The Valkyrie Profiles

The Valkyrie Trilogy #1

by K.S. Daniels

Vladia Robespierre has always had a past to hide. Raised by the aristocracy instead of the State Rearing Facilities, her half-brother is all she's ever admired, respected, and counted on. But with war on the horizon and a rising body count, is he really who she thinks he is? And if her brother is the enemy, what does that make her?

Set in the not too distant future, The Valkyrie Profiles is the first in a trilogy that examines the technological and governmental influences on the degeneration of human relations and the elitism of class division. Although Earth is militaristically strong, its social and cultural collapse has become a disease that now threatens to take down the entire solar system.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Dystopia

269 pages, Paperback

First published January 11, 2013

About the author

Kimberly S. Daniels is a recovering academic, who spent four years teaching English Composition and Literature at the University of South Alabama. She'll never truly recover, but regularly attends meeting for her condition. In the meantime, she writes Science Fiction (Genre fiction! Oh, My!)and consumes copious amounts of coffee and whiskey (not necessarily together or in that order). When she's not busy writing, much like a cat, she enjoys napping, running suddenly into a randomly selected room, and plotting the destruction of mankind. She exhibits a curious interest in robots, leading to the widespread rumor that she may, in fact, be one herself.

Her current projects include the third installment of the Valkyrie Trilogy and various short stories. Her first novel, The Valkyrie Profiles, was a quarter finalist for Amazon's Breakthrough Novel Award in 2013 and the second novel, Flight of the Valkyries debuted in May of 2014 to much fanfare (read: she threw confetti at herself). She also has a prequel short story in the Valkyrie Trilogy, Children of Ymir, that is a Kindle exclusive and another short story in the second Lunar's Children anthology by Dark Oak Press titled Chimera, which began as horror but somehow still managed to end up as Science Fiction. Much to her own surprise, she currently lives in New Orleans, LA. eating as many raw oysters as robotically possible (that's a lot of oysters) and working on yet another time machine.

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 - rating bumped up slightly thanks to a reassuring note from the author :)

K.S. Daniels' very promising debut novel is about Vladia Robespierre, a young girl who goes to live with her father, an admiral for the United Terran army, after her mother, a researcher and roboticist, was executed for her illegal work. In her father's house she meets Tolen Malthus, her half-brother who eventually becomes her rival and aspiration. Though a handful of years apart in age, Vladia and Tolen's lives are continually intertwined as they move up the ranks in the United Terran military's Valkyrie squad, an elite group in which Tolen is the captain and Vladia is a lieutenant. Though Tolen is her adversary in this one-sided rivalry (he doesn't consider her his competition at all), Vladia puts him on a pedestal until she learns that he may not be the heroic and upstanding figure she perceives him to be.

We first meet Vladia at the young age of eleven and by the third chapter she is in her twenties. It surprised me at first that the author had fast forwarded through Vladia's life, spanning years in a matter of pages. In a way, I am slightly disappointed I didn't get to see Vladia grow up. I wanted to see her standing up to Tolen, competing with him and trying to beat him, whether it's over a game of chess or in one of their training obstacles. I also hoped that her relationship (if you can call it that) with her father would be explored, but since the Admiral is basically just a name and a background figure, perhaps it isn't necessary to expand on that. But the decision to speed up her aging ultimately makes sense since the bulk of the novel deals with Vladia's time in the Valkyrie squad. Those early years only served to provide important background information on the protagonist and her relationship with her half-brother, who is undoubtedly more influential in her development as a person and a soldier than their father was.

The futuristic setting of this world is an interesting one. Robots were employed heavily in a war that occurs off-book and their immense power and ease with destruction made humans fearful, so anti-robot legislation was placed. They are demoted to only performing menial tasks, even though there are jobs they could perform better than humans can (such as being a pilot). Vladia's mother Maria was sentenced to death for her work on nanos which, when injected into robots, made them capable of adaptation and evolving--making them more human. Valkyries are machines that reminded me so much of Gundams with the exception that the pilot and machine are intimately linked--"once synced, Valkyrie and pilot became one...it was Vladia's consciousness that controlled the Valkyrie." With the help of her mentor Abel, Vladia earned a spot in the exclusive group of pilots. Though there is an underlying prejudice against robots in this world, Abel's constant companion is a robot named Rehel whose function is to create simulation programs based on existing footage (which Rehel gathers and monitors) to assist pilots.

As if that isn't interesting enough, on top of all this there is a stigma against "blood babies," which is the derogatory name for people who are raised by traditional parents (or parent, as in Vladia's case) rather than reared in a state facility. From what I understand, people in this world are also constantly gloved for fear of disease and it is the common belief that children not raised in facilities are full of with germs. Honestly, I could have done without this aspect of the story; not that it isn't intriguing, it's just that I was already absorbed in Vladia and Tolen, plus the robot prejudice and the growing tensions between Earth and Luna, the whole blood-born element was easily dismissed from my mind, even if the issue rose to prominence in one particular part of the story. Perhaps it will be more important later on, but right now it is almost too much.

My copy of the book also had many cringe-worthy typos. However, I was assured by the author that the book will be re-released under a more experienced editor, which is a great relief. I'm actually tempted to buy this new version so I can have an error-free copy (seriously, there were many mistakes). I'm not the type of person who can overlook these things if they aren't done for the sake of style.

Overall, I really, really enjoyed this book; the typos didn't detract from the story, only the reading experience. If you're in doubt about giving The Valkyrie Profiles a try, I suggest checking out the excerpt of the first chapter posted on Goodreads; that was how I was hooked in the first place. I'm very glad that the rest of the book didn't disappoint. According to the summary on the back cover, this is the first of a trilogy. I will definitely keep an eye out for the sequels.

[Alexandria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book through Good Reads first reads.

K.S. Daniels writing is wonderful, she pulls you in with her characters and an interesting plot. I didn't want the book to end and I found myself stretching it out over two days just so I didn't have to stop reading, all the while anxious to see what was going to happen. I was hooked the second I started reading.

I can't wait to find out what happens in the next two books!

[Kristina Vo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I personally LOVE sci-fi but never came across anything interesting. Until now, the only sci-fi book I'd ever enjoyed was Ender's Game.

The Valkyrie Profiles did not disappoint and I found myself craving for more once I hit the last page.
This is most definitely a must-read for sci-fi lovers! Or even robots, because you know, they're cool too.

[Jeremy Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

K.S.Daniels drops you into a world ripe with character and intrigue and introduces you to one of the most refreshing and captivating plots ever written.

The characters have a depth that makes you feel close to them and genuinely care for their well being.

The villain is one of the most refreshing iv'e read, one move ahead in his colossal game of chess. I personally cant wait to see his next move in the second book of the planned trilogy.

The heroine has a fire in her that as a reader you yearn to see roar. She has a monumental task set before her, and with an antagonist who can see through her to the core.

Thank you Mrs. Daniels, for a fantastic read and a fantastic story that we the readers can all delight in.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recieved this book through Good Reads First Reads

While the book was initially slow to grab my attention this oddly unique book sucked me in around chapter 3 or 4 and didnt let go. The unique story line has you wondering what will happen to Earth 200 years from now. Will the moon, mars or any other celestial body for that matter be home to humans? Will they exist as part of Earth and our current gov or try to break free. By the end of this book I was wishing it wouldnt of ended and can not wait to read the next.

[Allen Vu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this book all in 1 sitting because I could not put it down. Loved it and can't wait for what the future holds in this series. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking to read a riveting and well written fiction book.

A Sci-fi story with underlying tones of politics, human nature, and redemption. Do humans evolve in the future to be better? Or are we all doomed to be the same flawed humans that crave recognition and power at all costs?

[J.D. Tew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I go on my tangent I would like to declare that I really enjoyed this book for reason that I will divulge after venting.

I, like many hardcore military personnel, have a difficult time watching movies and reading books that contain military content for one reason: it was my life 365 days of the year, for many years. My idea of military is very strict. I leave very little room for error. Okay, now that that is out of the way, here are the negatives:

Military communication during enemy contact with munitions is almost always short and never long winded. When you yell, "Incoming!" It is always followed with the number of troops, type of troops, distance of troops, ect. Military coms is a way of delivering useful information simply, discreetly, and quickly. You never define a mission statement during the mission, because you must assume that someone may have the technological means to intercept your message. This concept is referred to as OpSec: operation security. Missions are always created and memorized before they occur. The only information that is exchanged during combat or contact is consequential. For example:
"Incoming, twelve o'clock, twenty meters, fifty troops in the open!"

The above is an example of what would happen if contact is made between forces.

"You would never say this over coms: "If we make contact with the exoskeletons be sure to fire at the base of the targets to take out their legs. That is their weak point. If we are overwhelmed we will retreat to the command vessel to refit."

See what happened in the above example? If I the enemy was listening, they would know our plan of attack, they would know what we will do in reaction to their superiority, and we defined our target before we even attacked.

In my expert opinion the military communication in this book was very difficult to digest, but because of a multitude of positives I drove on and was internally grateful. Now for the positives:

Military culture. One might stand to argue that no military cultures are the same and they would be right. However, they are in many ways similar. K. S. Daniels does extremely well at creating a culture specific and unique to her squadron without veering too far from normality. I could tell from the start that she has done extensive research into military culture and did a great job of communication—verbal and nonverbal (when not involved in defensive/offensive actions). The structure of her army was executed cleanly and with attention to detail. One of the most common oversights in military fiction is the observation of hierarchy. One soldier would not disrespect or question an order from leadership unless they were psychologically inept. In this story created by Daniels that rule was observed.

Character development. All characters in this story were developed and held true to their character. I was somewhat disappointed that we didn't spend more time with Vladia as a child, but I was satisfied with the transition into adulthood and grew to love her.

The state of the world was interesting. I enjoyed the technological concepts and the stigma surrounding them. Because of the characters and the unique story my attention was kept by Daniels to the end and even then she had my imagination detained. I cannot wait to read the next installments. This story will be placed at the top of a very short list for stories that actually intrigued me. I would recommend this book based on the plot alone, and even though the military communication was not in line with my beliefs and standards, the culture made up for it.

Overall this was not so much a page turner as it was a page analyzer. I wanted to really absorb the story that Daniels presented, because the creativity behind its design was impeccable and mesmerizing in the best of ways. I would recommend for sure. One star was deducted for poor military coms, but four stars delivered for a high standard of writing and story telling. Thank you K. S. for a wonderful read.

Forgotten point of importance: the cover is a beautiful design, encompasses the story, and develops a desire to read.

[Marie R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read a book that I really love the first thing after finishing it is normaly heading straight to Goodreads in order to write a review. But after finishing this book I felt I had to step back a moment and let everything sink in before starting my attempt at describing this book.
I am not sure I waited long enough.

First of all I have to say: Thank you to K.S.Daniels for sending me a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review. It owned itself a special place on my shelf!

As you have probably guessed I loved this book! I am normaly not that big of a SciFi reader but this book proved to me that there is a whole genre waiting for me to discover. I would have read this book within one sitting if I had the time to read it.

But now let's stop the fangirl and start with a real review:

First of all the setting: The book takes place in the not so distant future on Earth. Of course technology is well advanced and robots and nanobots are part of every day life. I loved the fact that the author showed not just the positive aspects of more technic but also how that changes humanities view of technical things. I felt like the book was asking ethical questions about the use of roboters, how "human" they are, and what that means for us without really voicing it. (And come on, you just have to love Rehel!)
I loved the whole concept of the Valkyries and their norse names. It is such a completely different setting than the normal stories or legends with norse elements I encounter. It felt just right.
The worldbuilding was solid and enjoyable.

But the more important part of the story were the characters: Oh, I just loved them! All of them!
The different characteristics, thoughts, and attitudes were greatly portrayed and the characters therefore three dimensional and their actions understandable. More important though is the fact that the characters were so interesting. I found myself more than once thinking about changing sides during the story. (And I even fancasted the characters because I liked them so much. I usually never do that, but I just had to this time.)
The only negative point was that I do not really know how old the characters are during the main events (which made fancasting not easy). It is said how old there are at the begining but years pass by and I wasn't that sure of their age when the main plot started to evolve. I tried to do the math, but it did not really work.

The plot was well paced and had just enough twists and turns that I could not foresee to keep my little brain occupied. Even when I wasn't reading but showering or eating, you know the normal things you have to do that keep you from the important reading you want to do, I found myself thinking of different outcomes and twists. I did not see the ending coming though.

This story felt unique and new, which may to some extend be because I do not read this genre very often. It definitely left me wanting more.
So this is a recommendation to all those SciFi fans out there and even more to those that never read SciFi before.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the first book of a new trilogy it was so and so, in my opinion. It could have been great, it could have been terrible, but it lands somewhere in between.

The action takes place some 200 years into the future in a world recovering both physically and emotionally from the end of the last war. Although robotics has advanced very much, the fact that robots were employed in the previous war lead to a general shunning of any form of A.I. The world is a strict authoritarian society, with specially designed breeding programs and institutions, meant to keep population in check and also provide genetically engineered humans for all the roles in society.

Honestly, I felt that the world was too less developed and this was the biggest turn off. I was expecting much more world building for a first book of the series. Without it, most of the events seemed out of place, the characters' actions rather forced.

In the beginning of the novel the pace was similar to that of a regular dystopic story. It then transforms into a military science fiction with all the necessary change of pace and dynamically described action scenes.

I can't say I grew into Vladia's or Tolen's characters, although I found the author's attempt to portray Tolen as a genius villain with his own plan to rule the world (or at least I think that's his plan) at least intriguing. Quite interested in how the second book will continue their story.

Pros:
Interesting integration of some of Asimov's motifs in a dystopian setting.
Cons:
Lacking of a more detailed description of the world, the people's every day lives so that the reader can relate and get sucked into the universe.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Earth in 160 years...what will it look like? No one really knows but K.S. Daniels gives us a compelling glimpse into life there in her debut novel, "The Valkyrie Profiles". We meet and follow the exploits of one Vladia Robespierre, from the abrupt change in her early life, into her early career in the elite space fighter pilot unit, the Valkyries. Along the way we meet a cast of interesting characters, explore the prejudices of a world where growing up with your real family is considered shameful, and that most physical human contact is no longer considered acceptable.

K.S. lays the foundation for this world in book one, but more importantly, she plots out a story that kept me on the edge of my seat for the last 150 pages of this novel and left me pining for book 2, which is called Flight of the Valkyrie. This is a very good story that happens to take place in a fantastic setting. Space battles are on tap, but the building mystery is what has me hooked. This novel seems to be building a foundation for the age old tale of good vs evil, but with the twist of "what really is evil?"

Often "good guys" are blind to any good the villain may do, but the villain may also be blind to the consequences of his actions if he thinks he's doing something for the greater good, if they really are "good guys" and "villains" at all.

After reading this novel I'm hoping that these questions begin to be answered in book 2 and book 3. I think Mrs. Daniels will indeed provide the answers, and do it in a most entertaining and vibrant way that will keep me turning pages as long as she's putting them to paper.

[Jeremy Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely have I read a book and identified with every major character and most of the minor ones. But Kim Daniels manages to accomplish this with ease in her giant robot scifi epic, The Valkyrie Profiles. Her characters are realistic and her descriptions vivid but not overdone. Her prose is almost flawless and reads quickly and enjoyably. The story itself reminds me of Robotech/Macross with a touch of Starship Troopers but reached me on a level neither one of them could ever manage.

Set on a future Earth where a human can be reclassified as a non-organic being and stripped of their rank, privileges, and even status as a human being, The Valkyrie Profiles features dystopian touches that feel very much at place in our near future. But there is hope. Vladia Robespierre and Tolen Malthus, half-siblings with the same domineering, autocratic Admiral for a father, embrace their own visions for a better humanity...and a better world. But Tolen goes out to orchestrate it with the skill of a chess grandmaster and the diabolical genius of a Lex Luthor, while Vladia seeks to realize it within herself while hoping for the best out of the others around her, whether they are her ambitious, cold-blooded half-brother, her curmudgeonly Gunslinger partner, or the sympathetic, hyper efficient robot Rehel.

I eagerly await the sequels of this darkly beautiful book by a wonderful new author on the science fiction scene.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sat down to read this book with great expectations and, I must say, all of them were met! I thoroughly enjoyed every page! I loved it! Vladia is a compelling character with relatable emotions and she is one that I look forward to reading about again, when book two in the trilogy is released.

Her relationships with her brothers are thought provoking. I thought about issues such as: what makes a family? And, what makes a relationship work?

The book explores seminal issues such as family, but also, government, class, elitism, and how those issues can threaten relationships at the most basic level. But, who is right and who is wrong? The reader ultimately decides. But what decision is correct? Is it better to have military strength or strong families and moral obligations?

Get this book, and read it! I'm sure that you, like me, will relish the story which awaiting the next installment, which is due out this summer.

Bravo Ms. Daniels! A book to keep and re-read multiple times!

[Nathania · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. I could put it down. I read it all in one night. Usually I like to pace myself but I really wanted to find out what happen next. I just could not stop. It is full of suspense, action. The pace is just right. It is slow in the beginning which I like as it gives a good background and sets the stage for main action happening the rest of the story. I love Vladia. I became so involved that I started to think what I would do in Vladia's situation. I particularly like this kind of conflicted relationship between her parents and brother since it brings to light different models of parenting styles and how children who come from a certain background where everyone is successful in whatever they do or is expected of them to do and how to the outside world they are considered talented but within their own family their accomplishments are considered elementary. I really enjoyed reading and living out this book in my mind. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

[Jonathan Bivens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vladia is a Valkyrie pilot (A super jet of the future) who is struggling with herself and her past,(her mother, father, and half-brother). Her journey begins on the day of her mother's funeral and the arrival to her Father's manor, who she has never met. She meets a boy who wants nothing but to be her friend, but life is never what we hope for. Her journey takes her on a path of war, deceit, and at times despair.

This was a great Sci-Fi story, the kind you forget you are reading you feel as if you are right there beside the characters. The story is well written, it's exciting , the characters are vivid and colorful and stay with you long after you close the book. When I reached the last few words I thought to myself, NO there has to be more. I would love to tell more of the story but I don't want to spoil it for anyone. This is a GREAT read and I highly recommend it. Can't wait for the sequel.

[Audra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The story was engaging, and so captivating that I read the majority of the book in one sitting.

The book will benefit from detailed copy editing and professional marketing; some of the "advertising" bits, like the description here on Goodreads, don't seem to match up with the actual story. To that end, I felt like some of the themes that the author valued (such as Vladia's birth circumstances) did not come out as prominently in the story as the author would have wished. Also, I would have appreciated more insight into the relationship between Vladia and Malthus as children, or at least some explanation of Malthus' immediate (and ongoing) antagonism toward Vladia. Perhaps the future installments will shed some light into these relationships?

All that said, the book is a good read, and can stand on its own feet. I am looking forward to the next installment!

[Andrea Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read in a fantastical world.

It's been a long time since I've really dived into a sci-fi series, but I fell in love with The Valkyrie Profiles from the moment I saw the cover.The gothic elegance of the cover translate into a gripping tale of betrayals, family bonds, and giant mechs suits. Where could you go wrong?
Vladia is a fantastic character prone to being overwhelmed by her emotions, and her sense of loyalty. She's brave, feisty, and not afraid to kick butt when it's needed. I loved seeing her grow throughout this novel and can't wait to see what the rest of the series holds for her.
The only thing I wish there was more of was more world building. The world is clearly fully fleshed out and I think some more details would just make this tale sing even more.
If you love sci-fi you need to pick this up!

[Stephanie]

I really liked it. I thought the plot moved a little slow, but the end certainly has me wanting to read the next book. I would have liked to see more of a description of the Valkyries as well. I thought the concept was different in an interesting way, and it seemed to draw from different types of science fiction. The editor needs a new proof reader, because errors drove me nuts. I read slow sometimes and some of the errors made me re-read sentences so that I could understand them better. I did win the book through a Goodreads sweep, but I must say it was the best free book I've ever received.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a giveaway. This book was exciting and intense from beginning to end. It kept me on my toes from the very start. Great Read! Would highly recommend for anyone who enjoys Sci-fi or YA!

[Brianwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read. I really like the character growth and I'm eagerly awaiting the next book.

[Micheal Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was great, characters developed in your mind, and the plots moved fluidly. I only wish I hand known form the start it was the first of a series. Now I must wait!