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Flying the Storm
"It’s only bravery if there’s a chance you’ll lose."The a colossal airborne warship and relic of the Thirty-Year War. Once the glorious flagship of the North Atlantic Union, it has become a hive of renegades and pirates, unchallenged in the skies over Eurasia. Like an angry god, it dominates wherever and whomever it chooses. Now it has chosen the Crimean Peninsula, the most lucrative trade hub on the Black Sea.In Sevastopol, two Gilgamesh marines are dead, and in seconds the merchant airman Aiden has become a wanted man. It doesn't matter that it was his pilot, Fredrick, who got them into the fight in the first place – Aiden finished it. Now they must run, taking their aircraft deep into the Caucasus Mountains to evade capture and execution. Through dogfights, shootouts and cock-ups the pair must make their escape, hounded by bounty hunters and slavers, driven to discover a secret that might – just might – change the balance of power forever… Flying the Storm is the debut novel from Scottish author C. S. Arnot. To follow the author, go
- GenresScience Fiction
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2014
126 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
December 13, 2016
Excellent realistic dystopian SF novel with lots of action, set in some off-the-beaten track locations. C.S. Arnot has balanced the close focus on the few central characters extremely well against the broad and complex dystopian world.
The plot is nicely twisty, spiralling in to a great climax. Pace is very good, steady but far from slow. A great deal happens within the framework of one book. Characterization is excellent. There are no supermen, no unflawed heroes and no irredeemable villains, although one or two of the latter come close. The achievements of Aiden and Frederick therefore shine the more brightly.
The SF is almost entirely real-world science, as in, you could build this today (almost!). The battle and action scenes are excellent, the ground fighting particularly so. I was completely immersed in this story, in spite of the exotic locations, which is another plus for the author.
Very highly recommended.
The plot is nicely twisty, spiralling in to a great climax. Pace is very good, steady but far from slow. A great deal happens within the framework of one book. Characterization is excellent. There are no supermen, no unflawed heroes and no irredeemable villains, although one or two of the latter come close. The achievements of Aiden and Frederick therefore shine the more brightly.
The SF is almost entirely real-world science, as in, you could build this today (almost!). The battle and action scenes are excellent, the ground fighting particularly so. I was completely immersed in this story, in spite of the exotic locations, which is another plus for the author.
Very highly recommended.
September 19, 2021
The world created in Flying the Storm was well imagined. Twenty years after the end of a thirty year world war, many governments have collapsed and the world resembles the Middle Ages, with many small fiefdoms and a few large cities.
The main characters, Aiden and Frederick, are entrepreneurs attempting to make their wealth as traders using a war time aircraft as a freighter. However, their unwillingness to submit to bullies makes them become the hunted, including by the most powerful pirates in the world.
There are some incredible aerial battle scenes. I could almost feel their mental strain as they faced a relentless man hunt. I thought the story moved well.
I think I would lean more toward this being a military sci-fi story, but there could be a case made for it being a dystopian story also. I am unaware of additional stories as sequels, but the possibility was there for a continuation. I really enjoyed it.
The main characters, Aiden and Frederick, are entrepreneurs attempting to make their wealth as traders using a war time aircraft as a freighter. However, their unwillingness to submit to bullies makes them become the hunted, including by the most powerful pirates in the world.
There are some incredible aerial battle scenes. I could almost feel their mental strain as they faced a relentless man hunt. I thought the story moved well.
I think I would lean more toward this being a military sci-fi story, but there could be a case made for it being a dystopian story also. I am unaware of additional stories as sequels, but the possibility was there for a continuation. I really enjoyed it.
August 3, 2014
A good first try
Although not to my particular liking, I must admit it is a good first effort. I understand it is the first book by the author. It has good characters and situations. The story is engaging enough and the drama is catching enough.
It shows a lot of promise. Again, not my kind of story, but I could see how it would appeal to younger readers, lots of adventure and peril, lots of infatuation and not corresponded love, or rather lust from my point of view, but readable.
Definitely worth reading and I am looking forward to reading.g more from this author, a little more experience and the next stories will very likely be better.
A good start.
Although not to my particular liking, I must admit it is a good first effort. I understand it is the first book by the author. It has good characters and situations. The story is engaging enough and the drama is catching enough.
It shows a lot of promise. Again, not my kind of story, but I could see how it would appeal to younger readers, lots of adventure and peril, lots of infatuation and not corresponded love, or rather lust from my point of view, but readable.
Definitely worth reading and I am looking forward to reading.g more from this author, a little more experience and the next stories will very likely be better.
A good start.
December 10, 2017
Finding the sweet spot
When writing in the post-apocalyptic genre it is hard to find a balance. The reality of stark, harsh, dystopian anarchy is difficult to offset with any semblance of safety and humanity. Arnot finds the sweet spot between a savage world that is hardly worth salvaging and a sugar-coated future that is too good to be believed.
This is definitely worth reading.
When writing in the post-apocalyptic genre it is hard to find a balance. The reality of stark, harsh, dystopian anarchy is difficult to offset with any semblance of safety and humanity. Arnot finds the sweet spot between a savage world that is hardly worth salvaging and a sugar-coated future that is too good to be believed.
This is definitely worth reading.
December 26, 2014
Excellent
This was one of the most riveting stories I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
I thoroughly enjoyed every word.
This was one of the most riveting stories I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
I thoroughly enjoyed every word.
December 26, 2019
This is one of my favourite books so far mainly due to the writing style. I’m unsure how I managed to find this in order to read it but so glad I did.
Not so much sci-Fi but excellent mix of topics and exciting. To me it seemed kind of like an adult version of Maze Runner in parts.
Amazing to think this is the author’s first novel and he wrote it during his PhD and is relatively young considering what’s been written.
A good read.
Not so much sci-Fi but excellent mix of topics and exciting. To me it seemed kind of like an adult version of Maze Runner in parts.
Amazing to think this is the author’s first novel and he wrote it during his PhD and is relatively young considering what’s been written.
A good read.
December 28, 2018
Flying the Storm is a standalone book that seems like it needs a sequel to feel complete. There is violence and sex so 18+. This story really isn't SciFi and it isn't dystopian. Not sure how to categorize it. But it made me confused a multiple points in the story. It wasn't bad, but could have been written better.
August 7, 2020
I really enjoyed this but have been left a little miffed to find it ends on a cliffhanger, but there's no follow up book! So, though I'd like to give it 5 stars, it had to have a star knocked off for the resulting disappointment.
June 6, 2017
Not as good as I would have hoped. The characters were pretty simple and spent too much time wasting time.
January 16, 2018
Great book
Good book but hope is not A stand alone story to good to end at one book please write more at same
Good book but hope is not A stand alone story to good to end at one book please write more at same
June 14, 2019
Good characters and it is set in a very interesting, believable world. It feels like it needs a sequel to be complete. Well written action. Definitive left me wanting more!
November 12, 2019
Great read
Flying the Storm is a can’t put it down story that grabs you and doesn’t let you go. Keep up the good work!
Flying the Storm is a can’t put it down story that grabs you and doesn’t let you go. Keep up the good work!
April 19, 2020
Airships & Aerial Combat
A great read, I loved the story and the settings. Looking forward to more books in this universe and series.
A great read, I loved the story and the settings. Looking forward to more books in this universe and series.
May 10, 2020
A stunning first novel
Fantastic word building, a very believable near future dystopia with a more mature tone than the glut of YA dystopia novels out there
Fantastic word building, a very believable near future dystopia with a more mature tone than the glut of YA dystopia novels out there
April 7, 2015
A clever idea that hasn't been very well done. I didn't like the POV's shifting from one character to another, some of them more significant to the plot than others, and felt that, rather than adding to the story, they detracted from it and disrupted the flow of the tale, which already wasn't flowing very smoothly The action sequences were mainly well done but there wasn't any real character development. In fact, beyond their immediate survival, the central characters seemed to have no real objectives or goals in life at all. Maybe that was how it was supposed to be but if so it didn't appeal to me. Nor could I see how their friendship had arisen in the first place. We were told it was because of their shared love of flying but nothing happened that demonstrated it had created any sort of bond between them. In fact, they didn't seem to have much of a connection or show any real concern for each other, and I didn't feel much of a connection with them either, or care very much what happened to them. Neither of the central characters seemed to be very well fleshed out and as a result lacked any real depth.
A protagonist in this kind of story is meant to act, to be seen to be trying to take control in the face of the challenges with which they are confronted. Neither of the main characters in this story did that. They simply re-acted and even then usually only reluctantly.
There were a lot of issues that were raised during the story by the various plot threads, only to be left unresolved at the end, including the biggest and most obvious one of all, which I won't mention as it would be a spoiler. Suffice to say the ending was very unsatisfying and did not provide a resolution of any of the threads of the story. It may have been the authors intention to write a cliffhanger ending and produce a sequel, but if so he could have let prospective readers know this was book one in a trilogy/series or whatever. As it is, far too much was left hanging by its fingertips on the edge of the cliff and I don't care enough about any of the characters to bother buying the next instalment - if there is one.
A protagonist in this kind of story is meant to act, to be seen to be trying to take control in the face of the challenges with which they are confronted. Neither of the main characters in this story did that. They simply re-acted and even then usually only reluctantly.
There were a lot of issues that were raised during the story by the various plot threads, only to be left unresolved at the end, including the biggest and most obvious one of all, which I won't mention as it would be a spoiler. Suffice to say the ending was very unsatisfying and did not provide a resolution of any of the threads of the story. It may have been the authors intention to write a cliffhanger ending and produce a sequel, but if so he could have let prospective readers know this was book one in a trilogy/series or whatever. As it is, far too much was left hanging by its fingertips on the edge of the cliff and I don't care enough about any of the characters to bother buying the next instalment - if there is one.
February 18, 2017
A well thought through and developed plot with good characters, lots of action. The writing is nicely done making it an easy read though the story is complex. I loved the locations as they are most unusual. The post WW3 elements are most credible keeping the reader involved in the story.
I certainly recommend this read for sci-fi and mystery readers.
I certainly recommend this read for sci-fi and mystery readers.
April 22, 2015
A fast paced, easy read.
The world building was particularly good and I enjoyed the characters and I certainly hope that the author revisits them.
I did find that the tone was a bit inconsistent - as if the author wasn't sure whether he was writing a pulp adventure or a more serious anti-war book. (I personally think he should have gone with the former.)
Not a bad first attempt and I would like to see how CS. Arnot matures as a writer, preferably with the same characters and universe.
The world building was particularly good and I enjoyed the characters and I certainly hope that the author revisits them.
I did find that the tone was a bit inconsistent - as if the author wasn't sure whether he was writing a pulp adventure or a more serious anti-war book. (I personally think he should have gone with the former.)
Not a bad first attempt and I would like to see how CS. Arnot matures as a writer, preferably with the same characters and universe.
January 6, 2015
This was another Amazon freebie that I was attracted to by the high number of 5 star reviews on Amazon. I actually enjoyed the book, and for a first novel it wasn't bad, but it did have shortcomings in plotting, narrative direction etc. I'm now beginning to wonder if Amazon reviews are biased because the readers are comparing to other freebies, rather than the whole market (hope that doesn't sound condescending).
July 21, 2014
Such a unique and eloquent story, a finely crafted future that unwinds perilous causality towards an ominous, epic conclusion. It was a true pleasure to read to the very last word, even if followed by a bittersweet disappointing discovery that there is not yet a sequel. Keep writing, C.S. Arnot, you have gained yet another fan and follower.
September 24, 2014
Surprisingly captivating!
Just new to doing e-books, I chose Flying the Storm on a whim, not knowing anything about the book or author. Mr. Arnott has certainly hit a homerun here. I was only disappointed when I had to put the book down always wanting to know what was happening next! I look forward to the next installment with Aiden and Frederick.
Just new to doing e-books, I chose Flying the Storm on a whim, not knowing anything about the book or author. Mr. Arnott has certainly hit a homerun here. I was only disappointed when I had to put the book down always wanting to know what was happening next! I look forward to the next installment with Aiden and Frederick.
October 31, 2014
Individual battle stories were good, staged well and you felt in the middle of the action. The book as a whole didn't come together for me. I just felt like there was no real purpose and the main characters just did the next thing because someone asked them to and not because they had any strong convictions about it.
January 5, 2015
Action-packed.
This is a fun, action-packed read; fairly well-written, with a busy and fast-moving plot. In some ways I felt the characters were overly simplistic, and at times the action/storyline seemed a bit disjointed, but overall I feel it pulled together nicely for an enjoyable sci-fi read.
This is a fun, action-packed read; fairly well-written, with a busy and fast-moving plot. In some ways I felt the characters were overly simplistic, and at times the action/storyline seemed a bit disjointed, but overall I feel it pulled together nicely for an enjoyable sci-fi read.
July 26, 2015
The lucky boys
The violet and gunner of a small ship run into trouble after trouble and manage to escape. Perhaps a little injured but they escape anyway. This book was not short of action that is for sure. It was one drama after another. Now at the end the big enemy they have been running from, thought destroyed, appears again. I hope there is a sequel.
The violet and gunner of a small ship run into trouble after trouble and manage to escape. Perhaps a little injured but they escape anyway. This book was not short of action that is for sure. It was one drama after another. Now at the end the big enemy they have been running from, thought destroyed, appears again. I hope there is a sequel.
August 29, 2016
Five stars fits.
The author should consider writing full time. I believe this to be his first book. Well this is my first 5 star rating in a long while. The characters, the real life interaction, and blood and guts sci-fi all made me want more. Here is a tale not to heavy on special effects but designed for the classic battles of life.
The author should consider writing full time. I believe this to be his first book. Well this is my first 5 star rating in a long while. The characters, the real life interaction, and blood and guts sci-fi all made me want more. Here is a tale not to heavy on special effects but designed for the classic battles of life.
December 8, 2015
Good read
Great battle scenes and good characters. Want to see more. Will expect a continuation of the story line. Maybe a little less blood and guts with more plot. Some direction for the hero's would be good.
Great battle scenes and good characters. Want to see more. Will expect a continuation of the story line. Maybe a little less blood and guts with more plot. Some direction for the hero's would be good.
September 8, 2014
Excellent. Reminded me of Hemingway.
March 30, 2015
Good adventure
Enjoyed the characters and plot. Action was exciting. This was a well-written book that was fun to read. I recommend it.
Enjoyed the characters and plot. Action was exciting. This was a well-written book that was fun to read. I recommend it.
April 5, 2015
Great!
I really enjoy books that are staged in post apocalyptic society. Great book. Can't wait for another.
Great progression through the story.
I really enjoy books that are staged in post apocalyptic society. Great book. Can't wait for another.
Great progression through the story.
April 22, 2015
Iolaire
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It gave me the satisfaction of a smooth running subject. The characters are interesting and my time was well worth spent.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It gave me the satisfaction of a smooth running subject. The characters are interesting and my time was well worth spent.
May 28, 2015
Pretty good book
I enjoyed it and it will be kept for a future reading
Is there more to this story? I certainly hope so.
I enjoyed it and it will be kept for a future reading
Is there more to this story? I certainly hope so.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews