworld. They are lead by the Colony of Centauri. This book takes place after the battles are over and the people of Terra think they have won and everything will return to normal. Think again! First off some of the returning veterans are having a difficult time adjusting to peacetime living. Also, the State is looking for someone to make a scapegoat out of for letting the Centauri attack to happen to begin with. And lastly, the Centauri haven't given up. They have had spies infiltrate the Terran government at very high levels and with their superior technology they hope to resume the war and quickly defeat Terra. While having some action near the end this book is more about the intrigue at the personal and governmental levels as well as the back stories of several of the main characters. All in all a great read and a good build-up to the next book.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not read the first book. Yet, I had no problems jumping right into this one. Having not read the first book, sometimes you can feel like you have missed a lot. However, this was not the case with this book. What drew me into this book was the world and the characters that the author has built with this series. A nice futuristic book. Everyone from Lt. Commander Thomas Kane to Lt. Katja Emmes and SubLt. Jack Mallory were all strong characters. As much as I enjoyed the characters and the world, I did feel like about two thirds of the story was mainly just conversation. There was really nothing going on. The last third of the story is where the action happened. However, it was over pretty quickly. I do agree with another reader that if this had been the first book in this series that I would have not wanted to continue reading.

[Val Walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book even more than Virtues of War. It helped me to understand what the Vietnam vets went through when they returned.

It was interesting to reconnect with the characters from Virtues of War. In this book we meet them after their battles.; some of those who had risked everything for their country and have come home not as heroes but as outsiders.

I found it hard to sympathize with Katja- I felt she had become too much of a soldier, a killer, but could understand the honesty of the character development. It felt like she had lost compassion. But it felt real.


The other aspect I appreciated was seeing what happened from the other point of view. From Kete’s--the enemy. The book isn’t simplistic; about good versus evil, right against wrong, but just 2 countries fighting, the power of ambition and the power of hatred. And sometimes the power of love.

I’m looking forward to the next one.

[Lawrence Verigin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great 2nd book in the Virtues of War trilogy. Mr. Coles explores the characters in more detail and the effects that war has on people's psyche, even in the future. The repercussions from book 1 carry forward to be the plot of book 2 in an engaging and exciting way. Looking forward to book 3 coming out this fall!

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good military sci-fi book that focuses primarily on how veterans deal with returning from combat.

This time around the book is primarily on Earth & how the main characters from the first book are faring. They are all flawed in some way, trying to make the best of it. The Terran State isn't a wonderful government (you are convicted, then have a hearing), but the citizens don't seem to care too much. They love their phones too much.

The first two acts move along, but once the third act of the book hits, everything zooms. (You'll know when the third act starts, trust me). The ending sets up the third book nicely. There isn't much of a happy ending for anyone, which for this set of characters is kind of what they expect.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the plot is interesting and fast paced, I found this novel just a bit too long. There were several confusing moments when the information presented didn't make any sense. And Katje's character seems to have veered into a strange territory. Not sure it's feasible. The other characters are more realistic.

[John T. Dueker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well written but

I'm not a fan of the "magical" aspects introduced where individuals can travel on their own three space and appear anywhere at will or communicate to any other special person. It's one thing when space ship technology used it to travel but the mind powers are too far for me.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recent Reads: Ghosts Of War. Bennett R Coles' military SF saga returns to Earth in the aftermath of battle. But the war between Terra and her colonies isn't over and is taking a new and dirtier course. What dark deeds have to be done to save home? Grimdark space opera in action.

[Michel Sizaire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Next please

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant series with believable characters, exceptional world building and a straight up kick-ass storyline. Looking forward to #3.

[Volpot · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Anita]

This is a book two, and I haven't read book 1. I'm exploring the author's backlist, what my library has of it, after reading Coles' other two books, Blackwood and Virtue, and really enjoying it. This one not so much, but keep in mind I haven't read book 1, which my library doesn't have. Thus far, anyway, I can't discern a plot, as in, I'm still not sure why I'm reading, other than, I'm supposed to care about the characters and how the battles / war they were in in the first book affected them, now that they've won and they're all home and Earthside. One's becoming an alcoholic. The other I think is trying to position himself for a political career in the future, but it's kind of stumbling there. The third is younger, a pilot and bored with his new posting on a research vessel. There is a spy / saboteur / terrorist in waiting, but so far, he's just .... waiting. I'm about mid-way through. If a plot doesn't develop soon, some reason to keep me reading, I'll DNF.

[Dean Marquis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gladly read this second installment. the plot was slower and didn't pick up. The Enemy were active with portable Jump Gates which picked up Coles take on the Fourth Dimension. the characters needed a little more development.

[Colin Mallard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read “Virtues of War” followed by “Casualties of War,” and since the reading was a single event, this review covers both books.

It took me a while to get into the first book as military science fiction was not something I’d explored before. When I stopped trying to remember what the acronyms meant, I slipped into the story. There was a shift from laws governed by gravity to laws, different laws, operating in space.

Time and distance were immense and there was a sense of a universe so large it was beyond comprehension. Some of the descriptions were like beautiful paintings, that flared for a moment. And in the immensity of it all human beings, insignificant by comparison, travelled in large space armadas doing what human beings always do, making war and making peace.

It felt like Europe in space; planets for countries with the same human dynamics at play and the interpersonal relationships arising from them; intrigue, flawed nobility, shallowness, and deviousness.

I may be reading something into this, but it seemed to me the descriptions of military life were taken right out of the new Canadian military, which has shifted from peacekeeping to war making. The insight, if that is what it is, was not in the least bit flattering. The sense of a noble purpose, of genuine human caring, present in peace keeping deployments, was almost completely absent. A telling commentary on a military which has aligned itself more closely with the American model.

The main characters were all flawed, personal relationships were often shallow and superficial. The warmth of friendship of being real and genuine seemed largely absent. Despite the fact my stomach churned at the selfishness and ignorance behind so many actions, the characters grew on me. Even with their flaws there was something else present as well, and that provided a sense of hope, of possibility.

The authors interest in science, technology and the underlying background from which they emerge—modern physics and quantum mechanics—tends to create an inherent yet understated exploration of philosophical issues, which the reader can’t help but consider. An interesting and engaging story

I look forward to reading Mr. Coles next book.

Colin Mallard, author of “Stillpoint a novel of war, peace, politics and Palestine.”
http://colinmallard.com/stillpoint/

[Chloe Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghosts of War is the second in Bennett R. Coles ‘Virtues of War’ series (the review for the first book can be found here!). Ghosts of War follows on from the events within the first book, taking on a completely different tone that highlights the treatment provided to war veterans following a tour. The more common theme within this novel is mental health and how it affects each of the characters differently alongside how they are treated following their actions from the war in space.

I am glad that Bennett R. Coles is highlighting such a theme, and bringing an awareness to an illness that many people may not fully understand no matter how many times they hear about it. It was interesting to see the way all the characters were affected differently but also how they themselves dealt with this issue outside of the help provided for them.

I found Ghosts of War to be slower than the first book, with the majority of this novel set upon Earth and focusing on the aftermath of the war. Though it is a direct follow on and the novel clearly will not go by without a serious action, it was a bit more mundane in the tasks and scenes we saw. Considering this, I found myself enjoying this book far more. It may have been that I knew the characters better and what they had been through, but it also could have been knowing that everything was going to lead up to one big point towards the end.

This book ties up any loose ends left behind at the end of the last book as well as solidifying the relationships between characters. We meet characters previously mentioned but never seen and begin to understand how these characters influence our main protagonists and antagonists. We also get to meet characters from the previous book that were civilians/militia on the Centauri planet being bombarded from space by the Astral Force and their thoughts and feelings towards events taking place.

Everything being said, this book was by far my favourite out of the two within the series and really solidified my investment within the characters and events yet to come. The narrative played out really well and was satisfying in all the right places, though did appear rushed a little in some – something that didn’t hinder my pleasure of the book.

[PrintOrRiot · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sigh
Turns out she was not just a marine, with a new hairdo she was also a smashing beauty.
and yes the evil journalist makes an apperance.
A solid DNF this book.

[Elizabeth (Stuffed Shelves) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Casualties of war was a fascinating story about the pain, physically and mentally, the veterans go through in the war in space. There are many characters in which all play a very important role to the story as a whole. The characters are extremely well written with a thorough background, which helps you visualize and understand each character as an individual.

The story is filled with curiosity and betrayal, but also containing mutual attachment, loyalty and love. I understand this is a second book in a series, following Virtues of War, the first book. I am intrigued enough in this book that I plan on reading Virtues of War to complete the story line.

As if you haven't already guessed, this is a science fiction novel about the investigations of the after effects to the veterans in the war in space. I found this book to be slow at some points, but it always ends up picking back up, and getting more interesting. I wish there was less slow parts, and the exciting climaxes should have been extended. Overall that is my only complaint about the book as a whole. I would rate this book a 4/5.

[Britt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Casualties of War was a decent read. This science fiction novel is based on military relations on space warfare. At times this novel proved to be a challenging slow read, but when the action and deception kicked in Coles really delivered. During these times of war Coles gives us (the readers) great insight into the main character's psyche. Reading and essentially feeling the emotions and struggles that each veteran goes through day to to day puts this novel in perspective despite it be acted out in space. Katja Emmes and Kete Moro are among my favorite characters in this particular novel. Coles made them both so well defined you could understand why Katja fought so hard the way she did and wanted to be and upstanding Astral Elite officer but her struggle to handle after war combat stayed a constant battle. Bennet Coles novel was pretty good novel and a pleasant read at that.

[Heather Westing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was awesome. It was quite different from the first in the series, but I loved the fact that the author was able to stretch this much - Casualties of War is anything but a re-hash of Virtues of War. It's a very thoughtful, character-driven story about what happens when our heroes return home from war, about the Terran society that created them, and about the repercussions of their actions in the first book. And just in case you thought the war was over... Well, no spoilers here. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. Highly recommended.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

the sequel to Virtues of War did not disappoint! It is well written with clearly thought out character arcs. This has the same depth and quality of Virtues, but this times takes a look at the characters reactions to combat stress - an interesting angle - but still with enough action to keep the reader on the edge of their seat

[Dan Green]

.

[Kole]

An amazing book, I aabsolutly loved it

[Chuck Ledger · Rating 2 out of 5]

If this had been the first book in the series, I would not have finished it. It took too long for the action to start.

[Mark A]

Watch for the name change on the paperback version by Titan Books from May 2017.