What do you think?
Rate this book
Empire Rising #18
The Call of Honor
The Karacknid Civil War has ended. Tanaka-lan is the uncontested Imperator of the Karacknid Empire. One task now dominates his the complete conquest of Humanity.On Earth, James and Christine are all too aware of what the end of the civil war means. For over two decades they have been preparing their civilization for the showdown they always knew was coming. Not content to sit back and let Tanaka-lan bring the war to them, James and his Admirals hatch a plan to go on the offensive first. By striking at the Karacknids’ distant colonies, they hope to goad Tanaka-lan into defending his worlds instead of attacking Humanity’s. Yet Tanaka-lan’s desires are not easily set aside.Unbeknown to his father, Jonathan Somerville also finds himself thrust into the midst of the developing war. Forced by his sense of honor to lead his own foray into Karacknid space, he may very well ignite the Second Karacknid War before either James or Tanaka-lan desire.The Call of Honor is the eighteenth book in D.J. Holmes’ Empire Rising series and marks the beginning of the Second Karacknid War story arc.
626 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2023
212 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 9, 2023
Great story, bad editing
As is typical with this series, the story was great, and I have zero issues in that regard. However, the editing is the worst I've seen.
I can't get over the fact that characters' names are still being mixed up. Like, this is the 18th book in the series, this shouldn't be happening.
As is typical with this series, the story was great, and I have zero issues in that regard. However, the editing is the worst I've seen.
I can't get over the fact that characters' names are still being mixed up. Like, this is the 18th book in the series, this shouldn't be happening.
December 30, 2023
Time for another little war in the Empire Rising series. This book starts the second Karacknid war story arc.
After a lot of tip-toeing and pre-emptive action to weaken each other, by the end of the book, The Human and Karacknid empires are truly at war.
It is a really good book with plenty of fleet action. There are two parallel threads. One with Jonathan Somerwille being dragged in on a long expedition into Karacknid territory and another one where a large portion of the Human fleet are striking targets in another part of Karacknid space in the hope of Tanaka-lan having to divert resources to go on the defensive.
Both threads are good with lots of heroics, fleet action and story development.
This book was definitely heading for a five star rating… until the end.
The ending was quite disappointing. Not only was it an abysmal cliffhanger which I hate and it had a lot of suffering in it but what I disliked the most was the way it was done. I don’t want to spoil anything so I will just say that it felt like something Hollywood would come up with.
Well, it was a good four star book at least, even with the crappy ending.
After a lot of tip-toeing and pre-emptive action to weaken each other, by the end of the book, The Human and Karacknid empires are truly at war.
It is a really good book with plenty of fleet action. There are two parallel threads. One with Jonathan Somerwille being dragged in on a long expedition into Karacknid territory and another one where a large portion of the Human fleet are striking targets in another part of Karacknid space in the hope of Tanaka-lan having to divert resources to go on the defensive.
Both threads are good with lots of heroics, fleet action and story development.
This book was definitely heading for a five star rating… until the end.
The ending was quite disappointing. Not only was it an abysmal cliffhanger which I hate and it had a lot of suffering in it but what I disliked the most was the way it was done. I don’t want to spoil anything so I will just say that it felt like something Hollywood would come up with.
Well, it was a good four star book at least, even with the crappy ending.
November 10, 2023
The series that keeps getting better !
After so many books you’d ask if the fuel for this series was burning low, the answer would be No.
All I can say is, after 18 books if the content continues to be this good I can’t wait to read the next 18.
After so many books you’d ask if the fuel for this series was burning low, the answer would be No.
All I can say is, after 18 books if the content continues to be this good I can’t wait to read the next 18.
February 5, 2024
Well, this book was exciting but, in my opinion, full a gross strategic and tactical errors from the start. Yes, the Karacknid civil war is over and most all of the Karacknids are aligned with Tanaka-Ian, a ruthless warlord and once Grand Admiral of the Fleet. Now he is Imperator and has vowed to make war on the Human Empire as soon as possible. But first he sets out to track down those who would call themselves the “Free Karacknids”. He vows to destroy every man, woman and child of these traitors and then set his sites directly on the Human Empire’s home planet.
Back on Earth, Emperor James Somerville, with the approval of his wife, Christine, Empress of the Human Empire, decides it’s time to invade Karacknid space and let Imperator Tanaka-Ian know that his conquest of the Human Empire won’t be easy. Now, the Human Empire has had twenty-five years to study and watch the actions of the Karacknids while supposedly building up their own empire along with all the allies they have garnered. Yet, it doesn’t appear that was happening within the Human Empire. The Emperor and Empress are still afraid of another Karacknid war. You would think with all the time they had to be ships and improve their capabilities while the Karacknids were fighting and killing each other, the Human Empire should have a substantial advantage in any coming war. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem the case and I can’t understand why.
To make matters worse, Emperor Somerville has decided to seen a large fleet with his best Admiral to the back half of the Karacknid Empire to try and cause a “distraction” such that Imperator Tanaka-Ian will delay his invasion while the Human Empire gets ready for war. Admiral Becket is to go into Karacknid territory and begin attacking and destroying any supply depots and forts along the Karacknid - Human Empire border. She is not to get significantly engaged because the Human Empire cannot afford the loss of so many ships. You would think that the Human Empire would have built enough ships during the twenty-five years of peace that they would have more than enough to send this fleet out without concern as to losses. Additionally, Emperor Somerville and the Human Empire is starting this war not the Karacknids. James has no concrete evidence that Tanaka-Ian is immediately ready to begin his conquest even though he should have had piles of intelligence reports from his Kalassai allies who have been tracking activities of the Karacknids inside Karacknid territory for the last twenty-five years. They have not indicated that Tanaka-Ian is immediately ready to cross the border, so why is Somerville wanting to start a war. Will his allies consider this a wise move. He doesn’t seem to have coordinated these actions fully with the Varanni.
Another thing, the Kalassai should have clearly reported to Somerville that Tanaka-Ian has left his homeworld of Galyla in search of the Free Karacknids. Why doesn’t Somerville see this as an another opportunity to strike deep into the heart of the Karacknid Empire and destroy their homeworld before the war ever gets going. Such a defeat would surely throw Tanaka-Ian off his thrown or at least be the beginning of another Karacknid civil war. Yet, he’s wasting his fleets to destroy unimportant supply depots that Tanaka-Ian has no use for anyway.
Then, his son and heir to the thrown, Jonathan, who has been promoted to Commodore has been given a mission in the wilds to protect a large engineering fleet that come to reinforce and build up one of the Human Empires strategic forts along the Human-Karacknid border. Yet, he doesn’t do what he’s ordered because a group of Free Karacknids have asked for his help in getting out of Karacknid territory. That is not Commodore Somerville’s mission and never should have been. He wildly runs off entering Karacknid space without a sufficient force to do the kind of fighting he might encounter. He basically starts the next Human Empire-Karacknid war all his own and without the approval of his father, whom he doesn’t even notify of his actions! This is just stupid and not something that would have occurred in past books.
Jonathan Somerville actions will result in the capture of a significant player in the Human Empire’s fleet. It’s the result of his careless regard for his standing orders and his misplaced duty to Karacknids who say they no longer wish to follow Tanaka-Ian. Jonathan should never have left on this idiotic mission.
Then finally, at least Edward, the next oldest son of James and Christine, has something positive turn out. He’s an intelligence guy that is attempting to track down the illusive snake-like alien that have caused problems with several civilizations over the past years. If he’s successful, this might be the break they need to find out who these aliens are and why they are trying to cause such chaos between the Human Empire and its allies.
So, I found this book very disturbing because of the many strategic and tactical blunders that were obvious even to me. Hopefully some of this can be corrected in the next book, but, surprisingly, that book hasn’t been identified yet. I wonder if the author has gotten himself in a nasty bind with this story and isn’t sure how to resolve it?
Back on Earth, Emperor James Somerville, with the approval of his wife, Christine, Empress of the Human Empire, decides it’s time to invade Karacknid space and let Imperator Tanaka-Ian know that his conquest of the Human Empire won’t be easy. Now, the Human Empire has had twenty-five years to study and watch the actions of the Karacknids while supposedly building up their own empire along with all the allies they have garnered. Yet, it doesn’t appear that was happening within the Human Empire. The Emperor and Empress are still afraid of another Karacknid war. You would think with all the time they had to be ships and improve their capabilities while the Karacknids were fighting and killing each other, the Human Empire should have a substantial advantage in any coming war. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem the case and I can’t understand why.
To make matters worse, Emperor Somerville has decided to seen a large fleet with his best Admiral to the back half of the Karacknid Empire to try and cause a “distraction” such that Imperator Tanaka-Ian will delay his invasion while the Human Empire gets ready for war. Admiral Becket is to go into Karacknid territory and begin attacking and destroying any supply depots and forts along the Karacknid - Human Empire border. She is not to get significantly engaged because the Human Empire cannot afford the loss of so many ships. You would think that the Human Empire would have built enough ships during the twenty-five years of peace that they would have more than enough to send this fleet out without concern as to losses. Additionally, Emperor Somerville and the Human Empire is starting this war not the Karacknids. James has no concrete evidence that Tanaka-Ian is immediately ready to begin his conquest even though he should have had piles of intelligence reports from his Kalassai allies who have been tracking activities of the Karacknids inside Karacknid territory for the last twenty-five years. They have not indicated that Tanaka-Ian is immediately ready to cross the border, so why is Somerville wanting to start a war. Will his allies consider this a wise move. He doesn’t seem to have coordinated these actions fully with the Varanni.
Another thing, the Kalassai should have clearly reported to Somerville that Tanaka-Ian has left his homeworld of Galyla in search of the Free Karacknids. Why doesn’t Somerville see this as an another opportunity to strike deep into the heart of the Karacknid Empire and destroy their homeworld before the war ever gets going. Such a defeat would surely throw Tanaka-Ian off his thrown or at least be the beginning of another Karacknid civil war. Yet, he’s wasting his fleets to destroy unimportant supply depots that Tanaka-Ian has no use for anyway.
Then, his son and heir to the thrown, Jonathan, who has been promoted to Commodore has been given a mission in the wilds to protect a large engineering fleet that come to reinforce and build up one of the Human Empires strategic forts along the Human-Karacknid border. Yet, he doesn’t do what he’s ordered because a group of Free Karacknids have asked for his help in getting out of Karacknid territory. That is not Commodore Somerville’s mission and never should have been. He wildly runs off entering Karacknid space without a sufficient force to do the kind of fighting he might encounter. He basically starts the next Human Empire-Karacknid war all his own and without the approval of his father, whom he doesn’t even notify of his actions! This is just stupid and not something that would have occurred in past books.
Jonathan Somerville actions will result in the capture of a significant player in the Human Empire’s fleet. It’s the result of his careless regard for his standing orders and his misplaced duty to Karacknids who say they no longer wish to follow Tanaka-Ian. Jonathan should never have left on this idiotic mission.
Then finally, at least Edward, the next oldest son of James and Christine, has something positive turn out. He’s an intelligence guy that is attempting to track down the illusive snake-like alien that have caused problems with several civilizations over the past years. If he’s successful, this might be the break they need to find out who these aliens are and why they are trying to cause such chaos between the Human Empire and its allies.
So, I found this book very disturbing because of the many strategic and tactical blunders that were obvious even to me. Hopefully some of this can be corrected in the next book, but, surprisingly, that book hasn’t been identified yet. I wonder if the author has gotten himself in a nasty bind with this story and isn’t sure how to resolve it?
March 2, 2024
This was a very interesting book in a great series. I have truly enjoyed the entire series. Starting from a human-only conflict between space-faring nations to thousands of light-year wide regional war between races, it's pretty good.
Unlike some other series, this one keeps the excitement going. With many stories, the protagonist has many events happening one after the other that seem like they have the worse luck in the world for no major reason.
Here, a behind-the-scenes bad race is trying to keep the rest of the galaxy at war to keep themselves safe. This makes for a very good reason why humans always have to fight for their lives.
Consider this series if you want to read a good story that keeps the action moving in a believable manner.
Unlike some other series, this one keeps the excitement going. With many stories, the protagonist has many events happening one after the other that seem like they have the worse luck in the world for no major reason.
Here, a behind-the-scenes bad race is trying to keep the rest of the galaxy at war to keep themselves safe. This makes for a very good reason why humans always have to fight for their lives.
Consider this series if you want to read a good story that keeps the action moving in a believable manner.
July 29, 2025
Good read.
This book was an excellent read it plenty of unexpected things happen. The book was full of space battles on different planets and some on the planet battles that were pretty harsh. They have plenty of enemy that have joined them because they don't like the way things are going and what is happening to them. They have finally caught one of the worm aliens and we will see what happens there.
This book was an excellent read it plenty of unexpected things happen. The book was full of space battles on different planets and some on the planet battles that were pretty harsh. They have plenty of enemy that have joined them because they don't like the way things are going and what is happening to them. They have finally caught one of the worm aliens and we will see what happens there.
May 31, 2025
Being a little late to the party, I’ve had the please of being able to read the first 18 books of the series in a row. My tbr list of non-empire rising books is steadily growing, but I need to know what happens with these characters. I don’t think I can give any better review than that - i’m going to see it through to the end.
October 27, 2023
Riveting as usual
This series has been on my must read list from the beginning, from the first " void war", the storyline is well, thought out, I eagerly await the next installment.
This series has been on my must read list from the beginning, from the first " void war", the storyline is well, thought out, I eagerly await the next installment.
November 12, 2023
Great book once again!
Probably one of his better follow-ups to the series he's been writing. Holmes continues to keep me intrigued with what's next, even though we're 18 books into the series. Keep it up Mr. Holmes!
Probably one of his better follow-ups to the series he's been writing. Holmes continues to keep me intrigued with what's next, even though we're 18 books into the series. Keep it up Mr. Holmes!
November 23, 2023
excellent
This series just continues to get better and better. I couldn’t put this book down! I hope Mr Holmes is considering a synopsis of empire ascending? That’s a series I’d enjoy..
This series just continues to get better and better. I couldn’t put this book down! I hope Mr Holmes is considering a synopsis of empire ascending? That’s a series I’d enjoy..
December 12, 2023
The plot thickens
Despite the fact that we the readers know the eventual outcome of this future history, the characters in these books are so relatable that I am still on the edge of my seat when I read about their exploits.
Despite the fact that we the readers know the eventual outcome of this future history, the characters in these books are so relatable that I am still on the edge of my seat when I read about their exploits.
February 2, 2024
Disappointed
While much of it was good, there were too many inconsistencies. I was thinking "wait that's not what was said earlier". Having Emily look incompetent was disappointing.
I hope the next book is better.
While much of it was good, there were too many inconsistencies. I was thinking "wait that's not what was said earlier". Having Emily look incompetent was disappointing.
I hope the next book is better.
September 18, 2024
The good reading just keeps happening
What a great book pretty well written, 18 books into the series it seems Like it won't ever end. All well written, there is no doubt about that. I highly recommend giving it a read
What a great book pretty well written, 18 books into the series it seems Like it won't ever end. All well written, there is no doubt about that. I highly recommend giving it a read
October 24, 2023
Another 5 Star book
Could not put it down lots of twists and good story flow alas now have to wait for the next episode.
Could not put it down lots of twists and good story flow alas now have to wait for the next episode.
October 27, 2023
Excellent read
Really enjoyed this chapter of the story, can not wait for the next book, really a very good read excellent
Really enjoyed this chapter of the story, can not wait for the next book, really a very good read excellent
October 29, 2023
Another great installment. Kept me on the edge of my seat towards the end. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
October 30, 2023
Disappointing. Bad abrupt ending, with gratuitous violence and torture of women. Likely not interested in any continuation of the saga.
November 2, 2023
what an amazing book
What a great story and cliffhanger! Cannot wait for the next book! The emperor and empress are amazing people, love the characters!
What a great story and cliffhanger! Cannot wait for the next book! The emperor and empress are amazing people, love the characters!
November 10, 2023
Great as always but...
With that ending, I think I need to go watch 'Old Yeller' to cheer up and maybe Schindler's List to rock me to sleep. 🫤😭
With that ending, I think I need to go watch 'Old Yeller' to cheer up and maybe Schindler's List to rock me to sleep. 🫤😭
November 12, 2023
Great series
This series is one I wait for because I know the book will be entertaining and fun
I could see myself binge reading the whole series at once.
This series is one I wait for because I know the book will be entertaining and fun
I could see myself binge reading the whole series at once.
November 16, 2023
Great serie
Even after several instalments, the action and story line are still gripping and letting us wanting for more. A remarkable serie in the genre.
Even after several instalments, the action and story line are still gripping and letting us wanting for more. A remarkable serie in the genre.
November 17, 2023
Brilliant story
I must wait now for the next book to see what can be done to save the human race and her allies
I must wait now for the next book to see what can be done to save the human race and her allies
February 20, 2024
Very enjoyable
Great addition to series. Looking forward to the next instalment.
Nice mix of space battles and intrigue. What will happen next?
Great addition to series. Looking forward to the next instalment.
Nice mix of space battles and intrigue. What will happen next?
February 29, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyed all 18 books
Enjoyed entire series
"Binge" read all18 over course of about three weeks
Look forward to the next in series
Recommended
Enjoyed entire series
"Binge" read all18 over course of about three weeks
Look forward to the next in series
Recommended
March 22, 2024
Great read!
The saga continues and things are getting interesting in this universe, some old foes come back and threaten everyone again, sacrifices are made, battles lost and won...
The saga continues and things are getting interesting in this universe, some old foes come back and threaten everyone again, sacrifices are made, battles lost and won...
April 11, 2024
Empire rising series is addictive
As I finish reading each new book I find myself chaffing at the bit for the next instalment. This series is riveting and addictive.
As I finish reading each new book I find myself chaffing at the bit for the next instalment. This series is riveting and addictive.
May 29, 2024
Awesome
This book was really good. The tension ratcheted up inexorably. I am looking forward to the next book with anticipation.
This book was really good. The tension ratcheted up inexorably. I am looking forward to the next book with anticipation.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews