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Archangel #1
Archangel: Fallen
A new military sci-fi series by Rick Partlow, bestselling author of Drop Trooper and Taken to the Stars.
They pissed off the wrong soldier...
Brent Parthet just wanted to be left alone. A deadly supercommando in the Southwind War, Brent had retired a hero to a wildlife preserve as far from civilization as possible to enjoy the simple life with his wife and young son.
But when one of the Southwind, the massive, genetically-engineered slaves who'd rebelled against their human masters, shows up at Brent's door, asking for help from an old enemy, Brent will find out that the war isn't really over. And he may have been fighting for the wrong side.
Don't miss the start of a new military science fiction series by Rick Partlow, bestselling author of Drop Trooper and Taken to the Stars. Filled with explosive and realistic military action as well as heroes you can't help but root for, this is military Sci-Fi the way it's to be!
They pissed off the wrong soldier...
Brent Parthet just wanted to be left alone. A deadly supercommando in the Southwind War, Brent had retired a hero to a wildlife preserve as far from civilization as possible to enjoy the simple life with his wife and young son.
But when one of the Southwind, the massive, genetically-engineered slaves who'd rebelled against their human masters, shows up at Brent's door, asking for help from an old enemy, Brent will find out that the war isn't really over. And he may have been fighting for the wrong side.
Don't miss the start of a new military science fiction series by Rick Partlow, bestselling author of Drop Trooper and Taken to the Stars. Filled with explosive and realistic military action as well as heroes you can't help but root for, this is military Sci-Fi the way it's to be!
326 pages, Paperback
Published May 6, 2025
1241 people are currently reading
1463 people want to read
About the author
Rick Partlow
212 books374 followersRick Partlow is that rarest of species, a native Floridian. Born in Tampa, he attended Florida Southern College and graduated with a degree in History and a commission in the US Army as an Infantry officer.
His lifelong love of science fiction began with Have Space Suit---Will Travel and the other Heinlein juveniles and traveled through Clifford Simak, Asimov, Clarke and on to William Gibson, Walter Jon Williams and Peter F Hamilton. And somewhere, submerged in the worlds of others, Rick began to create his own worlds.
He has written over 70 books in over a dozen different series, and his short stories have been included in many different anthologies.
He currently lives in norther Wyoming with his wife and their dog. Besides writing and reading science fiction and fantasy, he enjoys outdoor photography, hiking and camping.
His lifelong love of science fiction began with Have Space Suit---Will Travel and the other Heinlein juveniles and traveled through Clifford Simak, Asimov, Clarke and on to William Gibson, Walter Jon Williams and Peter F Hamilton. And somewhere, submerged in the worlds of others, Rick began to create his own worlds.
He has written over 70 books in over a dozen different series, and his short stories have been included in many different anthologies.
He currently lives in norther Wyoming with his wife and their dog. Besides writing and reading science fiction and fantasy, he enjoys outdoor photography, hiking and camping.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
November 6, 2025
I have a stereotype of military SF as samey, and this seemed to break the mold at first: the protagonist is a veteran with a wife and kid, on a planet with a real job.
Then, 20% of the way into the book, his family dies and he spends the rest of the book on a straightforward revenge story. The main "plot twist" about the war is made obvious, and I wish it had gone all the way regarding the clones plot twist. Where most military SF I've read is naval warfare in space, this struck me as more modern military thriller with plasma guns.
So in the end I'd say this was very conventional, if marginally different. Competent, just not my sort of thing.
Then, 20% of the way into the book, his family dies and he spends the rest of the book on a straightforward revenge story. The main "plot twist" about the war is made obvious, and I wish it had gone all the way regarding the clones plot twist. Where most military SF I've read is naval warfare in space, this struck me as more modern military thriller with plasma guns.
So in the end I'd say this was very conventional, if marginally different. Competent, just not my sort of thing.
June 6, 2025
The start of a new series is always exciting because you never know what you’re going to get. But you do know that you might have a very long reading spell if the series stars off good. This one has started off good, not great, but very good. It has some already done story-lines, but Mr. Partlow is such a good writer that I don’t mind kind of knowing what’s going to happen to his main character. And his main character is Brent Parthet, Captain and former Archangel Michael. That said a lot in that name. Most of it wasn’t all that good right now.
Brent is married to Miriam and they have a Son Sammy. They live on the planet Sylvanus where they study the genetically created animals for the Coalition Biological Conservancy. As Conservancy Officers, they witness life and death in the wilderness every day. Today they were witnessing those kind of events but their Son Sammy was with them and he was also learning about life and death. Brent knew a lot about death. The war was over, but he had done his duty on countless planets, countless missions and countless deaths. He was special in that he was an Archangel, a specially developed human with enhanced physical and mental abilities. He was built specifically to kill the Southwind.
The Southward were another genetically engineered humans species, or as some said a sub-species. They were made specifically to terraform planets that were uninhabitable by normal humans. These Southwind would be placed on a planet and told to build the necessary structures to mine the planets resources and to begin terraforming the planet for normal human occupation. They were not given a choice. They were, as some people uneasily called them, humans slaves. Still, the Southwind weren’t stupid. They knew they were not treated as equals but without the necessary resources to get off a planet, they couldn’t do much about their situation. They were specifically not given the knowledge of how to make dangerous weapons, flying machines and certainly not spacecraft. That is until something changed.
Captain Parthet or as he was commonly called “Michael” by his Archangel team, had fought a lot of Southwind. His Archangels had been the main reason that the Coalition had won the war. Lots of people had died on both sides including all the other Archangels that Brent knew. He, himself, was recovering from his last mission where he thought he had died, but he had been re-built under the careful care of Nurse Miriam and of course, Colonel Janus. Now the war was over and he was no longer part of the military and certainly the Archangels. He often wondered why they had just let him go considering his remarkable physiology. Everything was going fine with Brent Parthet until it wasn’t!
A Southwind had shown up in his storage shed. This time he talked to it/him and heard a remarkable story. The Southwind wanted Brent to come with him to Kali, the only planet where Southwinds were allowed to exist. Brent thought he was out of is mind. That’s why he had called the Patrol to come get this crazy alien. That was something Brent was soon to regret having done. The Patrol didn’t come, but someone else and they weren’t planning on living anyone alive at his peaceful homestead.
The violence had been tremendous. Brent hadn’t been through something like that since the war. His storage shed was leveled and his even his house was just a crater hole. The Southward was no where around, no body, but there were other bodies! That’s Brent Parthet found his wife and son under the rubble. They hadn’t survived.
Ok, so now you know what’s going to set Archangel Michael off on this mission. He’s going to find out who sent the troops that destroyed his family. He doesn’t know why it happened, but he does know one thing. One of the soldiers that was at his homestead when it was destroyed was a former Archangel himself who Brent swore he had seen dead when he thought he had died. In fact, he was told very specifically that he was the last surviving Archangel, yet here was an Archangel that used to be a friend who now was involved in killing his wife and son. Someone was going to pay.
This story also continues not just because of what happened to Brent’s family, but he also had to find out if what he was told was true. Had the war only been fought because the Coalition wanted it fought? Millions, billions had been killed and for what. The Southwind didn’t want at war according to the Southwind that had briefly talked to him. But could he really believe him and if he did, then who started this war and now was responsible for something even worse?
More will be written in the next book 2, “Avenging”, available on/about 10 June 2025.
==[Note: As of 12/03/2023, this will not be published on Amazon since I have been banned from posting reviews for some unknown reason. Once the ban is lifted, assuming it does get lifted, I’ll go back and post this to Amazon.]==
Brent is married to Miriam and they have a Son Sammy. They live on the planet Sylvanus where they study the genetically created animals for the Coalition Biological Conservancy. As Conservancy Officers, they witness life and death in the wilderness every day. Today they were witnessing those kind of events but their Son Sammy was with them and he was also learning about life and death. Brent knew a lot about death. The war was over, but he had done his duty on countless planets, countless missions and countless deaths. He was special in that he was an Archangel, a specially developed human with enhanced physical and mental abilities. He was built specifically to kill the Southwind.
The Southward were another genetically engineered humans species, or as some said a sub-species. They were made specifically to terraform planets that were uninhabitable by normal humans. These Southwind would be placed on a planet and told to build the necessary structures to mine the planets resources and to begin terraforming the planet for normal human occupation. They were not given a choice. They were, as some people uneasily called them, humans slaves. Still, the Southwind weren’t stupid. They knew they were not treated as equals but without the necessary resources to get off a planet, they couldn’t do much about their situation. They were specifically not given the knowledge of how to make dangerous weapons, flying machines and certainly not spacecraft. That is until something changed.
Captain Parthet or as he was commonly called “Michael” by his Archangel team, had fought a lot of Southwind. His Archangels had been the main reason that the Coalition had won the war. Lots of people had died on both sides including all the other Archangels that Brent knew. He, himself, was recovering from his last mission where he thought he had died, but he had been re-built under the careful care of Nurse Miriam and of course, Colonel Janus. Now the war was over and he was no longer part of the military and certainly the Archangels. He often wondered why they had just let him go considering his remarkable physiology. Everything was going fine with Brent Parthet until it wasn’t!
A Southwind had shown up in his storage shed. This time he talked to it/him and heard a remarkable story. The Southwind wanted Brent to come with him to Kali, the only planet where Southwinds were allowed to exist. Brent thought he was out of is mind. That’s why he had called the Patrol to come get this crazy alien. That was something Brent was soon to regret having done. The Patrol didn’t come, but someone else and they weren’t planning on living anyone alive at his peaceful homestead.
The violence had been tremendous. Brent hadn’t been through something like that since the war. His storage shed was leveled and his even his house was just a crater hole. The Southward was no where around, no body, but there were other bodies! That’s Brent Parthet found his wife and son under the rubble. They hadn’t survived.
Ok, so now you know what’s going to set Archangel Michael off on this mission. He’s going to find out who sent the troops that destroyed his family. He doesn’t know why it happened, but he does know one thing. One of the soldiers that was at his homestead when it was destroyed was a former Archangel himself who Brent swore he had seen dead when he thought he had died. In fact, he was told very specifically that he was the last surviving Archangel, yet here was an Archangel that used to be a friend who now was involved in killing his wife and son. Someone was going to pay.
This story also continues not just because of what happened to Brent’s family, but he also had to find out if what he was told was true. Had the war only been fought because the Coalition wanted it fought? Millions, billions had been killed and for what. The Southwind didn’t want at war according to the Southwind that had briefly talked to him. But could he really believe him and if he did, then who started this war and now was responsible for something even worse?
More will be written in the next book 2, “Avenging”, available on/about 10 June 2025.
==[Note: As of 12/03/2023, this will not be published on Amazon since I have been banned from posting reviews for some unknown reason. Once the ban is lifted, assuming it does get lifted, I’ll go back and post this to Amazon.]==
June 12, 2025
I received a copy of Rick Partlow’s Archangel Fallen as part of a Goodreads Giveaway, in return for an honest review. This is the third book that I’ve read [second series] by this prolific military science fiction author.
Book one in a new series, the story tells the story of an inter galactic plot centering around the creation and use of enhanced super human soldiers, the Archangels. Realistic in many ways, for example, they only created a handful of Archangels because of budget constraints. The protagonist Archangel Michael/Brent Parthet’s life of retirement with a new family is rudely interrupted as the old war comes crashing down on him. The book is the story of Brent’s attempt to understand the truth behind the lies, and to start holding someone responsible. The characters are very interesting, and as Brent’s crusade progresses, he picks up more and more allies.
I occasionally have a problem with series that end with one cliff hanger after another. Archangel Fallen, in contrast, concludes with a satisfactory ending, with the promise of more exciting action to come. And even better, book two in the series is already out. The book is a fast paced read, with exciting, fast paced action. I read this in a couple of nights, and have added Archangel Avenging to my Kindle library. Highly recommended, especially to readers of military sci fi.
Book one in a new series, the story tells the story of an inter galactic plot centering around the creation and use of enhanced super human soldiers, the Archangels. Realistic in many ways, for example, they only created a handful of Archangels because of budget constraints. The protagonist Archangel Michael/Brent Parthet’s life of retirement with a new family is rudely interrupted as the old war comes crashing down on him. The book is the story of Brent’s attempt to understand the truth behind the lies, and to start holding someone responsible. The characters are very interesting, and as Brent’s crusade progresses, he picks up more and more allies.
I occasionally have a problem with series that end with one cliff hanger after another. Archangel Fallen, in contrast, concludes with a satisfactory ending, with the promise of more exciting action to come. And even better, book two in the series is already out. The book is a fast paced read, with exciting, fast paced action. I read this in a couple of nights, and have added Archangel Avenging to my Kindle library. Highly recommended, especially to readers of military sci fi.
May 23, 2025
The book was a little different but it is worth reading , you these people tho they would be all set . You see they were soldiers that were retired from being a Archangel , but Brent had a family and a farm . Then these soldiers came and them join up with them or else , this is wear things got real strange . They went and attacked him his family , they destroyed his house was well as his family . This wear his life is turned up side down , this wear the author takes on a crazy adventure . The author did a good job with the book.
June 12, 2025
Betrayal and Coverup
Brent aka Michael is living a quiet life, with his wife and young son, on a remote planet monitoring the life there. It’s the only job he was allowed, since he had been heavily augmented and was a lethal weapon. The quiet life was fulfilling, until his past catches up to him, and his family is blown up in front of him. Now Michael wants answers, and payback for his family. Unlikely allies, impossible task, failure not acceptable-just right for an Archangel!
Brent aka Michael is living a quiet life, with his wife and young son, on a remote planet monitoring the life there. It’s the only job he was allowed, since he had been heavily augmented and was a lethal weapon. The quiet life was fulfilling, until his past catches up to him, and his family is blown up in front of him. Now Michael wants answers, and payback for his family. Unlikely allies, impossible task, failure not acceptable-just right for an Archangel!
October 12, 2025
Good Read
Another great book by Rick Partlow! This first book of a new series fleshes out who or what Archangel is. A soldier that was used hard by his government, then “retired” to a remote planet with his family with no outside contact except for bi-yearly food and supply deliveries by remotely operated drones. His job is to observe the genetically altered wildlife and fauna man has designed to adapt to severe climate planets. After the costly war, the solitude and demanding life required to survive on the planet with his family is all he requires…
Another great book by Rick Partlow! This first book of a new series fleshes out who or what Archangel is. A soldier that was used hard by his government, then “retired” to a remote planet with his family with no outside contact except for bi-yearly food and supply deliveries by remotely operated drones. His job is to observe the genetically altered wildlife and fauna man has designed to adapt to severe climate planets. After the costly war, the solitude and demanding life required to survive on the planet with his family is all he requires…
July 26, 2025
This was a GoodReads giveaway win of a Kindle ebook.
A well written and entrancing storyline. Tons of corrupt government and criminal organizations. Lots of futuristic high tech weapons. A lot of setup in the first half, but it should make for a great start to an entertaining series. Yes, it is obviously going to grow into a series or at least a trilogy.
I should read more of Partlow's work. Someone I have not been very versed in.
Have a GoodReads.
A well written and entrancing storyline. Tons of corrupt government and criminal organizations. Lots of futuristic high tech weapons. A lot of setup in the first half, but it should make for a great start to an entertaining series. Yes, it is obviously going to grow into a series or at least a trilogy.
I should read more of Partlow's work. Someone I have not been very versed in.
Have a GoodReads.
May 11, 2025
A strikingly good read
It started out a bit weird and I wasn’t sure for about 5 pages, but then it kicked in. As the book progressed it got better and better.
Like Sharpe and his Chosen Men.
Hannibal and the A Team.
Hef and the Playboy Bunnies.
A great book. Really nicely set up for the second book which comes out on June 10th.
It started out a bit weird and I wasn’t sure for about 5 pages, but then it kicked in. As the book progressed it got better and better.
Like Sharpe and his Chosen Men.
Hannibal and the A Team.
Hef and the Playboy Bunnies.
A great book. Really nicely set up for the second book which comes out on June 10th.
June 29, 2025
Boring, then some action
This book was a lot of long-winded descriptions followed by short bursts of interesting action or dialog. The descriptions were anywhere from ships, planets, places, rooms, scenery, and battles. I skimmed a big portion of this book without losing the flow or plot. Could have been condensed by at least 100 pages.
This book was a lot of long-winded descriptions followed by short bursts of interesting action or dialog. The descriptions were anywhere from ships, planets, places, rooms, scenery, and battles. I skimmed a big portion of this book without losing the flow or plot. Could have been condensed by at least 100 pages.
August 13, 2025
Entertaining read but keep expectations low
I may have been spoiled by the Drop Trooper series which is head and shoulders above this. Archangel starts out strong but becomes predictable with lots of clichés and weak dialogue. Overall, it's entertaining but just keep your expectations low. And if you haven't read Drop Trooper yet, what are you waiting for!?
I may have been spoiled by the Drop Trooper series which is head and shoulders above this. Archangel starts out strong but becomes predictable with lots of clichés and weak dialogue. Overall, it's entertaining but just keep your expectations low. And if you haven't read Drop Trooper yet, what are you waiting for!?
September 27, 2025
My wife got a deal on Kindle Unlimited and this showed up on an ad and it has decent ratings here on Goodreads. I figured I’d give it a shot as something different from my typical read. It was decent, but honestly I’ll probably forget I read this in a year. The ending was predictable after the first few chapters and it had a bit more language than I prefer but the characters were decent and it kept me engaged overall.
October 26, 2025
It's always fascinated me that any author can write sci fi. Your brain is just plain on another level of genius. Rick is obviously a genius because his books are some of the best I've read. I love the new hero, Brent, in the first book of this series. Buckle up, because I see a bumpy ride ahead as the pages turn faster than the wind. Amazing.
December 22, 2025
fast paste, plenty of action, a great sci-fi military book.
If you read this author, you know what you get. An action impact, fast paced, enjoyable story with a likable MC. I personally don’t like kids in sci-fi military books or RPG‘s and I did not think I was going to like this book but without spoilers I did. There’s nothing new here but the book is enjoyable anyway. Like I said if you enjoy this author, you’re going to know what you are getting.
If you read this author, you know what you get. An action impact, fast paced, enjoyable story with a likable MC. I personally don’t like kids in sci-fi military books or RPG‘s and I did not think I was going to like this book but without spoilers I did. There’s nothing new here but the book is enjoyable anyway. Like I said if you enjoy this author, you’re going to know what you are getting.
May 10, 2025
Excellent
What a great start to what looks like a new series. It all starts so nice, husband wife and their mischievous little son. It doesn’t take long until we are led down a very convoluted path of death and betrayal.
What a great start to what looks like a new series. It all starts so nice, husband wife and their mischievous little son. It doesn’t take long until we are led down a very convoluted path of death and betrayal.
June 7, 2025
very great book
I'm amazed that this author can write so many fantastic novels, I hope that he never stops writing. His books are some of the best Entertainment I have read and worth the time to read them. Thank you for a very fun entertaining read.
I'm amazed that this author can write so many fantastic novels, I hope that he never stops writing. His books are some of the best Entertainment I have read and worth the time to read them. Thank you for a very fun entertaining read.
June 20, 2025
What a different world something new
Love reading this military SI-FI with a twist
I also noticed that the vocabulary has aged as in the words were more adult less a teen read
Rick this is one of your best stories yet
Love reading this military SI-FI with a twist
I also noticed that the vocabulary has aged as in the words were more adult less a teen read
Rick this is one of your best stories yet
July 1, 2025
More military sci fi, but good character development, good plot.
More military sci fi, but good character development, good plot. One of only three, worth a look. Partlow has history, uses science well, and doesn't ignore the details.
More military sci fi, but good character development, good plot. One of only three, worth a look. Partlow has history, uses science well, and doesn't ignore the details.
May 20, 2025
great sf start of a series
This book has all the stuff that I read sf. Good vs evil. A cyborg seeking revenge. All the good stuff.
This book has all the stuff that I read sf. Good vs evil. A cyborg seeking revenge. All the good stuff.
June 5, 2025
Fantastic book
I love Mr Partlow's books The author really knows how to write books about super soldiers that are multi dimensional. Ready for book two
I love Mr Partlow's books The author really knows how to write books about super soldiers that are multi dimensional. Ready for book two
June 5, 2025
This story was a little intense for my liking. Good storytelling. This was a Goodreads giveaway winner.
June 9, 2025
Excitement
Lot of action with a great. Story line. What a great movie this can be. scan wait to read the next book.
Lot of action with a great. Story line. What a great movie this can be. scan wait to read the next book.
June 18, 2025
lots of action, sorta interesting, technology is magic !
July 3, 2025
Great Read
Tons of action, good plot, good characters. Definitely a page turner, read most of it in one day. Now to volume two.
Tons of action, good plot, good characters. Definitely a page turner, read most of it in one day. Now to volume two.
July 27, 2025
another great one from Rick Partlow
I have yet to read one of his book I did not like. This one I loved. A great story that I just couldn’t put down, on to book 2
I have yet to read one of his book I did not like. This one I loved. A great story that I just couldn’t put down, on to book 2
July 30, 2025
a fun read; lots of action; a mismatched group of heroes adds to the excitement.
August 1, 2025
Slow Start But Picked Up
I wasn’t sure if this was for me in the beginning but as the characters developed I was drawn in.
I wasn’t sure if this was for me in the beginning but as the characters developed I was drawn in.
September 16, 2025
Great read
If you like military science fiction, read this book. Action from start to finish. Plenty of plot twists and turns to keep the reader engaged.
If you like military science fiction, read this book. Action from start to finish. Plenty of plot twists and turns to keep the reader engaged.
November 3, 2025
Good read.
This ended up being a good read once it got started and you knew what was going on. There was plenty of action and lots of super human fighting .
This ended up being a good read once it got started and you knew what was going on. There was plenty of action and lots of super human fighting .
December 3, 2025
Praise for the Fallen
Great book!! Enough intrigue to keep you up at night! Looking forward to the next one! Can't wait to start reading it!
Great book!! Enough intrigue to keep you up at night! Looking forward to the next one! Can't wait to start reading it!
December 15, 2025
solid. I'm sold on the benefits of having a neurolink in a robocop kind of way .
well written, good action and believable tech .
onto the next one .
well written, good action and believable tech .
onto the next one .
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews