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Specter
Two empires. One planet. Rule the planet. Rule the universe.
He once admired supersoldiers. Now he hates them.
But to save humanity, will he embrace the powers he resents—and become one?
Caxonium, the most valuable gas in the universe—turns soldiers into supersoldiers with extraordinary powers. But the gas can only be found on one Atlas. Locked in a brutal planetary war against the Vengahr, an alien race with Titans of their own, humanity must win or face extinction.
Titans live in luxury, but at a cost. No love. No family. No personal ambition. Their lives are governed by the Highest Order, the tyrannical military command controlling the war effort. Titan powers are hereditary, so to forge stronger warriors, the Highest Order enforces a strict breeding program.
All Titans follow these rules.
Until one doesn't.
Fans of Halo’s military grit, the epic scale of Warhammer 40k, and the cinematic duels of Star Wars will feel right at home in Specter.
Buy Specter now and uncover the truth.
He once admired supersoldiers. Now he hates them.
But to save humanity, will he embrace the powers he resents—and become one?
Caxonium, the most valuable gas in the universe—turns soldiers into supersoldiers with extraordinary powers. But the gas can only be found on one Atlas. Locked in a brutal planetary war against the Vengahr, an alien race with Titans of their own, humanity must win or face extinction.
Titans live in luxury, but at a cost. No love. No family. No personal ambition. Their lives are governed by the Highest Order, the tyrannical military command controlling the war effort. Titan powers are hereditary, so to forge stronger warriors, the Highest Order enforces a strict breeding program.
All Titans follow these rules.
Until one doesn't.
Fans of Halo’s military grit, the epic scale of Warhammer 40k, and the cinematic duels of Star Wars will feel right at home in Specter.
Buy Specter now and uncover the truth.
395 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2025
24 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Christer Lende
8 books59 followersChrister Lende is a Multi-Award Winning author who began writing in a library, which sounds fitting, only he was supposed to be there working on his engineering degree. He is a professional screenwriter, working with the Norwegian movie producer behind “One Love”, “Who Killed Birgitte” and “All about my Father” Bjørn Eivind Aarskog, together they are eveloping the manuscript for a Norwegian thriller. Bjørn hired Christer after reading The Beast Hunters, trusting Christer could bring his vision to life.
Christer lives in what Norwegians call a city, but people from actual cities would call a town. Of proud Viking blood, he honours his ancestors by
heroically sitting in front of a computer writing Fantasy and Science Fiction books. He believes in writing a little bit every day, through weekends, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, even his own birthday. When he’s not writing, he takes care of his two dogs and tries to broker peace with his girlfriend. He’s often found at a gym, trying to compensate for his height issues, or lazily playing video games.
Christer did get that master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, despite procrastinating by writing fiction in the library, and works for a large IT firm, but writing and storytelling are his passions.
Christer lives in what Norwegians call a city, but people from actual cities would call a town. Of proud Viking blood, he honours his ancestors by
heroically sitting in front of a computer writing Fantasy and Science Fiction books. He believes in writing a little bit every day, through weekends, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, even his own birthday. When he’s not writing, he takes care of his two dogs and tries to broker peace with his girlfriend. He’s often found at a gym, trying to compensate for his height issues, or lazily playing video games.
Christer did get that master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, despite procrastinating by writing fiction in the library, and works for a large IT firm, but writing and storytelling are his passions.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 19, 2025
3.5 stars
This isn’t quite my usual sci-fi fare, and that does hamstring it a little in terms of my rating, so please do bear that in mind. Despite that, I found it largely enjoyable, exactly like I might enjoy a superhero movie – it has big action scenes and enjoyment in the moment, but it’s not something to dissect and analyse the literary merits of.
We have a team of supersoldiers with sort of superpowers kitted out in supersuits fighting a war against an enemy with the same tools at its disposal. The stakes sort of seem massive, but on the one hand, they’re fighting for control of a planet that largely serves as just their battleground, since they don’t live on the planet itself; and on the other hand, it seems there’s no danger of our hero dying, because we know he’ll always get right to the brink and then they’ll pull him out, patch him up, and he’ll be fighting fit again in a day or two.
I didn’t like this supersoldier aspect so much, with the training portion of the book being something I rarely enjoy anyway, the characters seeming a little too overpowered and indestructible, and the way the rest of the team treat the hero (initially at least) not doing anything to endear me to them. Once we got onto the planet though, and battle started, it didn’t really let up over the course of a few long chapters each time. The action scenes were frantic and large scale, despite following just one character closely, and they did play out in my mind like the big climactic battles of an Avengers-type movie.
I liked some of the undercurrents here, with a couple of mysteries the hero is trying to get to the bottom of (or others are trying to get to the bottom of for him), and that gives plenty of room for false accusations, distrust, and betrayal as the story progresses. The developing relationships are interesting, although it should be said that it’s not always the one you would expect who is the first to trust. I like how that has an element of realism to it, as sometimes the ones you are closest to hurt the most and find it harder to see past something, while those more on the outside can look at things with a clearer mind. It does lead to some interesting potential dynamics as we move on to the second book in the series.
This isn’t quite my usual sci-fi fare, and that does hamstring it a little in terms of my rating, so please do bear that in mind. Despite that, I found it largely enjoyable, exactly like I might enjoy a superhero movie – it has big action scenes and enjoyment in the moment, but it’s not something to dissect and analyse the literary merits of.
We have a team of supersoldiers with sort of superpowers kitted out in supersuits fighting a war against an enemy with the same tools at its disposal. The stakes sort of seem massive, but on the one hand, they’re fighting for control of a planet that largely serves as just their battleground, since they don’t live on the planet itself; and on the other hand, it seems there’s no danger of our hero dying, because we know he’ll always get right to the brink and then they’ll pull him out, patch him up, and he’ll be fighting fit again in a day or two.
I didn’t like this supersoldier aspect so much, with the training portion of the book being something I rarely enjoy anyway, the characters seeming a little too overpowered and indestructible, and the way the rest of the team treat the hero (initially at least) not doing anything to endear me to them. Once we got onto the planet though, and battle started, it didn’t really let up over the course of a few long chapters each time. The action scenes were frantic and large scale, despite following just one character closely, and they did play out in my mind like the big climactic battles of an Avengers-type movie.
I liked some of the undercurrents here, with a couple of mysteries the hero is trying to get to the bottom of (or others are trying to get to the bottom of for him), and that gives plenty of room for false accusations, distrust, and betrayal as the story progresses. The developing relationships are interesting, although it should be said that it’s not always the one you would expect who is the first to trust. I like how that has an element of realism to it, as sometimes the ones you are closest to hurt the most and find it harder to see past something, while those more on the outside can look at things with a clearer mind. It does lead to some interesting potential dynamics as we move on to the second book in the series.
August 26, 2025
Rise beside me. Rise and fight the darkness with me.
July 12, 2025
Advanced reader copy provided in return for an honest review.
4.5 Stars - First of all, this story was a lot of fun! High impact, underdog story with a ton of scifi action.
I took away hints of Red Rising meets The Boys (tv series). Full to the brim of what are essentially super hero's with really interesting power classes and a system that puts down those less "worthy". If this sounds down your street, give it a read.
If I'm honest, it took me until about halfway through the book to actually start liking any of the characters (other than a particular old man and a love interest)... almost every character early in this book is an ass, the protagonist included, and it takes a while for you to understand why people make the decisions they do. One thing is for sure though, Lende knows how to write an antagonist. I seriously wanted to punch multiple characters in the face.
The lines between enemy and friend definitely become blurred in this story.
The action is well planned, well paced and exciting to read, with a vast amount of powers at play.
This book has it all, alien battles, awesome powers, cool technology, a funny Ai, romance, family mystery and alot of swearing!
Thanks for letting me read it early!
4.5 Stars - First of all, this story was a lot of fun! High impact, underdog story with a ton of scifi action.
I took away hints of Red Rising meets The Boys (tv series). Full to the brim of what are essentially super hero's with really interesting power classes and a system that puts down those less "worthy". If this sounds down your street, give it a read.
If I'm honest, it took me until about halfway through the book to actually start liking any of the characters (other than a particular old man and a love interest)... almost every character early in this book is an ass, the protagonist included, and it takes a while for you to understand why people make the decisions they do. One thing is for sure though, Lende knows how to write an antagonist. I seriously wanted to punch multiple characters in the face.
The lines between enemy and friend definitely become blurred in this story.
The action is well planned, well paced and exciting to read, with a vast amount of powers at play.
This book has it all, alien battles, awesome powers, cool technology, a funny Ai, romance, family mystery and alot of swearing!
Thanks for letting me read it early!
September 12, 2025
Read this one early and really loved it! Great characters, epic battles and some nice twists and turns. Highly recommend if you're after a space adventure with a scaling power system and interesting protagonist.
Buy it!
Buy it!
October 31, 2025
Prometheus (the Titan from Myth) is smiling right now.
He gave humanity the fire of knowledge, and was shackled and condemned to suffer for eternity, having his liver eaten every day.
SPECTER, in a sense, is that story, but steeped in sci-fi, modernized and adapted to our modern audiences. Of course you'll find nods and nudges towards many other stories, but this one stuck to me as the true heart of it.
I know it wasn't his inspiration for a fact (as you can read in the Author's words at the end), but the similitudes between both stories speak of a great theme in the story of stories and their endurance. The Myths, the Sagas, the oral traditions that thrived and survived for centuries untold, they all make up the frame and tapestry of our cultural makeup. And I believe these old tales live in all of us, and they make the body of what inspires us to read and write and to preserve the themes and the heart of the emotions they elicit. SPECTER accomplished that and then some.
This book is a fast-paced sci-fi story that's steeped in being strong against adversity, in thriving when everything is against you and in having a human heart, full of love, emotions, desires and imperfections, when everything and everyone around you screams that it is wrong to be so, and tries to make you submit to their dystopian vision of what it means to be a Titan (read the book, this will make sense).
The pace and the flow of the book are handled with great care and mastery by Christer, to the point that I devoured the 500+ pages of it in less than 2 days.
Lagen, our MC, is our Prometheus. And you'll find yourself cackling at his personality and his energy, as well as empathizing with his circumstances and his plight.
Christer also manages with great care the other points of view he slyly slides into the story, for us to gain a wider view, while always keeping the story firmly focused in our Main Character.
If you're looking for a book that will entertain you, that'll grip you by the collar, full of action, cool as all friggin' hell superpowers but most of all, full of heart, then SPECTER is that book.
4.5 ⭐️
He gave humanity the fire of knowledge, and was shackled and condemned to suffer for eternity, having his liver eaten every day.
SPECTER, in a sense, is that story, but steeped in sci-fi, modernized and adapted to our modern audiences. Of course you'll find nods and nudges towards many other stories, but this one stuck to me as the true heart of it.
I know it wasn't his inspiration for a fact (as you can read in the Author's words at the end), but the similitudes between both stories speak of a great theme in the story of stories and their endurance. The Myths, the Sagas, the oral traditions that thrived and survived for centuries untold, they all make up the frame and tapestry of our cultural makeup. And I believe these old tales live in all of us, and they make the body of what inspires us to read and write and to preserve the themes and the heart of the emotions they elicit. SPECTER accomplished that and then some.
This book is a fast-paced sci-fi story that's steeped in being strong against adversity, in thriving when everything is against you and in having a human heart, full of love, emotions, desires and imperfections, when everything and everyone around you screams that it is wrong to be so, and tries to make you submit to their dystopian vision of what it means to be a Titan (read the book, this will make sense).
The pace and the flow of the book are handled with great care and mastery by Christer, to the point that I devoured the 500+ pages of it in less than 2 days.
Lagen, our MC, is our Prometheus. And you'll find yourself cackling at his personality and his energy, as well as empathizing with his circumstances and his plight.
Christer also manages with great care the other points of view he slyly slides into the story, for us to gain a wider view, while always keeping the story firmly focused in our Main Character.
If you're looking for a book that will entertain you, that'll grip you by the collar, full of action, cool as all friggin' hell superpowers but most of all, full of heart, then SPECTER is that book.
4.5 ⭐️
September 30, 2025
❤️❤️Incredible and spectacular!!
The Titan Atheena was young Lagen's favorite game character.
He never tired of admiring this extraordinary hero.
Twelve years later, Lagen faced many disappointments...
>>>>
An extraordinary destiny, plenty of danger and suspense, spectacular fight and battle scenes, for this incredible and spectacular science fiction book, a must-read for fans of the genre!
While I was skeptical at the very beginning of my reading, I was quickly immersed in this phenomenal adventure with a main character, Lagen, who is resolutely funny and endearing.
A crucial question quickly emerged throughout the novel: "Are we really masters of our own destiny?"...
I had a wonderful, completely exotic reading experience!
I highly recommend this excellent science fiction novel!
I hope there will be a sequel!
The Titan Atheena was young Lagen's favorite game character.
He never tired of admiring this extraordinary hero.
Twelve years later, Lagen faced many disappointments...
>>>>
An extraordinary destiny, plenty of danger and suspense, spectacular fight and battle scenes, for this incredible and spectacular science fiction book, a must-read for fans of the genre!
While I was skeptical at the very beginning of my reading, I was quickly immersed in this phenomenal adventure with a main character, Lagen, who is resolutely funny and endearing.
A crucial question quickly emerged throughout the novel: "Are we really masters of our own destiny?"...
I had a wonderful, completely exotic reading experience!
I highly recommend this excellent science fiction novel!
I hope there will be a sequel!
August 13, 2025
THIS IS AMAZING. It is so hard to find a good Sci-Fi book that hits all the points you need - LOOK NO FURTHER. The system that was created for this story is so powerful and unique. This book is heavy in a way but has great humor and extremely well written characters. This was just an adventurous, well paced and attention grabbing story.
August 21, 2025
These super soldier would give any of these older generations idea of a sci fi super solder a run for their money… this was filled with action. Fast paced and had great politics. SUPER super powers! Great visuals. The adrenaline rush i got from reading this was FANTASTIC!
October 6, 2025
While this action packed story does not take place in the world we're familiar with living in, the characters are so relatable, it feels like maybe it could be.
If life had been cooperative, and left me alone, I would have read it beginning to end in one sitting; I thoroughly enjoyed Specter!
If life had been cooperative, and left me alone, I would have read it beginning to end in one sitting; I thoroughly enjoyed Specter!
October 9, 2025
As much as I liked the book, it wasn't my type of sf.
It was much as I expected but there was much more than I thought. So much violence that never quite ended.
It was much as I expected but there was much more than I thought. So much violence that never quite ended.
November 2, 2025
Beautifully crafted and executed! clearly this author has a talent for writing stories that engage and entertain! Loved the characters, and truly enjoyed the plot line...so much story,there has to be more to come,please write them Mr. LENDE!
November 8, 2025
I’ve been following Christer Lende’s writing since The Beast Hunters series, and I’ve enjoyed seeing his storytelling evolve with every book — sharper worldbuilding, deeper emotional tones, and characters that somehow feel familiar yet unpredictable. SPECTER is something different, though. It’s larger in scope, darker in mood, and emotionally more ambitious. It feels like the moment where Lende fully steps into a new creative universe.
The book opens with a gut-punch of a prologue — childhood awe colliding with brutal reality. That single scene sets the emotional DNA for everything that follows: hero worship turned to disillusionment, invention turned into consequence. And that theme runs throughout. This isn’t a “humans good / aliens bad” kind of science fiction; it’s much messier — and much more interesting.
Lagen, the protagonist, is a fascinating lead. He’s brilliant, impulsive, frustrated, and very human. I love that he’s not written as a flawless hero but as someone constantly on the edge — one decision away from brilliance, or from blowing everything up. That tension makes him believable. The world around him — the Apex system, the Titans, the rigid hierarchy, the economy built on caxonium gas — is portrayed with cold precision. You can feel the machinery of power grinding around him.
One thing Lende does exceptionally well is visual storytelling. Several moments play out like scenes from a film — the arrest and cell scene with that flicker of blue light through the wall, or the parachute sequence on Atlas. They’re cinematic without feeling exaggerated. It’s detailed sci-fi worldbuilding that still keeps its emotional heartbeat.
The broader world feels rich and layered — a hierarchy of myth and politics, full of secrecy and arrogance. I loved how Specter makes it increasingly clear that the Titans are not heroes. They are privileged, self-absorbed, and disturbingly human. The “highest order” system has a kind of cult-like decadence to it that reminded me of Greek gods reimagined in a militarized future. It’s uncomfortable, but deliberately so — and it works.
I also appreciate that the supposed “enemy,” the Vengahr, aren’t written as faceless monsters. There are hints throughout that they have relationships, loyalty, even love. That ambiguity makes the conflict far more compelling. By the end, I was asking the same questions Lagen should be asking: if the Vengahr Titans live with freedom and affection, why do the human Titans live as controlled icons? Who’s actually the villain here? I do wish Lagen had wrestled with that realization more openly — he’s the type of character who would question that — but I suspect it’s a thread that will deepen in book two.
Pacing-wise, Specter moves quickly. If you realize that only a few weeks pass from the explosion of Lagen’s ship to the ending, it’s impressive how much story is packed in there. It’s easy to read and genuinely entertaining — one of those books where you sit down for “just a chapter” and suddenly it’s 2 a.m.
A few smaller thoughts — more like the kind of things I’d text Christer after finishing a chapter:
• The “power level 9.9” rating system felt a little abrupt when it first appeared. It makes sense later as part of the secrecy and hierarchy, but it did momentarily pull me out of the flow.
• Sometimes Lagen’s dialogue feels slightly younger than his stated age of 23 — less measured, more impulsive — though it also fits the idea of someone emotionally stuck after years of trauma and isolation.
• Some of the Titans’ behavior borders on megalomania, but honestly, that fits. When your entire existence is about rank, recognition, and worship, sanity is optional.
There’s also this fascinating tension between excess and emptiness — the way the Titans’ world is luxurious, sensual, and hollow all at once. I half-expected the story to slip into softcore absurdity at one point, but it never does — instead, Lende uses that decadence to expose how cult-like and morally bankrupt the “heroes” have become. It’s uncomfortable, and that’s the point.
All in all, Specter is a really entertaining and well-balanced start to what feels like a much larger saga. It’s rich in worldbuilding without being bogged down, cinematic yet emotional, and above all — it feels alive. I didn’t read it because I “should”; I read it because I wanted to know what would happen next.
The world of Apex, Atlas, and the Titans still has so many secrets left to unravel — and I can’t wait to see where book two takes Lagen.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (or 5/6, Norwegian scale 😉)
A compelling, visually stunning, and morally complex entry into a new universe.
The book opens with a gut-punch of a prologue — childhood awe colliding with brutal reality. That single scene sets the emotional DNA for everything that follows: hero worship turned to disillusionment, invention turned into consequence. And that theme runs throughout. This isn’t a “humans good / aliens bad” kind of science fiction; it’s much messier — and much more interesting.
Lagen, the protagonist, is a fascinating lead. He’s brilliant, impulsive, frustrated, and very human. I love that he’s not written as a flawless hero but as someone constantly on the edge — one decision away from brilliance, or from blowing everything up. That tension makes him believable. The world around him — the Apex system, the Titans, the rigid hierarchy, the economy built on caxonium gas — is portrayed with cold precision. You can feel the machinery of power grinding around him.
One thing Lende does exceptionally well is visual storytelling. Several moments play out like scenes from a film — the arrest and cell scene with that flicker of blue light through the wall, or the parachute sequence on Atlas. They’re cinematic without feeling exaggerated. It’s detailed sci-fi worldbuilding that still keeps its emotional heartbeat.
The broader world feels rich and layered — a hierarchy of myth and politics, full of secrecy and arrogance. I loved how Specter makes it increasingly clear that the Titans are not heroes. They are privileged, self-absorbed, and disturbingly human. The “highest order” system has a kind of cult-like decadence to it that reminded me of Greek gods reimagined in a militarized future. It’s uncomfortable, but deliberately so — and it works.
I also appreciate that the supposed “enemy,” the Vengahr, aren’t written as faceless monsters. There are hints throughout that they have relationships, loyalty, even love. That ambiguity makes the conflict far more compelling. By the end, I was asking the same questions Lagen should be asking: if the Vengahr Titans live with freedom and affection, why do the human Titans live as controlled icons? Who’s actually the villain here? I do wish Lagen had wrestled with that realization more openly — he’s the type of character who would question that — but I suspect it’s a thread that will deepen in book two.
Pacing-wise, Specter moves quickly. If you realize that only a few weeks pass from the explosion of Lagen’s ship to the ending, it’s impressive how much story is packed in there. It’s easy to read and genuinely entertaining — one of those books where you sit down for “just a chapter” and suddenly it’s 2 a.m.
A few smaller thoughts — more like the kind of things I’d text Christer after finishing a chapter:
• The “power level 9.9” rating system felt a little abrupt when it first appeared. It makes sense later as part of the secrecy and hierarchy, but it did momentarily pull me out of the flow.
• Sometimes Lagen’s dialogue feels slightly younger than his stated age of 23 — less measured, more impulsive — though it also fits the idea of someone emotionally stuck after years of trauma and isolation.
• Some of the Titans’ behavior borders on megalomania, but honestly, that fits. When your entire existence is about rank, recognition, and worship, sanity is optional.
There’s also this fascinating tension between excess and emptiness — the way the Titans’ world is luxurious, sensual, and hollow all at once. I half-expected the story to slip into softcore absurdity at one point, but it never does — instead, Lende uses that decadence to expose how cult-like and morally bankrupt the “heroes” have become. It’s uncomfortable, and that’s the point.
All in all, Specter is a really entertaining and well-balanced start to what feels like a much larger saga. It’s rich in worldbuilding without being bogged down, cinematic yet emotional, and above all — it feels alive. I didn’t read it because I “should”; I read it because I wanted to know what would happen next.
The world of Apex, Atlas, and the Titans still has so many secrets left to unravel — and I can’t wait to see where book two takes Lagen.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (or 5/6, Norwegian scale 😉)
A compelling, visually stunning, and morally complex entry into a new universe.
October 5, 2025
I wanted to read something different to mix up my usual fantasy/dark fantasy books and HOLY does Specter deliver!
This book easily holds it's promise of cinematic military scifi of epic scales and living on the brink of extinction.
I was pulled in right from the start as the story starts with a short prologue of that pilot and mech engineer named Heb and his young protege Lagen. Those two have a beautiful father-son bond but tragedy strikes as they meet one of the boy's revered Titans, who are supersoldiers and the heroes of a brutal war against the alien Vengahrs.
What happens at that first meeting makes Lagen hate Titans even years later. The story jumps to him being an adult and continuing the job with his vessel/AI Corelis being a trusted companion he programmed.
Things happen and Lagen finds himself being a Titan and entering the war...
I rarely read pure scifi but I absolutely adore Specter, which is the first in a series. I definitely want to continue this story as it has amazing characters, great villains, a unique alien race and powers that are fueled by Caxonium, the most valuable gas in the universe which can only be found on one planet: Atlas.
As I already mentioned, the bond between Lagen and his mentor Heb is beautiful, several of the Titans are better than those supersoldiers at first appear to be, the betrayals hurt and the epic duel between Lagen and the supersoldier of the Vengahrs had my heart racing.
The world building is awesome and the duels and action are so vivid and fast paced, the images written into being basically scream for a movie adaptation.
As well as all the action plays out, there are also moments of genuine emotion that feel raw and personal.
It's easy to fall into this book and live through it, right beside Lagen and the squad of Titans.
I totally recommend this bookish scifi blockbuster with heart!
This book easily holds it's promise of cinematic military scifi of epic scales and living on the brink of extinction.
I was pulled in right from the start as the story starts with a short prologue of that pilot and mech engineer named Heb and his young protege Lagen. Those two have a beautiful father-son bond but tragedy strikes as they meet one of the boy's revered Titans, who are supersoldiers and the heroes of a brutal war against the alien Vengahrs.
What happens at that first meeting makes Lagen hate Titans even years later. The story jumps to him being an adult and continuing the job with his vessel/AI Corelis being a trusted companion he programmed.
Things happen and Lagen finds himself being a Titan and entering the war...
I rarely read pure scifi but I absolutely adore Specter, which is the first in a series. I definitely want to continue this story as it has amazing characters, great villains, a unique alien race and powers that are fueled by Caxonium, the most valuable gas in the universe which can only be found on one planet: Atlas.
As I already mentioned, the bond between Lagen and his mentor Heb is beautiful, several of the Titans are better than those supersoldiers at first appear to be, the betrayals hurt and the epic duel between Lagen and the supersoldier of the Vengahrs had my heart racing.
The world building is awesome and the duels and action are so vivid and fast paced, the images written into being basically scream for a movie adaptation.
As well as all the action plays out, there are also moments of genuine emotion that feel raw and personal.
It's easy to fall into this book and live through it, right beside Lagen and the squad of Titans.
I totally recommend this bookish scifi blockbuster with heart!
September 2, 2025
I received this book as an advance readers copy the only request was for an honest review. The author transitions from fantasy into sci-fi seemingly effortlessly. World building was incredibly well done, and character building was exceptional leaving you with empathy and sympathy for the characters. The storyline and plot lines were both extremely well developed. The story follows the main character who is a weapons manufacturer going about his business and by the way is minding his own business, and he ends up having his ship destroyed and him being taken captive and so begins his adventures. The plot line unfolds the carefully hidden secrets that are slowly revealed, and has a wickedly sly humor. The twists and turns takes you on a rollercoaster ride with unexpected surprises you don't see coming and the heart pounding thrills just don't stop. You cannot put this book down it grabs a hold of you and holds on tight. Fast paced action sequences are liberally spread throughout the story just one after another. I highly recommend this book it is very well put together and a well written sci-fi. There are not enough words to say how much I enjoyed this book, and that coming from someone who doesn't read sci-fi frequently or is a big fan of it, and that is probably why the author asked me as a favor to read his book. I am so thankful that I did, because it captured my imagination from the first page, and it made me a fan of sci-fi. It will leave you wanting more thank goodness there will be more to come.
July 30, 2025
I was given a copy by Christer for giving an honest review. And thats what im gonna try to do.
I have been a fan of Christers work since his "The Beast Hunter of Ashbourn" trilogy. It was very exciting for me, as a sci-fi fan to read his new upcoming book.
Specter pulled me in from the start and never let go. It’s a bold, high-stakes story of war, power, rebellion and love.
The world building is great—rich with detail yet easy to follow, giving the sense of a universe on the edge of collapse. The concept of Titans, with their breathtaking abilities and the sacrifices demanded of them, struck me as fascinating and haunting. I was really impressed by how personal the story felt. Amid the massive battles and galaxy-spanning stakes, the characters’ struggles and choices kept me deeply invested.
This is the kind of book that reads like a blockbuster movie: cinematic action, razor-sharp duels, and moments of genuine emotion. Without giving too much away, I’ll just say it had me thinking about the cost of power after I closed the final page.
If you’re a fan of military sci-fi with depth—something that blends thrilling action with thoughtful themes—you’ll definitely want to pick up Specter.
Looking forward to the rest of the books in these series!
I have been a fan of Christers work since his "The Beast Hunter of Ashbourn" trilogy. It was very exciting for me, as a sci-fi fan to read his new upcoming book.
Specter pulled me in from the start and never let go. It’s a bold, high-stakes story of war, power, rebellion and love.
The world building is great—rich with detail yet easy to follow, giving the sense of a universe on the edge of collapse. The concept of Titans, with their breathtaking abilities and the sacrifices demanded of them, struck me as fascinating and haunting. I was really impressed by how personal the story felt. Amid the massive battles and galaxy-spanning stakes, the characters’ struggles and choices kept me deeply invested.
This is the kind of book that reads like a blockbuster movie: cinematic action, razor-sharp duels, and moments of genuine emotion. Without giving too much away, I’ll just say it had me thinking about the cost of power after I closed the final page.
If you’re a fan of military sci-fi with depth—something that blends thrilling action with thoughtful themes—you’ll definitely want to pick up Specter.
Looking forward to the rest of the books in these series!
September 2, 2025
This book is the perfect mixture. It has the complexity and quality of Red Rising, humor compared to The Martian, and the sci-fi excitement of Halo (the games and books).
The story seriously kept me glued to the book, which I of course read over very few hours. It has depth, and the author keeps throwing abrupt and unexpected exciting scenarios in the readers face. The humour and jokes of the main character made me physically laugh out loud frequently - the meticulously crafted dialogue between characters are simply unparalleled.
If you have any interest in anything related to Sci-Fi, specifically: space stations, resource wars, extraordinary abilities, and clever dialogue - this is a must read.
Hands down, one of the best reads of my life - get your hands on it... «It’s of vital importance»
The story seriously kept me glued to the book, which I of course read over very few hours. It has depth, and the author keeps throwing abrupt and unexpected exciting scenarios in the readers face. The humour and jokes of the main character made me physically laugh out loud frequently - the meticulously crafted dialogue between characters are simply unparalleled.
If you have any interest in anything related to Sci-Fi, specifically: space stations, resource wars, extraordinary abilities, and clever dialogue - this is a must read.
Hands down, one of the best reads of my life - get your hands on it... «It’s of vital importance»
September 2, 2025
“Specter” is an action packed sci-fi novel where you follow Lagen, a young adult appreciating living an independent life being self-employed and has to adapt to a whole different lifestyle when he discovers he has a rare and special gift. The story reads easily and is jam-packed with exciting moments in a fast-paced writing style, leaving it hard for the reader to put the book down. With brilliant character descriptions and amazing dialogue that manage to both bring the characters alive and organically carrying the story forward, Specter is also littered with jokes and humor that shows you there is always a bright side. Drawing inspiration from Pierce Brown’s space-saga “Red Rising”, this story sets the scene for an exciting series with more action to follow.
September 21, 2025
First of all, I'll say that this story has some good plot elements, along with an interesting take on the interactions between titans (the defender class of humans). With different inherent skillsets, I enjoyed how they used their abilities, either alone or as a team, to complement or challenge one another.
Having said that, I think the author struggles to convey a sense of depth to the story. Part of the reason for that (I'm just guessing here) may be that English is not his first language? I have read other international authors, so I know it can be a struggle to write in a complex language like English. Whether that's the case or not, the story's pace is hindered by clunky language.
All things considered, I would look forward to more work from this author.
Having said that, I think the author struggles to convey a sense of depth to the story. Part of the reason for that (I'm just guessing here) may be that English is not his first language? I have read other international authors, so I know it can be a struggle to write in a complex language like English. Whether that's the case or not, the story's pace is hindered by clunky language.
All things considered, I would look forward to more work from this author.
September 4, 2025
This book is one of the best science fiction books I've ever read. It's a gripping story of Lagen, a young man with an internal struggle, will he join a war he has no relation to or get away from everything and return to his normal life as an arms dealer? The story takes you to another world where humans have some amazing abilities and gain muscle like you would only dream of. Like this world is not interesting enough the most exciting part is following Lagen trying to decide the right thing to do while surrounded by people he doesn't know if he can trust or not. This book reminds me a lot of The Red Rising, and I liked just as much!
September 2, 2025
Read this book! Specter is a page turner. Specter is a spectacle. Specter is a damn piece of art. As I started reading the book, I had no idea that in the span of just a few pages, I would get sucked right in and get absolutely hooked on the characters, the world building and the story. Christer Lende has masterfully crafted this vast sci-fi world, and more importantly; the characters that inhibit it. I laughed my freaking ass off, screamed in despair, and most importantly: I cried.
I can't wait for the next one.
I can't wait for the next one.
September 2, 2025
Amazing, show stopping, brilliant, spectacularly written and modestly presented, now with flattery aside.
The book is fantastic, it is a good blend of great stakes and contrasting storytelling, making it a book that can't be put off.
Each chapter is more intriguing than the last, the fight scenes are top notch and the characters are each more interesting than the last.
Overall it is a wonderfully crafted book, I hope Christer continues to bring all his vision of the series and more...
Witcher out.
The book is fantastic, it is a good blend of great stakes and contrasting storytelling, making it a book that can't be put off.
Each chapter is more intriguing than the last, the fight scenes are top notch and the characters are each more interesting than the last.
Overall it is a wonderfully crafted book, I hope Christer continues to bring all his vision of the series and more...
Witcher out.
September 18, 2025
4.25/5 Stars
Lende knows how to craft a story with characters you don’t necessarily like at first, but can’t look away from. The super-soldier battling alien counterparts and the incredible, cinematic battle scenes kept me turning pages, and the characters grew on me as the story went on.
By the end, I found myself both invested and eager to see what comes next. The unanswered mysteries definitely set the stage for an exciting sequel. Think Red Rising meets The Boys, with Avenger-esque battles that leap off the page.
Lende knows how to craft a story with characters you don’t necessarily like at first, but can’t look away from. The super-soldier battling alien counterparts and the incredible, cinematic battle scenes kept me turning pages, and the characters grew on me as the story went on.
By the end, I found myself both invested and eager to see what comes next. The unanswered mysteries definitely set the stage for an exciting sequel. Think Red Rising meets The Boys, with Avenger-esque battles that leap off the page.
September 2, 2025
Wow. I just finished the book! It was a real page turner. I can hardly wait for the next one!
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