Valentine's Resolve

Vampire Earth #6

by E.E. Knight, Christian Rummel (Narrator)

After three years of exile from humanity’s war against the Kurians, David Valentine returns to battle. The Lifeweavers, Earth’s allies in the conflict, have mostly vanished, but those that remain are held captive by an overlord known as the Seattle Kurian. To free them, Valentine must convince the legendary resistance fighter known as the Marshal to join his cause. But the Marshal is something of an overlord himself…

11 hours and 36 minutes

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Post Apocalyptic, Horror, Vampires, Fiction, Dystopia

12 pages, Audible Audio

First published July 3, 2007

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great audio book in this series. Knight took some real chances in this book pushing Valentine in some interesting directions. As usual, the action & scenery was great.

Valentine is an excellent hero in most ways. He's a bit too self-effacing for me & I wonder at his legal position. Considering what he has done, it's not only unfair, but pretty amazing that he isn't in better standing. Of course, not many know his full story, but some do or should, especially at the end of this book. I didn't care for the short shrift the life weavers he rescued got at the end. They traveled a long way with him, occupy a very important position in the culture, but Valentine seems to truly be a Ghost as far as his superiors are concerned. Well, the real world is often like that. Stories like this often aren't & I've called them on it before, so I really have no complaints. I guess I'm just a frustrated romantic.
;-)

The reality (just go with it) of the world that Knight paints is one of the strongest points of this series. Nothing is perfect & sometimes doesn't even make sense - just like real life. People get jock itch, occasionally crap themselves in terror, & make very tough choices, sometimes bad ones. Excellently done. I'm now listening to the next.

I was surprised to find out I hadn't read this one before. I thought I'd missed something when I read the next book. Apparently this one came out the year we moved & I missed it, but just enough was filled in that I could keep up with the series well enough. Still, I knew I'd missed quite an adventure & I'm glad I caught up with it.

I sent all the paperbacks to my son & warned him he had to buy this one. He noticed it was missing & already had. We both love this series, but it is best read in published, which is also chronological order. If you start reading later in the series, you probably won't be lost, but you'll miss a good deal. Knight is growing Valentine & the world wonderfully.

[Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so I like this series. I like Valentine, I like the premise, I like the supporting characters and I like the world Knight has created. But for crying out loud, we're starting to just ramble along here. I get the feeling that Knight started out with a plan but once he started writing he just chucked it out the window. Characters that were deeply developed have been cast aside willy nilly. Characters you thought were cast aside come back just to be cast aside (probably) again. Still, it's a fun series and the books fly by so I'm still in.

[Anne Patkau · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title is explained in the last paragraph. Who and why does our hero fight? The Gettysburg Address says: we resolve to fight for freedom.
My fondness for the series is slipping away like Val's friends. The prose slogs, interspersed with peaks of terror, too close to horror for me. Who and what I would consider important, such as the fate of his own daughter, are glossed over, sprinkled with cameos from the series. I liked the final conflict, and the rescue of a pilot - who rewards him with a personal flying machine and lessons, sentences the brave aviator to death by the sister he cared for and raised.

After 3 years, the exile is recalled by a veiled threat/ amnesty on his adopted vampire. All the good aliens have vanished, except a Bear-maker in far Seattle. When Val learns their ally there wins by killing all humans, enemy food, he switches sides to sabotage the likable leader's headquarters.

[Topher · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I have a serious issue with Blake. If you're far enough into the series to know who Blake is, then you probably understand why....

I spent nearly a year deliberately avoiding this book. I strongly considered moving the series over to the 'Abandoned or Completed' tab of my book spreadsheet.

I'm not sure that I'm glad I didn't, but I will keep going. This is a little bit more like the earlier books. And, with the first book about the Wolves, and the second about the Cats, I'm glad to see one with more of a focus on Bears.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely one of the better books in the series. E.E. ties up a lot of the looses ends that were inadvertently created during some of the other novels. His writing style also change a little for the better. His long descriptive passages before and during the chapters have been shortened leaving more to the imagination than in the previous novels, which gives the novel a much quicker flow.

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series does just what a “long” series should do: keeps things interesting by having nicely complex characters that don’t always go in directions that the reader may want… and suffer the consequences, whether that means paying the price or reaping the rewards. Just like in real life.

After the last book in the series, Valentine's Exile, I was happy to see this one return to form and follow David Valentine as he works further towards recovering from the totally unfair circumstances in which he finds himself. Despite his previous heroic actions, he remains exiled from friends and his mission against the Kurians. He is forced to find his way back into the fold and the way that happens in this book is just about as unpredictable as I can imagine. His journey takes him through the Southwestern US, and up into the Pacific Northwest where he discovers Earth’s allies, the Lifeweavers, have largely disappeared. Lots of new characters appear along the way, not the least of which is the Seattle Kurian overlord and a legendary resistance fighter who may not be what he portends to be. Adventure abounds.

In addition to all of this, the parts about Mount Omega (a place built to house the US government after just such an event as an alien invasion) are perhaps the best satirical writing on governments and politics in wartime as I have read since Catch-22. It’s hilarious as well as completely believable, imagining that what’s important to politicians (continuing politics as usual) in such a world has very little to do with what anybody else thinks.

This book has re-invigorated my interest in post-alien-invasion stories and I’m glad there are still more to come in this set. I definitely recommend they be read in order, otherwise much would be missed in the larger story arcs. The lore of the Kurians the reapers, the quislings, the grog troops, etc. as well as the resistance fighter terminology would only be confusing, not to mention the politics that have arisen since the original invasion in the 2020s, some 52 years previously.

Onward to the next one to see how Valentine can possibly reconcile all of his actions from this one.

[Unwisely · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have been devouring this series, which is in a few ways indefensibly ridiculous. But I was enjoying them enough to make up for that.

This book is the point at which I couldn't any more. With the exception of a couple minor things (I thought the Blake situation was intriguing, and I learned about autogyros), everything is miserable. Everyone is awful. Our hero just seems like a dick. And he's rushing through even more places than in previous books.

The whole thing felt fragmentary and rushed- there were several places, none very well developed. And the bit at the end, where he kills the jerk guy who is carrying out the eradication policy, did he know that that guy was a Kyrian? How? Or did he just get lucky? I didn't know and didn't really care by that point.

Valentine has become someone I don't want to spend any more time with. Which is a pity, he seemed so appealing at the start of the series.

[TinaMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valentine is mostly on his own now but he's good cat friend convinces him to go on a mission that might bring help to the cause. He uncovers more than they planned and as usual Valentine has his own sense of justice. While the story gets dark at times it's very engaging, wanting to know what is going to happen next.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first books in the series.

[James Hein]

Audio Book

Book about Dystopian future where aliens have control and the humans are trying fight back

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, I’m so happy to be getting back into this series.

[John Noehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

the series gets better and better

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, if gory, schlock.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some time has passed since the end of Valentine’s Exile, and in Valentine’s Resolve David Valentine is still in exile. He has spent many months wandering the Kurian zone exacting revenge on “Quisling” scum. When Styachowski and Duvalier find him in a remote outpost, he is alone, filthy, and just a little bitter. His former comrades convince him to take on a special mission for Southern Command. They need the help of the Lifeweavers and they believe Valentine may be the only one capable of finding them.

Valentine’s Resolve is a typical VAMPIRE EARTH novel, which is a good thing. At this point in a series it’s always great when the story is still fresh. E.E. Knight adds enough twists to keep the pages turning, and just enough drama to squeeze your heart a little. Great characters and good storytelling make this another solid edition to the tale of David Valentine.

I’ve read six of these books now and all have been a positive experience. The common themes are consistent from book to book. There is action, tragedy, violence, tough choices and a few moral lessons. These stories are like a favorite TV show that I anxiously await for each installment. You become so attached to the characters that you cringe with every bump they take. You definitely should pick up a VAMPIRE EARTH novel if you are looking for a fun and gritty read.

I think E.E. Knight might be afraid of his characters getting too predictable, though, so they have a tendency to do some strange and spontaneous things from time to time, and this holds true for Valentine’s Resolve. I’m very attached to these characters and always notice when they do something I wouldn’t think they would normally do. I also find there are a few plot devices often overused to move things along. I’m telling you now, if Valentine gets arrested and falsely imprisoned in the next book, I will scream.

I listened to Valentine’s Resolve on Audio CD from Brilliance Audio. It is read by Christian Rummel, who is manly man voice incarnate. Nobody in the business can go from sweet southern belle to battle-hardened drill sergeant like Mr. Rummel can. Congratulations to Rummel and the production team on another job well done. —Justin for FantasyLiterature.com

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knight's post-apocalyptic science fiction series continues with this newest installment. David Valentine has left the Southern Command, one of the main sources of resistance against the Kur—the aliens who have invaded our planet. Knight’s strength lies in his detailed and believable idea of how society could evolve after we’ve been taken over by intelligent but malevolent beings.

The opening chapter – and much of the book – is violently graphic, but that is the setting for the story. It is not gratuitous, but necessary to the plot and the development of the story. The character of Valentine undertakes a difficult mission to infiltrate the resistance in the Pacific Northwest, which he does. The story is about Valentine’s struggles, but it is also about ourselves and how we would cope with invaders—and at what cost. Knight does this with a deft hand and amazing skill. His world building abilities are beyond scope.

I have to admit to not having read the other books in this series, but that is not an issue. This is an excellent stand-alone book. I read it and enjoyed it, and understood what’s going on without feeling lost like I often do with other series. Though I also know I’m probably going to pick up the others to read just to find out what happened previously. If I had any problems, it was possibly with the darkness of Valentine. He seemed almost too morose at times, though granted, with the story as it is, I’d probably be morose too. I also found I could not read the book in the evening as I became susceptible to frightening dreams, a weakness of mine that proves good story telling on the part of the author. The story stuck with me.

This is a terrifying, thrilling, at times graphically disgusting, but always interesting book that will not disappoint fans of the Vampire Earth series.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished Valentine's Rising, book four in the Vampire Earth series by E. E. Knight. I find it necessary to stress that, while I was initially put off by the title, what with vampires being on every other street corner these days, the series has been excellent. A race of extra-terrestrial beings come to earth after a conveniently-timed series of global catastrophes, and offers salvation - for a price. That price is slavery; the Kurians exist by consuming the life essence of humans. The series is about a guerrilla war fought against Earth's new masters by the humans who don't submit to the wishes of the Kur and by a handful of other alien beings -- relatives of the Kur called the Lifeweavers without the hostile intent towards the human race.

Valentine's Exile follows the protagonist, David Valentine, as he escapes from an ambush at the end of the previous book, and helps create a rebellion in the formerly free Ozark Territory. Valentine takes a hardened group of veterans and infiltrates a human-run Kur military base in Little Rock Arkansas. To maintain the ruse until it's time to strike, Valentine has to become even more ruthless than ever before even to the point of sacrificing some of his own to keep the secret.

Knight has a magnificent grasp of world-building, creating a post-apocalyptic Earth that is both frighteningly real and endearingly hopeful. His characters carry a great deal of subtext in their gestures and dialogue, which Knight captures beautifully. You can't help rooting for Valentine from the start; my heart soared with his victories and tightened with every defeat. For these reasons and more, I highly recommend the Vampire Earth series as a whole.

[Feffe]

ty

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another exciting adventure for David Valentine. There is a lot of story crammed into this one book. We get to see Southern Command, Pacific Command, Seattle Quislings and Pyp's Flying circus all in this one book. We also get to see different parts of the United States from the other books, Arizona and Washington. There is plenty of action and excitement and we get to meet some new characters.
Some of the characters we never get to find out what happens with them and that is disappointing. One of the pilots of the Circus gets "purified" and we never get to find out if he actually did or if he got away. We never actually get to find out if the Seattle Kurian gets killed by Silvers or not either.
The one major disappointment for this particular book is there is no Ahn-Kha. I really like his character and his special friendship with David and it was very sad not to have him in this book. Overall 4.5 out 5 stars.

[Richard Jacoby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great series. Let me note that I am writing this review a couple of years since reading it. The world David Valentine inhabits is exciting, terrifying, and consistently interesting. I have to wonder at this point in the series, however, if it would not be a good idea for Mr. Knight to start writing books from the perspective of some other character. Valentine, although helping to win this war, is very much becoming a broken down war horse. You begin to wonder why he keeps doing what he is doing (as the character seems to also). The world is so facinating that Knight could probalby bring more excitement to the series with the eyes of these new characters.

I will definitely conintue with the series but wanted to post this idea.

[Sven · Rating 4 out of 5]

This episode in the story of David Valentine's war against the Kur, has Valentine traveling West to search for and establish connections with an extremely ruthless and competent but mysterious revolutionary leader in the N. West, through no wish of his to protect one of the only people he cares about, his son. He also learns abit more about his father that really blows your mind. I really loved this book above the others because, for once Valentine gives us a peak into all the anger he's been keeping inside hidden since he last let it loose to avenge after the death of Gabriela Cho. The feelings he weathers throughout the book also feel truer and closer to home for a person living through the vicious cycle of death and corruption in the Vampire Earth time.

[Albert Cosenza · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Earth has been taken over by aliens from a planet called Kur. These Kurians feed off the life energy of humans, in essence making themselves immortal. They set up kingdoms in which they can harvest this "aura." A leader of the Resistance in the Cascades is slaughtering populations in the Kurian Zone. The protagonist, David Valentine, struggles to stop the slaughter and leads an attack against him, even though he is a resistance fighter himself.

I learned from this book that the nvalue of human life is great, even if that life isn't free, even if it may be lost anyway.

Although this book is in the future, it is not really a sci fi, so it should appeal to those who enjoy action, and also romantic drama.

[Elke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even with the 6th installment of the Vampire Earth series the author manages to keep a high standard and keep the reader glued to the pages with tension. The story takes some really surprising turns, it even had me doubt David Valentine's intentions one time or other. But of course our hero never fails to continue his fighting for the right reasons. Hopefully, E.E. Knight will be able to continue this series as fresh and original as before, and end it in good time.

[Gregory · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok so pretty much let me with a little to be desired, I guess it was a bit dirty for me and I mean (lewd). not as good as the first ones, not as much action, it was okay though, not horrible but not really that great. I started the series for the ridiculous amounts of action, and it no longer sways me as much

[Jim Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another in E.E. Knight's excellent "Vampire Earth" series. The series title is sort of misleading, because the evil aliens aren't really vampires as we think of them.

That said, the characters are richly imagined and well crafted. Knight may spend a bit too long on his hero's introspection as exposition, but I kind of enjoy knowing the ins and outs of a character's mind.

[Barbara Ghylin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this one this morning with my coffee. I ama starting to burn out as bad as David Valatine. I am curious to see what happens to him next and then I will take a break from Vampire Earth. I just got back to this one & will finish it later today. It just seems to be the same thing again and again without really getting anywhere.

[E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Valentine is heading west in his quest to overthrow the tyrants that occupy post-apocalyptic Earth. He discovers unexpected enemies and allies and sees a depressing side of Seattle, Washington. Another well written dark tale in the Vampire Earth series.

[Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not my favorite entry in the series so far, I think that this story opened up some interesting options for future directions. I hope that at some point, humans will actually start winning the war...we'll see.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

The suspense stepped up in this one, you were not sure if you liked Valentine or not. Who was good and who was bad kept changing and it kept you reading to try and figure out. At the end all made sense and you were back to liking Valentine and agreeing with his decisions.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the latest of EE Knight's Vampire Earth series, and I wait impatiently for the next.

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Seattle.