Battletech: Redemption Rift

BattleTech Universe #99

by Jason Schmetzer

ON THE HUNT AGAIN…

 It is the Dark Age—3139—and the famed mercenary regiments of Wolf's Dragoons have returned to the employ of House Kurita after a century of bitter enmity. Somehow, mercenaries and Kuritans must find a way to work together in a combined invasion of the Dragon’s oldest enemy, House Davion.

Thrust into the middle of this new conflict, Colonel Henry Kincaid is surprised by the commonalities—duty, honor, expediency—the Wolves and Combine forces share.

But as the Wolves’ lightning tactics and unstoppable drive brings world after Davion world under the Dragon’s banner, old hatreds arise anew, and with them come insidious plots engineered to cause the mercenaries’ downfall.

            Throughout the campaign, Colonel Kincaid struggles to rectify what he thought he had always known about the Kuritans with the truth he discovers while actually working with them. But when his forces are trapped on a Davion world with no way to escape and the regiments of House Davion closing in, can he pull another bit of genius from his hat, or will the battalions of Wolf’s Dragoons be destroyed?

Genres: Science Fiction

339 pages, Paperback

First published September 23, 2019

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book continues the Dark Age story line started in the Mech Warrior Dark Age series which was a continuation of the classic Battletech series. The Mech Warrior Dark Age series consisted of thirty books published by WizKids and ROC. This book is published by Catalyst Game Labs and Topps and is published as Battletech - Redemption Rift. The books in this series, like the books in the original Battletech series and the Mech Warrior Dark Age series, are by various authors. This one is by Jason Schmetzer.
The Republic of the Sphere has known a long period of peace and prosperity. Then the interstellar communications network a.k.a. the HPG net is destroyed by terrorists and many planets in the Republic find themselves cut off from the rest of the galaxy with communications taking weeks or even months. Unrest leads to several factions on several planets trying to overthrow the local governments and seize power for themselves.
In this one the Wolf's Dragoons are back, and back working for the Draconis Combine. After a century of bitter enmity the Dragoons must find a way to work for House Kurita against The Federated Stars and House Davion. Not only will they have a fight on their hands with the elite forces of House Davion they will also need to watch their backs for a for a possible betrayal by House Kurita.
The story in this book is interesting and keeps your attention. It has very good characters which are well developed and believable. The combat scenes are very good and the tech is accurate to Battletech. This book is a great addition to this series and I highly recommend it.

[Josh Murphy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate giving this a two, but it really was just OK for me. I get the impression that people with a long history of reading BT books would be more invested in this one. Maybe if I'd read Wolves at the Border first, I would care more about the "redemption" arc. But with this being my first exposure to the Dragoons, I just didn't care about the stakes and wound up skimming through the combat throughout the second half of the book.

The author has chops, and if I were someone who appreciated combat scenes in these books, I think I would have been enraptured. But I prefer the more personal moments in these types of books. The quieter human moments were quite good, but few and far between.

I was highly invested in the mystery subplot and was hoping it would play more of a central role in the book, but it faded out and in without taking up much of the page count. But during the moments it was highlighted, I loved it and truly appreciated the writer's style.

Final rating: 2.9. It was OK. Parts truly captured my interest, but I found most of it solidly written but skippable.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great entry into the new Battletech novel line. It also brings back the awe of the original stories by focusing on Wolf's Dragoons and recreating a story from the past. And we are back to house feuds between Kurita and Davion.
The story itself was great to follow. It had me against my normal Davion protagonists, so it had good engagement.
This story also tried to bring in some newer ideas and scenarios to Battletech that were absent in the rock 'em, sock 'em past. They landed ok with me but did feel a little forced or out of place in the standard Battletech expectations.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction to the Dark Age Era and a re-introduction to one of the setting’s most famous mercenary commands, Wolf’s Dragoons!

[Tim Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid piece of Battletech fiction for those who enjoy such things.

[Kavinay · Rating 2 out of 5]

IDK, I guess combined arms crunchiness just isn't my thing.

[J.P. Second · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent battletech universe novel

This is among the best battletech novels. The story is interesting and keeps your attention. Very good characters,well developed and believable. The combat scenes are very good and the tactical description easy to follow. The tech is accurate to battletech. Highly recommend.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

The wolf pack is back!

Taut action featuring a redemption arc over a century (in fictional years) in the making. Full of action and tells a very good story