First Strike Book One

First Strike #1

by Odette C. Bell

When Laksha wakes up as a middling recruit on an Academy training ship, she knows something has gone critically wrong. A Barbarian spy, for the past five years, she’s been infiltrating the soft-bellied Coalition in the hopes of striking a blow that counts. For too long, the Coalition has lorded over the Milky Way. That’s meant to change with her.
But someone else gets there first. Dale Simpson is a state-of-the-art cybernetic. Half-man, half-machine, it’s taken him a long time to come to terms with the accident that almost killed him and the science experiment that saved his life instead. An ex-pilot, he’s now a top-level Coalition spy with skills no one else can match. He can seamlessly integrate with nearly all technology he faces – and, when necessary, punch right through it.
For the past five years, he’s been after a Barbarian psychic known only as First Strike, and finally he finds her in the heart of the Academy High Command. But when a glitch occurs in his program, he ends up throwing her mind into another body.
What ensues is a game of cat and mouse like no other. As Laksha learns the ability to jump into people’s minds, Simpson must find her before she strikes. Falling for her along the way shouldn’t be on the cards. But he’ll soon find out no matter how much he melds with machines, he’ll always have a heart.
…
First Strike follows a Barbarian psychic weapon and the cybernetic soldier sent to stop her fighting to save the galaxy from a powerful empire. If you crave space opera with action, heart, and a splash of romance, grab First Strike Book One today and soar free with an Odette C. Bell series.
First Strike is the 22nd Galactic Coalition Academy series. A sprawling, epic, and exciting sci-fi world where cadets become heroes and hearts are always won, each series can be read separately, so plunge in today.

Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera

169 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 31, 2023

About the author

Odette C. Bell has authored over 50 books, in genres ranging from sci-fi adventure to urban fantasy.
Odette started off on FictionPress many moons ago. Her original name was Muscularkevin. Her first work was Gladys the Guard. She later became Scrabblecat before finally publishing in 2011/2012.

previous pen names include J.C. Luck, Monica Shepherd, Sarah Good, and Jilly McQueen

Reviews

[Mayhem-RW · Rating 4 out of 5]

She is not a member of the Coalition, even if sometimes she looks like one, as she does right now. She has worked for this moment for so long. Ten years of nonstop spying assignments and then five years of infiltration of the Coalition forces have brought her to this point. A point where she could strike a fatal blow to the Coalition forces and one for her people, the Barbarians. Then, her communication equipment buzzed, letting her know someone was trying to communicate with her. Dale Simpson, now mostly cybernetic, knew where First Strike was and who she was disguised as, Admiral Harp.

This is the twenty-second series set in the same universe that Mrs. Bell has created. The physical world-building is enough to give the reader more than just an idea of where the characters are. The ethereal world-building is personal. The character’s interaction is believable. The character’s history is part of the story.

The tale told in this tome has a clean slowburn romance set within a science fiction universe with plenty of action and adventure. I give this read four stars out of five stars.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure about this book at first but I was eventually roped in. It was confusing and it ended rather abruptly and it took a while to place my mind in the setting and to get a feel of the characters. Its a bit of blur and I can exactly tell you what the book is about but I can tell you what I felt which is intrigue, slight boredom in the beginning and curiosity. This seems like a good enemies to lovers potential although I feel it lakes depth.

I tried this book because I wanted to read something different. If any reads this review whats the best recs for beginners of sci-fi particularly with strong female characters, some romance (it doesnt have to be part of the main plot) and a good storyline.

[Pete Ffrench · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can anybody be that much more machine than person and still have thoughts of humanity and how can someone be made into a psychic by being tortured yet still think they are fighting for a just cause ? This cybernetic sounds more like a wizard, throwing up shields and turning hands into weapons all sound more fantasy than space opera and sending First Strike's mind into another body is the realm of fantasy as well. Entertaining story but a bit lost on me.

[Keith Tomaszewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Duty Bound

An interesting cast of characters in which the story is told in first person. At first, I was trying to figure out who’s who. It was challenging, but then I figured it out. The cadet training is what threw me off. I’m very interested to see the continued story.
Thank you for a great read.

[RICHARD BRUMBAUGH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Choice or No Choice, That is the Question

The author makes a very valid point. Choices are not always limited to the apparent choices. They are limited by what you will consider. The heroine is very good at reframing situations and creating alternatives. We could all learn from her.

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Story with a Cliffhanger

This was a well written story. The character development was great. For me, the only downside side was that I don’t care for cliffhangers. That said, a lot of people are fine with that. For them this is a worthwhile read.

[Anne Patkau · Rating 1 out of 5]

Inside Admiral Harp, she spins away, talks, attacks. He spins away, talks, attacks. They do too much chit chat. I forget who is Barbarians or Alliance, or are there Rebels. Will the two decide nobody is definitely good or bad? Doesn't Harp possessor kill indiscriminately? Yawn. Disappointing.

[Jerry Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

By good read

Took me a while to catch on to the characters but in the end I finally got there I'm just slow I guess

[Illana Halliday · Rating 4 out of 5]

some startlingly new concepts.

The pace is good and the story telling is strong
Still not sure who the good guys are. The mind wielding powers are intense.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book for free from BookBub. The story was okay but I didn't care for the characters enough to get the next book to see what happens after the cliffhanger.

[Liza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of 'chapter' stories - I want each book to be complete.

There is too much left unfinished.

[Lesley Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

first strike

A powerful story, lots of emotion, scary, caring. Need to read the next in the series. I’m going searching for them. 👍

[Martin Paton]

not the greatest read.
I enjoyed the story line, but found the characters a little flat and lacking and the spelling mistakes and wrong words was a little distracting.

[John Bowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun

Another great story. Looking forward to seeing what happens to Belinda and Harry. And how the Barbarians and Collation fight this new threat.