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Midnight War #1
Vermilion Flames: Midnight War: Book 1
In the pursuit of progress, how much of your soul are you willing to sacrifice?
In the shadow of a ruined Earth, the Republic and its church claim to offer safety and security while burning ideas and people alike. No moon or planet is free of flames and bloodshed, even as the rebel organization, the Vermilion Coalition, seeks to dismantle the Republic’s oppressive regime.
On a terraformed Mercury, Kaya al Vardan hopes to find the truth behind her mother’s murder; a difficult task when everyone insists it was a tragic accident. When Kaya’s adventurous spirit leads her into the forbidden Great Desert, she’s sent to the Republic’s capital on Mars to study under the watchful eye of the all-powerful church she despises. There she unravels mysteries about her mother’s life and faces a fall in line or risk everything to take up her mother’s mantle.
Silas Beckett, High Commander of the Pandora Fleet and hero of the Republic, can feel his time running out. Fighting terrorists has been his life’s mission, but his nemesis Hex—leader of the Vermilion Coalition—still eludes him. As his failures mount and his allies abandon him, he has few chances left to bring Hex to justice. Can Silas secure peace for his family and for the entire solar system?
Vermilion Flames is the first book in the Midnight War series, an action-filled epic set long after the destruction of Earth.
In the shadow of a ruined Earth, the Republic and its church claim to offer safety and security while burning ideas and people alike. No moon or planet is free of flames and bloodshed, even as the rebel organization, the Vermilion Coalition, seeks to dismantle the Republic’s oppressive regime.
On a terraformed Mercury, Kaya al Vardan hopes to find the truth behind her mother’s murder; a difficult task when everyone insists it was a tragic accident. When Kaya’s adventurous spirit leads her into the forbidden Great Desert, she’s sent to the Republic’s capital on Mars to study under the watchful eye of the all-powerful church she despises. There she unravels mysteries about her mother’s life and faces a fall in line or risk everything to take up her mother’s mantle.
Silas Beckett, High Commander of the Pandora Fleet and hero of the Republic, can feel his time running out. Fighting terrorists has been his life’s mission, but his nemesis Hex—leader of the Vermilion Coalition—still eludes him. As his failures mount and his allies abandon him, he has few chances left to bring Hex to justice. Can Silas secure peace for his family and for the entire solar system?
Vermilion Flames is the first book in the Midnight War series, an action-filled epic set long after the destruction of Earth.
- GenresScience Fiction
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 5, 2024
28 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Adam Fernandez
5 books12 followersAdam Fernandez writes character driven stories set in gritty environments, where overcoming hardship is a daily occurrence. His Midnight War series explores what lengths people will traverse to create a better world.
Adam Fernandez is a first-generation Cuban American from New Jersey. When he isn't writing, he enjoys spending much of his free time outdoors- running, hiking and rock climbing through both local and National Parks. For more information on Adam’s writing, including updates on the next books in the Midnight War series, please visit his website.
Adam Fernandez is a first-generation Cuban American from New Jersey. When he isn't writing, he enjoys spending much of his free time outdoors- running, hiking and rock climbing through both local and National Parks. For more information on Adam’s writing, including updates on the next books in the Midnight War series, please visit his website.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 31, 2024
Review originally on JamReads
Vermilion Flames is the first book in the science fantasy series Midnight War, an ambitious proposal written by Adam Fernandez. This book was totally a cover pick, as it has strong vibes of Warhammer 40k and I can say that not only found something of that, but complex characters, rich worldbuilding and a great plot that sets all for a second volume.
A story that is carried by two main characters, Kaya and Silas, from different origins, but whose subplots will end being intertwined; initially Fernandez puts the focus on Kaya, a nobleman's daughter that is sent to Mars to be educated as a bishop, mostly as a punishment for her rebellious behaviour against the rules. However, instead of going calmer, we can see how Kaya passes from the teen years rebellion to a more focused activism, entering into contact with the rebels against the established order. We can see how she matures and grows, while still trying to discover the cause behind her mother's death.
In comparison, Silas starts his story just being a high range military officer who is in the search of capturing the mysterious Hex, leader of a rebel faction against the Empire; with him, Fernandez puts together action filled scenes, especially at the start, progressing towards a more complex net of politics and showing us how he struggles to keep contact with his family. Silas is a loyal to the power soldier, but his convictions will be shaken.
The worldbuilding was also quite interesting for me. A multi-planet Empire inspired by the Roman Empire, in which the Church plays an important control role; rebel factions and neutrals that try to survive. The politics between different noble houses are complex, and the mix between futuristic technology and more classic elements is a blend that works really well.
The pacing is a bit too frenetic in occasions for me, especially regarding how some reveals are done; said that, Fernandez's prose is accessible, adapting well to the tone of the scene, mixing together action and conversation.
Vermilion Flames is a promising first instalment for a science fantasy proposal; I'm really curious to see how Midnight War will evolve with the next books, and definitely, if you are looking for something W40K vibes, you definitely should try this one.
Vermilion Flames is the first book in the science fantasy series Midnight War, an ambitious proposal written by Adam Fernandez. This book was totally a cover pick, as it has strong vibes of Warhammer 40k and I can say that not only found something of that, but complex characters, rich worldbuilding and a great plot that sets all for a second volume.
A story that is carried by two main characters, Kaya and Silas, from different origins, but whose subplots will end being intertwined; initially Fernandez puts the focus on Kaya, a nobleman's daughter that is sent to Mars to be educated as a bishop, mostly as a punishment for her rebellious behaviour against the rules. However, instead of going calmer, we can see how Kaya passes from the teen years rebellion to a more focused activism, entering into contact with the rebels against the established order. We can see how she matures and grows, while still trying to discover the cause behind her mother's death.
In comparison, Silas starts his story just being a high range military officer who is in the search of capturing the mysterious Hex, leader of a rebel faction against the Empire; with him, Fernandez puts together action filled scenes, especially at the start, progressing towards a more complex net of politics and showing us how he struggles to keep contact with his family. Silas is a loyal to the power soldier, but his convictions will be shaken.
The worldbuilding was also quite interesting for me. A multi-planet Empire inspired by the Roman Empire, in which the Church plays an important control role; rebel factions and neutrals that try to survive. The politics between different noble houses are complex, and the mix between futuristic technology and more classic elements is a blend that works really well.
The pacing is a bit too frenetic in occasions for me, especially regarding how some reveals are done; said that, Fernandez's prose is accessible, adapting well to the tone of the scene, mixing together action and conversation.
Vermilion Flames is a promising first instalment for a science fantasy proposal; I'm really curious to see how Midnight War will evolve with the next books, and definitely, if you are looking for something W40K vibes, you definitely should try this one.
March 4, 2025
I am one of the judges of team Space Girls for the SPSFC4 contest. This review is my personal opinion. Officially, it is still in the running for the contest, pending any official team announcements.
Status: Yes
Read: 100%
Sending a bit of an apology to the author for not reaching the official 30% of the sample. Due to time constraints, I am starting to run behind some of my teammates and I am trying to read the shorter book samples to get the vote tally in before the quarterfinalist deadline.
However, given I voted a clear-cut Yes for this book, it's quite obvious my decision would not have been greatly affected if I had read a bit further. I also felt the 20% mark was a nice place to pause because the story is already set in motion.
I didn't quite know what to think of this book at first. By starting the story with a tired & true trope of two teenagers sneaking outside their home to visit a forbidden desolate place, I felt initial disconnect from the book. This doesn't mean I immediately DNF books just because they start with the infamous waking up scene. Quality writing and charismatic characters can make the most rehashed of tired tropes good options.
The initial chapters also had an issue that because we still don't know much about what turned Mercury's terraformed society into a rigid theocracy, the writing style was hard for me to get into. Things gets better as the book progresses, and we vibe with our protagonist Kaya. Her punishment for comitting such a ridiculously menial infraction (that also affected her best friend Victoria) seemed quite extreme.
And yet, this harsh sentence that will change her foolish teenage ideals and pampered upbringing as a noblewoman has been handelled quite well so far in the story. I am unsure why the military satellites surrounding Earth have not crashed into the atmosphere after 1000 years or the spaceship was close to Earth en route to Mars (I guess just really good timing to take advantage of the gravitational slingshot?). However, this chapter offered a few extra hints about how the book's society works.
I quite enjoy being pampered getting little figments of information little by little as stories advance instead of info dumps. With the story set in motion early into the novel, I am already transfixed and vote yes for it to continue in the competition.
---
Update: As the final team quarterfinalist, Vermillion Flames continues its path filled with treachery, court intrigue, and lots of beloved space opera tropes. Oh, and yes, we also get a maybe yes & maybe not love triangle. Readers that groaned with the Hunger Games love triangle thing going on should not scare away from this book because it seems more platonic and not a central focus of the story.
In fact, it seems like Kaya ceases to be the protagonist as the story goes on. Halfway through the novel, we meet Silas Brackett, the son of the Duke of Mars, accomplished space fleet commander with expected marital problems due to lengthly absences. At first, I was wondering what was the book planning on doing by having Kaya engage in YA teen drama (bullies & dates and all that stuff) followed by a stream of chapters where Silas is fighting rebels in search of an interplanetary terrorist.
Lest to say, the book explains this new dual POV dynamic very well and the reader's questions will be answered. I particularly liked Marcus who is Silas's brother in law and close military confidant. In fact, he was my favorite character in the book. We get a few red herrings sprinkled over the book and I guessed them all.... well except the little herring Hex's movements were... different. I surmised a believable explanation, but there is one other hint thrown twice that threw me off. And no, I won't spoil it. ;)
Now, when books with dual POVs happen, there are some risks. This book did a nice job making the reader get to enjoy Silas and the role he might play within the greater conflict. He seems to overshadow Kaya due to a greater self autonomy and decision making. In fact, Kaya's side of the story follows a familiar problem I have seen with plenty of books.
Given the inherent need to avoid spoiling the great finale, everyone breadcrumbs her information. Yup, we get the 'sorry, we have a super secret important plan/secret and you must trust us. It is dangerous to know until the final story act.' In the book's defense, spilling the beans would have been too risky because she is so hot-headed and prone to rash bad decisions. So, even though this story dynamic of witholding the great reveal tends to get on my nerves, it fits very well with the inherent dangers of defying a decaying society ruled by a theocratic cult with an iron fist.
One thing I enjoyed a lot about this book was the existence of religious warrior orders. We don't usually get to see warrior priests that often in Sci Fi outside of Christian Fiction novels. At times, the religious combat factions reminded me starkly of the Rome military faction in the Trinity Blood anime. Only that there is no bumbling Pope figurehead and it is the fervently ruthless 2 cardinal siblings that rule the faction. Combine the religious combat orders with the always enjoyable lost & banned technology trope and readers will sure have a lot of fun with this book.
Tension continues building at a steady pace after the 50% point and culminates with a strong final act that will make the reader hungry to read the sequel. There is a sequel, right? I haven't checked, but I would enjoy reading it sometime!
---
Some typos I found:
82% grown taught taut
84% backwards " mark in sentence: on his face. "I assume...
86% the yolk that blinds yoke
92% been kidnap kidnapped
97% canons I think in this context it is cannons because the sentence doesn't specify referring to the rule of law
98% of his arch enemy. Has a period instead of ? mark.
Status: Yes
Read: 100%
Sending a bit of an apology to the author for not reaching the official 30% of the sample. Due to time constraints, I am starting to run behind some of my teammates and I am trying to read the shorter book samples to get the vote tally in before the quarterfinalist deadline.
However, given I voted a clear-cut Yes for this book, it's quite obvious my decision would not have been greatly affected if I had read a bit further. I also felt the 20% mark was a nice place to pause because the story is already set in motion.
I didn't quite know what to think of this book at first. By starting the story with a tired & true trope of two teenagers sneaking outside their home to visit a forbidden desolate place, I felt initial disconnect from the book. This doesn't mean I immediately DNF books just because they start with the infamous waking up scene. Quality writing and charismatic characters can make the most rehashed of tired tropes good options.
The initial chapters also had an issue that because we still don't know much about what turned Mercury's terraformed society into a rigid theocracy, the writing style was hard for me to get into. Things gets better as the book progresses, and we vibe with our protagonist Kaya. Her punishment for comitting such a ridiculously menial infraction (that also affected her best friend Victoria) seemed quite extreme.
And yet, this harsh sentence that will change her foolish teenage ideals and pampered upbringing as a noblewoman has been handelled quite well so far in the story. I am unsure why the military satellites surrounding Earth have not crashed into the atmosphere after 1000 years or the spaceship was close to Earth en route to Mars (I guess just really good timing to take advantage of the gravitational slingshot?). However, this chapter offered a few extra hints about how the book's society works.
I quite enjoy being pampered getting little figments of information little by little as stories advance instead of info dumps. With the story set in motion early into the novel, I am already transfixed and vote yes for it to continue in the competition.
---
Update: As the final team quarterfinalist, Vermillion Flames continues its path filled with treachery, court intrigue, and lots of beloved space opera tropes. Oh, and yes, we also get a maybe yes & maybe not love triangle. Readers that groaned with the Hunger Games love triangle thing going on should not scare away from this book because it seems more platonic and not a central focus of the story.
In fact, it seems like Kaya ceases to be the protagonist as the story goes on. Halfway through the novel, we meet Silas Brackett, the son of the Duke of Mars, accomplished space fleet commander with expected marital problems due to lengthly absences. At first, I was wondering what was the book planning on doing by having Kaya engage in YA teen drama (bullies & dates and all that stuff) followed by a stream of chapters where Silas is fighting rebels in search of an interplanetary terrorist.
Lest to say, the book explains this new dual POV dynamic very well and the reader's questions will be answered. I particularly liked Marcus who is Silas's brother in law and close military confidant. In fact, he was my favorite character in the book. We get a few red herrings sprinkled over the book and I guessed them all.... well except the little herring Hex's movements were... different. I surmised a believable explanation, but there is one other hint thrown twice that threw me off. And no, I won't spoil it. ;)
Now, when books with dual POVs happen, there are some risks. This book did a nice job making the reader get to enjoy Silas and the role he might play within the greater conflict. He seems to overshadow Kaya due to a greater self autonomy and decision making. In fact, Kaya's side of the story follows a familiar problem I have seen with plenty of books.
Given the inherent need to avoid spoiling the great finale, everyone breadcrumbs her information. Yup, we get the 'sorry, we have a super secret important plan/secret and you must trust us. It is dangerous to know until the final story act.' In the book's defense, spilling the beans would have been too risky because she is so hot-headed and prone to rash bad decisions. So, even though this story dynamic of witholding the great reveal tends to get on my nerves, it fits very well with the inherent dangers of defying a decaying society ruled by a theocratic cult with an iron fist.
One thing I enjoyed a lot about this book was the existence of religious warrior orders. We don't usually get to see warrior priests that often in Sci Fi outside of Christian Fiction novels. At times, the religious combat factions reminded me starkly of the Rome military faction in the Trinity Blood anime. Only that there is no bumbling Pope figurehead and it is the fervently ruthless 2 cardinal siblings that rule the faction. Combine the religious combat orders with the always enjoyable lost & banned technology trope and readers will sure have a lot of fun with this book.
Tension continues building at a steady pace after the 50% point and culminates with a strong final act that will make the reader hungry to read the sequel. There is a sequel, right? I haven't checked, but I would enjoy reading it sometime!
---
Some typos I found:
82% grown taught taut
84% backwards " mark in sentence: on his face. "I assume...
86% the yolk that blinds yoke
92% been kidnap kidnapped
97% canons I think in this context it is cannons because the sentence doesn't specify referring to the rule of law
98% of his arch enemy. Has a period instead of ? mark.
November 8, 2025
4.25-4.5!
This is a really cool space opera full of great characters and some impressive world building. I loved Kya and Silas both, and zoomed through the audiobook. Fernandez is an excellent writer and the narrator fit perfectly with the story. There were a few moments where I felt things happened really fast, but as a whole, this was an impressive debut! Fernandez is gonna do great things as an author.
This is a really cool space opera full of great characters and some impressive world building. I loved Kya and Silas both, and zoomed through the audiobook. Fernandez is an excellent writer and the narrator fit perfectly with the story. There were a few moments where I felt things happened really fast, but as a whole, this was an impressive debut! Fernandez is gonna do great things as an author.
March 19, 2025
I read this as a judge for Team Space Girls; one of our picks as a ¼ finalist. My opinion is my own as is the rating. 7.75/10
At first this book's pacing felt a bit rough and over the place (sort of like the action of our heroine Kaya herself) but by the 15% mark the author had settled into his "groove" as it were.
I liked the heroine in this, she's not one for the rules and hates the constant war as well as the theocratic rule. She does makes a number of sacrifice, throwing off the trappings of her wealthy upbringing to help bring about change.
I enjoy a good political intrigue with a brewing rebellion and there were some intriguing twists along the way. The beginning may have been rough but the ending was excellent.
At first this book's pacing felt a bit rough and over the place (sort of like the action of our heroine Kaya herself) but by the 15% mark the author had settled into his "groove" as it were.
I liked the heroine in this, she's not one for the rules and hates the constant war as well as the theocratic rule. She does makes a number of sacrifice, throwing off the trappings of her wealthy upbringing to help bring about change.
I enjoy a good political intrigue with a brewing rebellion and there were some intriguing twists along the way. The beginning may have been rough but the ending was excellent.
March 31, 2025
4.5 rounding up, full rtc!
January 8, 2025
This review was originally posted on SFFINSIDERS.COM
Set in our solar system millennia in the future, you're met with a dystopian sci-fi of epic proportion. Adam Fernandez’s debut novel is a page turner, and I found myself desperately impatient to keep reading.
Vermilion Flames paints an interesting future system. With terraformed planets, habitable moons and asteroids, and an earth that was abandoned long ago, all is now under the control of a deteriorating Solar Republic, backed by a church that has left it’s people in desperation. Kaya is accustomed to living amongst the most privileged and has a difficult time facing the realities that creep in around her as she navigates the new life forces upon her. Silas, missioned to fight the rebellion with the Pandora Fleet he commands, knows first hand the disparity that their failing empire affects, but is bound in duty and honor that he struggles to combat.
After an action packed prologue, the story opens following Kaya, a feisty nobleman’s daughter with a spirit of adventure. At first glance she seems like the stereotypical dystopian teenage MC, but we soon get refreshing multidimensional layers to her story. I loved how she grew and could change her thinking when presented with new information. It wasn’t all black and white, with her or Silas, and many time’s the “right” choices came with bad motivations, or vice versa.
That’s what I loved most about the character depth, it wasn’t the linearity you expect from yet another space opera with a rebellion problem. You could feel the humanity in the world. There were aspects to military life that were refreshing to see, the inhuman actions of desperate people felt understandable, and the malevolence born from the past’s good intentions felt eerily familiar. Though there weren’t many sparks flying in this story, there were plenty of interesting relationships, rivalries, reluctant partnerships and mistrusting allies that all had to navigate the failing worlds they lived in.
The political themes in this story were superb. There’s a beautiful balance of motivations from every aspect of the authoritarian, to the rebellion, to the neutrals trying to survive… or living well because of it. The religious aspect had me on the edge of my seat, and I think Fernadez did a wonderful job of separating spirituality from institution. This was highlighted in our two MCs, and I can’t wait to see where they both end up in this series with their faith.
Fernadez builds an intricate world with nods to the reality we know woven into their past. The third person POV suited the cinematic feel, but Adam still made it feel very personal and connected to the characters he limited it to. The details came across fluidly, the prose wasn’t clunky with all the information it conveyed. I am one to live in the details and I wasn’t let down. Through academia settings, military operations, extreme civil unrest and desperation, you felt the human elements woven through the action packed entertainment. Though at times the pacing felt a bit rushed for the style of writing, the intrigue made recovering from those moments a breeze. I both read and listened to this book at different points, and loved the narration as well.
I absolutely recommend this book to my fellow sci-fi lovers! I was thoroughly entertained and left really excited for the books to come. There were enough answers to leave me completely satisfied even when I walk away with many more questions. There is plenty of room for the world to expand, politics to evolve and characters to grow, and I know we won’t be left off the hook of having to ask ourselves what our own motivations are in the story. I’m interested to see where our characters end up, what exactly the Vermilion Coalition is aiming for, and how the Republic will respond! Kaya and Silas have a lot more to share with each other and I am all ears!
Set in our solar system millennia in the future, you're met with a dystopian sci-fi of epic proportion. Adam Fernandez’s debut novel is a page turner, and I found myself desperately impatient to keep reading.
Vermilion Flames paints an interesting future system. With terraformed planets, habitable moons and asteroids, and an earth that was abandoned long ago, all is now under the control of a deteriorating Solar Republic, backed by a church that has left it’s people in desperation. Kaya is accustomed to living amongst the most privileged and has a difficult time facing the realities that creep in around her as she navigates the new life forces upon her. Silas, missioned to fight the rebellion with the Pandora Fleet he commands, knows first hand the disparity that their failing empire affects, but is bound in duty and honor that he struggles to combat.
After an action packed prologue, the story opens following Kaya, a feisty nobleman’s daughter with a spirit of adventure. At first glance she seems like the stereotypical dystopian teenage MC, but we soon get refreshing multidimensional layers to her story. I loved how she grew and could change her thinking when presented with new information. It wasn’t all black and white, with her or Silas, and many time’s the “right” choices came with bad motivations, or vice versa.
That’s what I loved most about the character depth, it wasn’t the linearity you expect from yet another space opera with a rebellion problem. You could feel the humanity in the world. There were aspects to military life that were refreshing to see, the inhuman actions of desperate people felt understandable, and the malevolence born from the past’s good intentions felt eerily familiar. Though there weren’t many sparks flying in this story, there were plenty of interesting relationships, rivalries, reluctant partnerships and mistrusting allies that all had to navigate the failing worlds they lived in.
The political themes in this story were superb. There’s a beautiful balance of motivations from every aspect of the authoritarian, to the rebellion, to the neutrals trying to survive… or living well because of it. The religious aspect had me on the edge of my seat, and I think Fernadez did a wonderful job of separating spirituality from institution. This was highlighted in our two MCs, and I can’t wait to see where they both end up in this series with their faith.
Fernadez builds an intricate world with nods to the reality we know woven into their past. The third person POV suited the cinematic feel, but Adam still made it feel very personal and connected to the characters he limited it to. The details came across fluidly, the prose wasn’t clunky with all the information it conveyed. I am one to live in the details and I wasn’t let down. Through academia settings, military operations, extreme civil unrest and desperation, you felt the human elements woven through the action packed entertainment. Though at times the pacing felt a bit rushed for the style of writing, the intrigue made recovering from those moments a breeze. I both read and listened to this book at different points, and loved the narration as well.
I absolutely recommend this book to my fellow sci-fi lovers! I was thoroughly entertained and left really excited for the books to come. There were enough answers to leave me completely satisfied even when I walk away with many more questions. There is plenty of room for the world to expand, politics to evolve and characters to grow, and I know we won’t be left off the hook of having to ask ourselves what our own motivations are in the story. I’m interested to see where our characters end up, what exactly the Vermilion Coalition is aiming for, and how the Republic will respond! Kaya and Silas have a lot more to share with each other and I am all ears!
August 8, 2024
DISCLAIMER: I won an Audible code for this as part of a Discord giveaway, but that does not impact my opinion of this book.
Part revolution story, part YA-style coming of age, part military drama, VERMILLION FLAMES, is an interesting mix of things that really resonated with me and things that did not. Some fascinating twists toward the end and an impeccable audio production ended up making this a much more memorable adventure than it would have been otherwise.
CHARACTERS
The story follows two main POVs: Silas Becket, High Commander of the Pandora Fleet, and Kaya al Varden, daughter of the Duke of Mercury. Silas and his close allies within the fleet made for deeply compelling protagonists. I appreciated the subtle nuances of their interactions with one another as much as I did seeing them in action on the battlefield against the notorious, Hex, a top-ranking member of the infamous Vermillion Coalition. This conflict between the two of them was super engaging and I found the antagonistic relationship between Silas and Hex to be quite satisfying. I will say that Silas's interactions with his wife felt a little less on point though as she seems to be able to go from ornery to supportive at the flick of some internal switch without much of an external trigger. Kaya, was frankly a bit grating as well. This is especially unfortunate since it felt like the majority of the story is told from her perspective. She's young, spoiled, and a bit of an idealist with a rebellious spirit. She has her own layers of complexity to her, but I just generally found her to be a difficult hero to get behind sometimes. Members of her supporting cast were equally tough to like, though a character named Aaron grew on me in some predictable ways. There is another figure from her side of the story with a rather interesting name who wasn't so much likeable as he was intriguing. I think a lot of his true designs and motivations will be revealed in a later book, but for the purposes of this adventure, I enjoyed the intrigue he brought to the table. There's also a shady female character who I thought was kind of fun. I wouldn't say this is the most iconic cast of characters I've ever seen in sci-fi, but I think they each felt distinct from one another and all had enough going on to feel at least somewhat true to life.
PLOT/TONE
Expectations can be a powerful thing when picking up a book and I expected this one to be sort of a military sci-fi with some elements of thriller/mystery to add intrigue. Both of those elements are present here, but a large amount of time is spent on Kaya's coming of age arc. This is largely what I would consider to be an adult piece of fiction (though it could be suitable for older teens / new adults), but there were some distinctly YA tropes in Kaya's side of things that really threw me off. There's the nerdy guy who ends up being a close companion, the handsome hunk who just "gets her," some mean authority figures, a ditsy best friend (quickly turned ex-best-friend in this case) and then a band of colorful characters who she finds something of a home with. There's even a couple of school bullies for good measure. It all just really kind of clashed with and took away from the more militaristic portions of the story for me. Now, with that said, Kaya's chapters are also where we learn the most about this world/universe, so I'm not suggesting they should have been cut, but I also don't think they fully worked for me in their current form. Thankfully, her narrative does get more interesting the deeper down the rabbit hole of conspiracies and plots she delves into as she seeks out the truth about why her mother really died. This all ends up connecting nicely with Silas's more action-focused story beats, which I appreciated. I also loved all the fun twists that are revealed toward the story's end, particularly because they were all hinted at in such a way where you're probably going to go, "OH, of course!" or "I knew it!" In either case, that's always such a rewarding feeling and such a tricky thing to pull off. I think these revelations at the end really boosted my appreciation for the events that had come before and even re-contextualized certain sections of the story.
SETTING/WORLD
One of the most important aspects of any science fiction or fantasy novel is the world, or in this case, universe, in which it is set. Thankfully, the setting for this story is quite an interesting one. The Earth is no more and instead, humanity has settled across other planets within the solar system such as Mars and Mercury. While that may not sound like the most original setup, what kind of sets this universe apart from others is that technology is actually on the decline. Even though people move around in space ships and live on high tech planets, their societies are crumbling as their technology ages and the tools available to them become more primitive. It's a fascinating combination of medieval-style warfare and politics with space-opera style science fiction. Warriors wield plasma blades instead of laser rifles, people in poorer neighborhoods suffer from exposure to radiation, disease, and a lack of food. It's a grim and rather dire situation which seems like it is reaching a boiling point as a rebel faction known as The Vermillion Coalition threatens the powers that be. Those powers in this case seem to be largely controlled by a religious body. The religion itself isn't a one-to-one fit with one from our world, but there are lots of details that specifically point to it being a distinctly Judeo-Christian sort of situation. It's not really clear how this organization came into power in the first place which bothered me somewhat since the entire military just seems to do whatever they say. There's also a high degree of theophobia throughout the story which for me, is just such a boring and tiresome trope that is present in so much of science fiction and fantasy and always seems to be presented as though it is the most new and novel concept to grace the genre. I will say that the decisions made by certain characters toward the end of the book that were seemingly driven by their faith added a bit of nuance to the way that religion is portrayed in the book and made me second guess my perception of what the author was maybe going for. The rebel group also has it's own sort of spirituality to it, so things really aren't as simple as "religion bad, atheism good" which was kind of interesting to see and this dynamic gave almost more of a "holy war" type of vibe where different ideologies clash.
AUDIOBOOK
My compliments to the narrator on this one. Not only was the prose expertly recited and all the character voices distinct and consistent, but the production of this audiobook really went the extra mile. There are some brilliant audio effects when it came to crowds of people shouting something in unison as well as a muffled sort of radio fuzz that's layered over character lines when they are speaking to each other through coms in their exo-suits. Maybe these aren't the most technically impressive flourishes, but I think the extra effort put into these moments made such a big difference. The attention to detail and level of care made for a listening experience that honestly elevated my enjoyment of the entire book. It wasn't too much or too little, it was just right and I'll need to keep an eye out for this narrator's other work, especially within the science fiction genre.
CONCLUSION
This isn't a book that landed perfectly for me in some key ways, but I think the twists at the end and the lovingly crafted audio production ultimately made this an enjoyable read for me. I'm not entirely sure if I'll be continuing with the series or not, but I believe this is a fairly recent release, so I have a little time to let this one sit with me before book two arrives. If you're itching for a good science fiction book with lots of different narrative components, this might be a good pick for you. I'd recommend picking up the audio edition in particular.
(+) An intriguing science fiction universe
(+) The more militaristic chapters with Silas and Hex were quite enjoyable
(+) Some really fun twists that made complete sense and re-contextualized portions of the story
(+) An incredible production with some really cool audio effects that elevated my experience
(-) Kaya is a somewhat grating protagonist
(-) The school segments, pseudo love triangle, and general teen angst didn't really engage me
(-) Theophobic overtones that didn't do much for me
Part revolution story, part YA-style coming of age, part military drama, VERMILLION FLAMES, is an interesting mix of things that really resonated with me and things that did not. Some fascinating twists toward the end and an impeccable audio production ended up making this a much more memorable adventure than it would have been otherwise.
CHARACTERS
The story follows two main POVs: Silas Becket, High Commander of the Pandora Fleet, and Kaya al Varden, daughter of the Duke of Mercury. Silas and his close allies within the fleet made for deeply compelling protagonists. I appreciated the subtle nuances of their interactions with one another as much as I did seeing them in action on the battlefield against the notorious, Hex, a top-ranking member of the infamous Vermillion Coalition. This conflict between the two of them was super engaging and I found the antagonistic relationship between Silas and Hex to be quite satisfying. I will say that Silas's interactions with his wife felt a little less on point though as she seems to be able to go from ornery to supportive at the flick of some internal switch without much of an external trigger. Kaya, was frankly a bit grating as well. This is especially unfortunate since it felt like the majority of the story is told from her perspective. She's young, spoiled, and a bit of an idealist with a rebellious spirit. She has her own layers of complexity to her, but I just generally found her to be a difficult hero to get behind sometimes. Members of her supporting cast were equally tough to like, though a character named Aaron grew on me in some predictable ways. There is another figure from her side of the story with a rather interesting name who wasn't so much likeable as he was intriguing. I think a lot of his true designs and motivations will be revealed in a later book, but for the purposes of this adventure, I enjoyed the intrigue he brought to the table. There's also a shady female character who I thought was kind of fun. I wouldn't say this is the most iconic cast of characters I've ever seen in sci-fi, but I think they each felt distinct from one another and all had enough going on to feel at least somewhat true to life.
PLOT/TONE
Expectations can be a powerful thing when picking up a book and I expected this one to be sort of a military sci-fi with some elements of thriller/mystery to add intrigue. Both of those elements are present here, but a large amount of time is spent on Kaya's coming of age arc. This is largely what I would consider to be an adult piece of fiction (though it could be suitable for older teens / new adults), but there were some distinctly YA tropes in Kaya's side of things that really threw me off. There's the nerdy guy who ends up being a close companion, the handsome hunk who just "gets her," some mean authority figures, a ditsy best friend (quickly turned ex-best-friend in this case) and then a band of colorful characters who she finds something of a home with. There's even a couple of school bullies for good measure. It all just really kind of clashed with and took away from the more militaristic portions of the story for me. Now, with that said, Kaya's chapters are also where we learn the most about this world/universe, so I'm not suggesting they should have been cut, but I also don't think they fully worked for me in their current form. Thankfully, her narrative does get more interesting the deeper down the rabbit hole of conspiracies and plots she delves into as she seeks out the truth about why her mother really died. This all ends up connecting nicely with Silas's more action-focused story beats, which I appreciated. I also loved all the fun twists that are revealed toward the story's end, particularly because they were all hinted at in such a way where you're probably going to go, "OH, of course!" or "I knew it!" In either case, that's always such a rewarding feeling and such a tricky thing to pull off. I think these revelations at the end really boosted my appreciation for the events that had come before and even re-contextualized certain sections of the story.
SETTING/WORLD
One of the most important aspects of any science fiction or fantasy novel is the world, or in this case, universe, in which it is set. Thankfully, the setting for this story is quite an interesting one. The Earth is no more and instead, humanity has settled across other planets within the solar system such as Mars and Mercury. While that may not sound like the most original setup, what kind of sets this universe apart from others is that technology is actually on the decline. Even though people move around in space ships and live on high tech planets, their societies are crumbling as their technology ages and the tools available to them become more primitive. It's a fascinating combination of medieval-style warfare and politics with space-opera style science fiction. Warriors wield plasma blades instead of laser rifles, people in poorer neighborhoods suffer from exposure to radiation, disease, and a lack of food. It's a grim and rather dire situation which seems like it is reaching a boiling point as a rebel faction known as The Vermillion Coalition threatens the powers that be. Those powers in this case seem to be largely controlled by a religious body. The religion itself isn't a one-to-one fit with one from our world, but there are lots of details that specifically point to it being a distinctly Judeo-Christian sort of situation. It's not really clear how this organization came into power in the first place which bothered me somewhat since the entire military just seems to do whatever they say. There's also a high degree of theophobia throughout the story which for me, is just such a boring and tiresome trope that is present in so much of science fiction and fantasy and always seems to be presented as though it is the most new and novel concept to grace the genre. I will say that the decisions made by certain characters toward the end of the book that were seemingly driven by their faith added a bit of nuance to the way that religion is portrayed in the book and made me second guess my perception of what the author was maybe going for. The rebel group also has it's own sort of spirituality to it, so things really aren't as simple as "religion bad, atheism good" which was kind of interesting to see and this dynamic gave almost more of a "holy war" type of vibe where different ideologies clash.
AUDIOBOOK
My compliments to the narrator on this one. Not only was the prose expertly recited and all the character voices distinct and consistent, but the production of this audiobook really went the extra mile. There are some brilliant audio effects when it came to crowds of people shouting something in unison as well as a muffled sort of radio fuzz that's layered over character lines when they are speaking to each other through coms in their exo-suits. Maybe these aren't the most technically impressive flourishes, but I think the extra effort put into these moments made such a big difference. The attention to detail and level of care made for a listening experience that honestly elevated my enjoyment of the entire book. It wasn't too much or too little, it was just right and I'll need to keep an eye out for this narrator's other work, especially within the science fiction genre.
CONCLUSION
This isn't a book that landed perfectly for me in some key ways, but I think the twists at the end and the lovingly crafted audio production ultimately made this an enjoyable read for me. I'm not entirely sure if I'll be continuing with the series or not, but I believe this is a fairly recent release, so I have a little time to let this one sit with me before book two arrives. If you're itching for a good science fiction book with lots of different narrative components, this might be a good pick for you. I'd recommend picking up the audio edition in particular.
(+) An intriguing science fiction universe
(+) The more militaristic chapters with Silas and Hex were quite enjoyable
(+) Some really fun twists that made complete sense and re-contextualized portions of the story
(+) An incredible production with some really cool audio effects that elevated my experience
(-) Kaya is a somewhat grating protagonist
(-) The school segments, pseudo love triangle, and general teen angst didn't really engage me
(-) Theophobic overtones that didn't do much for me
April 1, 2024
Vermilion Flames, Book 1 in the Midnight War series by Adam Fernandez, is a riveting science fiction novel that combines space opera elements with political intrigue. Set in the year 4103 U.E.T., it explores a tumultuous solar system where humanity, now spread across various planets and moons, grapples with new societal and political challenges. The story primarily revolves around Kaya Vardan, a young Mercury-born noblewoman with a thirst for adventure and rebellion, and Silas Beckett, a high-ranking officer in the Pandora Fleet entangled in the conflict with the Vermilion Coalition. Fernandez weaves a complex tapestry of interstellar politics, power struggles, and personal discovery, delivering a future where humanity's expansion into space is as fraught with conflict as it is with opportunity.
Fernandez's writing is both vivid and detailed, successfully painting a universe rich with futuristic technology and diverse cultures. While I appreciated the author's talent in crafting a believable and intricate world, I found the narrative's pace somewhat heavy with technical details. Fans of meticulously constructed settings will find much to admire in this book.
The novel shines in its character development, particularly with Kaya, whose journey from a restless noble to a pivotal figure in the solar system’s politics is compelling and nuanced. Silas Beckett's character arc, marked by moral dilemmas and leadership challenges, provides a fascinating counterpoint, offering insight into the complexities of power and duty.
I enjoyed the thematic exploration of rebellion, authority, and the ethics of leadership. Fernandez doesn't shy away from presenting the darker aspects of human nature and governance, encapsulating the struggle for power in a vast universe. The subplot involving the remnants of the Solar Empire and the forsaken populations adds depth, highlighting the societal disparities that often accompany technological and territorial expansion. I find the novel's themes thought-provoking, and the philosophical underpinnings add depth to its unique charm and intellectual appeal.
Vermilion Flames is a testament to Fernandez's ability to craft a world that is as expansive as it is intricate. The novel is an excellent pick for readers who enjoy science fiction that combines space exploration with political intrigue. Its detailed world-building and complex characters will particularly appeal to fans of space operas and those who appreciate a narrative that delves into the ethical dilemmas of leadership and power.
Vermilion Flames is an ambitious and engaging read, ideal for sci-fi fans who revel in richly constructed universes and complex character arcs. Its examination of power, rebellion, and the human condition set against the backdrop of a futuristic solar system makes it a noteworthy addition to the genre.
Fernandez's writing is both vivid and detailed, successfully painting a universe rich with futuristic technology and diverse cultures. While I appreciated the author's talent in crafting a believable and intricate world, I found the narrative's pace somewhat heavy with technical details. Fans of meticulously constructed settings will find much to admire in this book.
The novel shines in its character development, particularly with Kaya, whose journey from a restless noble to a pivotal figure in the solar system’s politics is compelling and nuanced. Silas Beckett's character arc, marked by moral dilemmas and leadership challenges, provides a fascinating counterpoint, offering insight into the complexities of power and duty.
I enjoyed the thematic exploration of rebellion, authority, and the ethics of leadership. Fernandez doesn't shy away from presenting the darker aspects of human nature and governance, encapsulating the struggle for power in a vast universe. The subplot involving the remnants of the Solar Empire and the forsaken populations adds depth, highlighting the societal disparities that often accompany technological and territorial expansion. I find the novel's themes thought-provoking, and the philosophical underpinnings add depth to its unique charm and intellectual appeal.
Vermilion Flames is a testament to Fernandez's ability to craft a world that is as expansive as it is intricate. The novel is an excellent pick for readers who enjoy science fiction that combines space exploration with political intrigue. Its detailed world-building and complex characters will particularly appeal to fans of space operas and those who appreciate a narrative that delves into the ethical dilemmas of leadership and power.
Vermilion Flames is an ambitious and engaging read, ideal for sci-fi fans who revel in richly constructed universes and complex character arcs. Its examination of power, rebellion, and the human condition set against the backdrop of a futuristic solar system makes it a noteworthy addition to the genre.
May 29, 2024
"Vermilion Flames" by Adam Fernandez masterfully blends intricate world-building with dynamic character development, offering a rich tapestry reminiscent of a sci-fi version of the late Roman Empire intertwined with the medieval Catholic Church. The introduction to the universe is well-paced, gradually immersing the reader without overwhelming them. I loved the world building as it felt both magical and realistic. I particularly latched on to the wordage around the Plasma blades as they were described to “kindle” to life.
However, the narrative stumbles slightly with the pacing of its plot twists. While many of the reveals are excellent and unexpected, I found multiple times where I was being hit in quick succession by multiple heavy plot turns resulting in a lessened affect on me as a reader. I think the story’s unfolding, though generally well-paced, could have benefitted from either less of these heavy twists or more space between their reveals to maintain their impact.
The strength of the book lies in its characters and their development. Kaya and Silas stand out, with Kaya initially appearing as the stronger character. As the story progresses, Silas’s internal struggles and moral dilemmas make him increasingly compelling. The dialogue between characters is sharp, effectively showcasing their personalities and growth, particularly Kaya's transition from youthful rebellion to serious activism and Silas's conflict between personal beliefs and duty. I particularly enjoyed how Fernandez brought these to very different stories to overlap in “Vermilion Flames”.
The supporting cast for each of the main characters is also strong, with Marcus, Silas’ brother-in-law, likely becoming a crowd favorite. He is a fantastic foil to Silas’ brooding demeanor. Each feels as real as the main characters with their own problems and motivations that mesh or conflict with Kaya, Silas, or both in interesting ways.
Fernandez's writing is generally strong, with well executed action scenes and well presented themes. But there were times when I felt a need for more varied language. Despite this, I still feel that there were many moments of well done prose to balance it out.
Overall, "Vermilion Flames" is a testament to Fernandez's ability to create an expansive and intricate world. Despite a few pacing issues with plot reveals, the novel's rich world-building and compelling characters make it a highly recommended read for sci-fi fans. The book sets the stage for an exciting series, and I am eager to see where the story goes next.
However, the narrative stumbles slightly with the pacing of its plot twists. While many of the reveals are excellent and unexpected, I found multiple times where I was being hit in quick succession by multiple heavy plot turns resulting in a lessened affect on me as a reader. I think the story’s unfolding, though generally well-paced, could have benefitted from either less of these heavy twists or more space between their reveals to maintain their impact.
The strength of the book lies in its characters and their development. Kaya and Silas stand out, with Kaya initially appearing as the stronger character. As the story progresses, Silas’s internal struggles and moral dilemmas make him increasingly compelling. The dialogue between characters is sharp, effectively showcasing their personalities and growth, particularly Kaya's transition from youthful rebellion to serious activism and Silas's conflict between personal beliefs and duty. I particularly enjoyed how Fernandez brought these to very different stories to overlap in “Vermilion Flames”.
The supporting cast for each of the main characters is also strong, with Marcus, Silas’ brother-in-law, likely becoming a crowd favorite. He is a fantastic foil to Silas’ brooding demeanor. Each feels as real as the main characters with their own problems and motivations that mesh or conflict with Kaya, Silas, or both in interesting ways.
Fernandez's writing is generally strong, with well executed action scenes and well presented themes. But there were times when I felt a need for more varied language. Despite this, I still feel that there were many moments of well done prose to balance it out.
Overall, "Vermilion Flames" is a testament to Fernandez's ability to create an expansive and intricate world. Despite a few pacing issues with plot reveals, the novel's rich world-building and compelling characters make it a highly recommended read for sci-fi fans. The book sets the stage for an exciting series, and I am eager to see where the story goes next.
January 8, 2025
Vermillion Flames is truly a great read/listen. The story structure is strong throughout, the plotlines interweaving in a way that melds the political and religious machinations of fantasy, with the strong military sci-fi oversight typical of the genre. Fernadez has crafted a great book, and in Kaya and Silus has juxtaposed an almost young adult coming of age story arc against a grizzled veteran sick of the religious politics that blight his role. Much of the joy of this novel comes from the superb world-building, so I am not going to ruin that, but take it from me the imagery of a decaying republic run by the iron fist of the religious political hierarchy in the stars works superbly well.
My only gripe is the angst and self-reflection depicted in the book, while necessary, is perhaps over written and over emphasised at times. It leaves the reader without the breathing space to consider motivations, to lay their own thoughts upon the characters. To some, that may be a positive, but to me, it felt a little overwhelming to always be told.
Overall, a solid 4/5, which I get to round up with an extra star for the audiobook as the efforts gone into the narration and production deserve the accolade.
My only gripe is the angst and self-reflection depicted in the book, while necessary, is perhaps over written and over emphasised at times. It leaves the reader without the breathing space to consider motivations, to lay their own thoughts upon the characters. To some, that may be a positive, but to me, it felt a little overwhelming to always be told.
Overall, a solid 4/5, which I get to round up with an extra star for the audiobook as the efforts gone into the narration and production deserve the accolade.
November 12, 2025
Vermilion Flames kicks off the Midnight War series, throwing us into the gritty future of the solar system where the brutally tight grip of the Republic and its Church is beginning to fail and people are starting to question... is this the future we want? We follow Kaya, the rich and sheltered daughter of a noble, as she faces the realities of the universe and begins her quest to uncover what truly happened to her mother and Silas, a troubled fleet commander who is trying to quell the growing unrest. The characters and their journeys are brilliant, I enjoyed the moral complexity, their choices and consequences of them and their intertwined plots as it twists and turns. Honestly, Adam has created such a fantastically deep setting that feels very real and lived in and I am very excited to see how it continues to unfold. I'd highly recommend this to fans of grim dark sci-fi, Dune, 40k and... well, anyone who loves a good book!
March 4, 2025
Absolutely loved this one. Engaging, fun, a good mix of chaos-in-space and chaos-on-worlds, mystery, and interesting characters.
For me the highlight of the book was the friendship (very tense friendship). It kind of reminded me of a dynamic in my actual life and it's the biggest motivator for me to continue the series. But all the characters were really well written and fun to follow, with motivations and backstories that were woven into the story.
This also has a bit more world building than your average sci-fi. The factions and worlds and cultures are thoroughly fleshed out without any infodumping. The story starts with tension and ends with tension without ever falling into a slump.
The main conflict of the book is tied in with a compelling mystery, which I always find gives really good flavor in SFF.
For me the highlight of the book was the friendship (very tense friendship). It kind of reminded me of a dynamic in my actual life and it's the biggest motivator for me to continue the series. But all the characters were really well written and fun to follow, with motivations and backstories that were woven into the story.
This also has a bit more world building than your average sci-fi. The factions and worlds and cultures are thoroughly fleshed out without any infodumping. The story starts with tension and ends with tension without ever falling into a slump.
The main conflict of the book is tied in with a compelling mystery, which I always find gives really good flavor in SFF.
June 6, 2024
I listened to the audiobook version and let me just start by saying it's one of the best I've heard. The different character voices, relaying the emotion of scenes, and the immersive audio effects were top notch!
As for the story, wow. A unique set of characters that clearly had their own motivations and outlooks on life. Each plot point felt earned and the conclusion has you on the edge of your seat. The writing style was also very pleasant with consistent peppering of phrases that made me pause and smile at how at how creative they were.
Overall, a must read first entry for any lover of sci-fi and good stories in general. A part of me wanted to geek out more on the science of things, but the soft sci-fi setting complimented the narrative nicely.
As for the story, wow. A unique set of characters that clearly had their own motivations and outlooks on life. Each plot point felt earned and the conclusion has you on the edge of your seat. The writing style was also very pleasant with consistent peppering of phrases that made me pause and smile at how at how creative they were.
Overall, a must read first entry for any lover of sci-fi and good stories in general. A part of me wanted to geek out more on the science of things, but the soft sci-fi setting complimented the narrative nicely.
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