As humanity quivers on the brink of extinction, McKayla Mason navigates a treacherous path between duty and conscience.
Imprisoned for twelve cycles for crimes against the Armada, Mason is released to join an impossible operation to find a new home for humanity before Kepler 442b meets the same fate as Ancient Earth.
Paired with a team led by the enigmatic Sergeant Major Bentley, Mason is thrust on an intergalactic crusade to an alien planet teeming with sentient life, flora, and fauna—none of which they have seen before. But this utopia soon turns deadly when a disease threatens her squad, pressing them to accept the harsh truths of continued existence.
Mason’s fortitude is tested to its limits as conflicts escalate. Trapped between a domestic conflict and haunted by her past, she must defy commands and risk everything to establish an avenue to coexist. But in a new world where trust is scarce and alliances do not exist, will her attempt be enough to save what little remains of humanity?
In this spellbinding tale of loss and redemption, readers journey through realms of danger, alien languages, and discovery. Prepare to explore the depths of humanity’s resilience and the boundless reaches of the human mind as the pages turn in this first installment of WolfStar.
Humanity had long ago left a dying earth behind and moved to a planet known as Kep 4-b by its inhabitants. The problem was that the environment there began as little better than the one they had left behind, and now it too, is dying. Their only hope is that what remains of humanity can find a new home before it is too late.
McKayla Mason is an Armada pilot who cannot stand that an intelligent, humanoid species is being cruelly experimented on in an attempt to try and discover how they can manage to survive on a planet whose air would kill the humans without their ventilators to protect them. After having been identified as the one who had raided one of the facilities where the animals were being experimented on to free them, she knows that her career is over and she will be branded a traitor. But by turning herself in, maybe she can escape execution. She expects to spend most of her life behind bars. But something unexpected happens to grant her a second chance at a better life.
I read a review copy of this book and enjoyed it. It is rather complex, and the authors have created a complete language for a new world. I saw many similarities to what may happen here on Earth if things continue the way they seem to be going. And even on a new planet, there are references to “ancient Earth” and we are shown the remains of some recognizable landmarks.
For me, this story showed how often and how easy it is to repeat the mistakes of the past, as well as how hard it can be to avoid them. One of the main things I took away from this book is that not all may be as it seems, and sometimes one must look a little deeper and take a chance or a leap of faith if we are to have any hope of survival as a species.
I found this story fascinating, and found myself feeling sympathetic for several of the characters. I may not always have agreed with some of their actions, but I do understand that sometimes, not only can things go wrong easily, but that when we make an effort to try and correct our mistakes, forgiveness and acceptance might just save not only ourselves but many others as well.
McKayla is a bad woman in a world that's gone to shit...
Humanity has managed to screw up a second planet, after fully wrecking Earth and evacuation everyone to Kep4, they manage to repeat their destruction, but only faster. The world is careening toward collapse... and it will happenat any moment. Meanwhile, McKayla seems to have a moral code that many have abandoned, either from being beaten down or because "why bother".
She is arrested and thrown in prison, but a sudden discovery creates a second chance for her. She's off on an experimental ship to a new, previously unreachable galaxy. Their job is to explore a new planet for suitability for colonization.
However, they arrive to find a colony of critters there, who seem to be organized and sentient... all hell breaks loose...
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Over the last 30 years, I've read a LOT of Science Fiction, a fair amount of Fantasy, and a smattering of everything else. This story is surprisingly original. Naturally, there's lots of unanswered questions and unresolved situations, but there's clearly more to come (the tagline says it's Book 1). I don't want to spoil the plot, but there's lots of places this story could go... and there's an added bonus of a new language the author has created... it will be interesting to see that develop and what the readers do with it.
This book is definitely worth a read. I look forward to future expansion of the story and the world created in this novel.
This was a strong start to the Wolfstar series, it had that element that I was hoping for from a scifi element that I was looking for. C.R. Buchanan & Jason Diamond wrote this perfectly and am excited for more in this series. It was everything that I wanted from this type of book. The characters had that feel that I was looking for and thought they worked in this universe.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Dire days ahead. Humanity is making the same mistakes again and running out of time. Plenty of synopsis written above… This is a character driven page turner. It was hard to put down. For all the action, it is still thought provoking, and the story and plot are well crafted. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will be sure to read more from these authors.
In a dystopian future, what could exist beyond humanity? A lot, apparently! Dire Days, the first book in the series, is a Sci Fi/Fantasy/Action adventure set in a bleak future, a future that feels not too far off or exaggerated. Dire Days is set in a richly detailed environment and fully fleshed out characters. The reader's escort, through this world, is McKayla Mason, a tough as nails, audacious pilot whose rebellious nature is both a blessing and a curse! I can't wait to read the next book and I look forward to more from CR Buchanan and Jason Diamond.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
A dying world. Haves and have nots escape to find a new world. Obstinate yet extremely intelligent teenager flipping off the establishment while being a participant in the elites schooling.. a tale of sadness and optimism where not everyone can win. Took a while to find a rhythm but all in all worth reading after getting through a rough start.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
In a dystopian future, what could exist beyond humanity? A lot, apparently! Dire Days, the first book in the series, is a Sci fi/Fantasy/Action adventure set in a bleak future, a future that feels not too far off or exaggerated. Dire Days is set in a richly detailed environment and fully fleshed out characters. The reader's escort, through this world, is McKayla Mason, a tough as nails, audacious pilot whose rebellious nature is both a blessing and a curse! I can't wait to read the next book and I look forward to more from CR Buchanan and Jason Diamond.
Addendum: 3/7/2026 I received an ARC of Book 2, Niveous War and all I can say is........WOW!!!! Worth every minute! Read my review here: