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A New Beginning: An LGBTQIA Military Space Opera
The stars are calling!
Following Earth's surprising victory over an alien species that has dominated the galaxy, Captain Rena Sheets used all her resources and connections to create Excalibur II. It’s the most advanced starship ever to strike out from human space, ready to chart the cosmos.
But, for where the ship is headed, she’ll need an intrepid crew of explorers. Secrets abound, and not everyone is settling in comfortably on the ship. From a former intelligence operative as first officer, to a cadet raised far above her station, to a stowaway, and even a secret AI, banned by humanity, Excalibur II has just as many conflicts inside its hull as with the new species they contact. How long do they have to stake their claim before their old enemies gather their forces?
Climb aboard a brand-new vessel of exploration and seek out alien life and strange worlds in E.J. Isaacs' debut novel, A New Beginning!
Space Opera / Military Sci-Fi / Science Fiction / LGBT / Gay / Sapphic
Adult
Following Earth's surprising victory over an alien species that has dominated the galaxy, Captain Rena Sheets used all her resources and connections to create Excalibur II. It’s the most advanced starship ever to strike out from human space, ready to chart the cosmos.
But, for where the ship is headed, she’ll need an intrepid crew of explorers. Secrets abound, and not everyone is settling in comfortably on the ship. From a former intelligence operative as first officer, to a cadet raised far above her station, to a stowaway, and even a secret AI, banned by humanity, Excalibur II has just as many conflicts inside its hull as with the new species they contact. How long do they have to stake their claim before their old enemies gather their forces?
Climb aboard a brand-new vessel of exploration and seek out alien life and strange worlds in E.J. Isaacs' debut novel, A New Beginning!
Space Opera / Military Sci-Fi / Science Fiction / LGBT / Gay / Sapphic
Adult
325 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 7, 2025
2 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 27, 2025
Interesting sci-fi read.
As a massive Star Trek fan, this felt familiar in a comforting way. I think what threw me off base was some of the believability of some of the actions of the characters. There were quite a few moments that I was kind of like “why did so and so do this?” Finding their motivations for some of their actions could have used some further fleshing out.
The POV switches at scene breaks was perfectly alright, however due to the amount of characters introduced (some even late into the novel) I’d often be like “wait, who is this again”, and have to go back a page or two to remind me which character we were following.
That being said, if you’re a Trekkie, this will be a good read. I’m definitely intrigued where this plot is going for sure as the crew carries on their mission. I grateful to have recieved an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily!
As a massive Star Trek fan, this felt familiar in a comforting way. I think what threw me off base was some of the believability of some of the actions of the characters. There were quite a few moments that I was kind of like “why did so and so do this?” Finding their motivations for some of their actions could have used some further fleshing out.
The POV switches at scene breaks was perfectly alright, however due to the amount of characters introduced (some even late into the novel) I’d often be like “wait, who is this again”, and have to go back a page or two to remind me which character we were following.
That being said, if you’re a Trekkie, this will be a good read. I’m definitely intrigued where this plot is going for sure as the crew carries on their mission. I grateful to have recieved an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily!
November 13, 2025
This is E. J. Isaacs' (https://www.solinterests.com/) first published novel. A New Beginning was released last October and is the first title in his The Unforgiving Stars series. It is the 68th title I’ve completed reading in 2025.
I received an ARC of this book for free through https://www.netgalley.com and I am voluntarily leaving this review. My opinions are unbiased and entirely my own. Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.
Following Earth’s unlikely victory over the Angels—an alien empire that has dominated the galaxy—Captain Rena Sheets has wagered her career, reputation, and every favor she can claim on one bold undertaking: Excalibur II. The most advanced starship ever built, it is designed to push beyond charted space and uncover what the Angels left behind.
But where she’s headed, technology alone won’t save them. Sheets has gathered a crew of explorers, scientists, and soldiers—many with secrets they’d rather keep buried. Her first officer is a former intelligence operative whose loyalties remain uncertain. A promising cadet has been promoted far beyond her experience. A stowaway lurks somewhere in the lower decks. And deep within the ship’s systems, a sentient AI—strictly forbidden under Earth law—guides Sheets from the shadows, at great risk to them both.
Twelve years earlier, Lieutenant Sheets served aboard the original Excalibur during one of humanity’s final clashes with the Angels. When the ship was crippled in battle, her captain chose to ram the enemy flagship. Sheets led the surviving crew in a desperate boarding assault that helped break the Angels’ campaign. The next encounter was won by the Earth fleet. This caused the Angels to disengage from battle and retreat to their original space.
Now, as Captain, Sheets leads Excalibur II on a ten-year mission: to explore, to seek out new life, and to uncover any sign of the Angels before they return.
Their voyage brings them to worlds both wondrous and perilous. On one, they encounter a young civilization not yet ready for contact—forcing the crew to decide whether to protect or disrupt its growth. On another, they find survivors of a lost Earth colony, fighting to coexist with the planet’s native species. Sheets and her crew must navigate diplomacy, survival, and the fragile boundaries of what it means to be human among the stars.
Because every world they visit, every discovery they make, brings them one step closer to learning the truth:
The Angels did not retreat. They are waiting.
I enjoyed the 7.5 hours I spent reading this 306-page science fiction novel. I give this novel a rating of 4.2 (rounded to 4) out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
I received an ARC of this book for free through https://www.netgalley.com and I am voluntarily leaving this review. My opinions are unbiased and entirely my own. Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.
Following Earth’s unlikely victory over the Angels—an alien empire that has dominated the galaxy—Captain Rena Sheets has wagered her career, reputation, and every favor she can claim on one bold undertaking: Excalibur II. The most advanced starship ever built, it is designed to push beyond charted space and uncover what the Angels left behind.
But where she’s headed, technology alone won’t save them. Sheets has gathered a crew of explorers, scientists, and soldiers—many with secrets they’d rather keep buried. Her first officer is a former intelligence operative whose loyalties remain uncertain. A promising cadet has been promoted far beyond her experience. A stowaway lurks somewhere in the lower decks. And deep within the ship’s systems, a sentient AI—strictly forbidden under Earth law—guides Sheets from the shadows, at great risk to them both.
Twelve years earlier, Lieutenant Sheets served aboard the original Excalibur during one of humanity’s final clashes with the Angels. When the ship was crippled in battle, her captain chose to ram the enemy flagship. Sheets led the surviving crew in a desperate boarding assault that helped break the Angels’ campaign. The next encounter was won by the Earth fleet. This caused the Angels to disengage from battle and retreat to their original space.
Now, as Captain, Sheets leads Excalibur II on a ten-year mission: to explore, to seek out new life, and to uncover any sign of the Angels before they return.
Their voyage brings them to worlds both wondrous and perilous. On one, they encounter a young civilization not yet ready for contact—forcing the crew to decide whether to protect or disrupt its growth. On another, they find survivors of a lost Earth colony, fighting to coexist with the planet’s native species. Sheets and her crew must navigate diplomacy, survival, and the fragile boundaries of what it means to be human among the stars.
Because every world they visit, every discovery they make, brings them one step closer to learning the truth:
The Angels did not retreat. They are waiting.
I enjoyed the 7.5 hours I spent reading this 306-page science fiction novel. I give this novel a rating of 4.2 (rounded to 4) out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
December 2, 2025
3.5/5 rounded up
Thanks to BookSirens and Space Wizard Science Fantasy for the ARC.
I did enjoy this though there were elements I found puzzling to have in a military scifi.
The good stuff: The Crew are undertaking a 10 year mission to explore in a brand new state of the art Ship. They are looking for evidence of Angels incursion (Alien enemy who humans are in a cold war with basically) into nearby space, as well mapping new unexplored areas as this will open those areas for safe flight by other ships.
Sheets is an interesting Captain who clearly inspires great loyalty from her crew; for her past military exploits and her way of management. There are definitely some hidden layers there and I'm super interested to learn more.
Raleigh is a former(?) intelligence officer who has a past with Sheets. He has a wide breadth of knowledge that helps the crew in lots of ways. He's also not a macho dudebro, and is content with his role as exectuive officer to Sheets.
Very much felt like the book was made up of small episodes (no bad thing), with hints of the larger longterm plot appearing. We had interactions with some previously unknown alien species, AI shenanigans and other things I won't spoil.
Not so good: I don't understand how this military works. This is a 10 year mission, the crew knew this when they were selected and I assume had the option to opt out. Multiple crew left the ship at various points and seemingly quit the Military because they decided they wanted to settle down.
The vast majority of the crew are in relationships with others, but there seems to be no consideration given to rank issues or possible problems from break ups.
I've not read much Military Scifi as yet (Just some Honoverse and Lost Fleet), but this does seem odd and seems a haphazard way to run a ship on such a long mission. Specially when you will definitely be losing crew during battle.
Overall, I'm happy with my time spent with the book and I will be reading the second one when it comes out. I think most of my issues may just be some growing pains for the author.
Thanks to BookSirens and Space Wizard Science Fantasy for the ARC.
I did enjoy this though there were elements I found puzzling to have in a military scifi.
The good stuff: The Crew are undertaking a 10 year mission to explore in a brand new state of the art Ship. They are looking for evidence of Angels incursion (Alien enemy who humans are in a cold war with basically) into nearby space, as well mapping new unexplored areas as this will open those areas for safe flight by other ships.
Sheets is an interesting Captain who clearly inspires great loyalty from her crew; for her past military exploits and her way of management. There are definitely some hidden layers there and I'm super interested to learn more.
Raleigh is a former(?) intelligence officer who has a past with Sheets. He has a wide breadth of knowledge that helps the crew in lots of ways. He's also not a macho dudebro, and is content with his role as exectuive officer to Sheets.
Very much felt like the book was made up of small episodes (no bad thing), with hints of the larger longterm plot appearing. We had interactions with some previously unknown alien species, AI shenanigans and other things I won't spoil.
Not so good: I don't understand how this military works. This is a 10 year mission, the crew knew this when they were selected and I assume had the option to opt out. Multiple crew left the ship at various points and seemingly quit the Military because they decided they wanted to settle down.
The vast majority of the crew are in relationships with others, but there seems to be no consideration given to rank issues or possible problems from break ups.
I've not read much Military Scifi as yet (Just some Honoverse and Lost Fleet), but this does seem odd and seems a haphazard way to run a ship on such a long mission. Specially when you will definitely be losing crew during battle.
Overall, I'm happy with my time spent with the book and I will be reading the second one when it comes out. I think most of my issues may just be some growing pains for the author.
October 3, 2025
A New Beginning is a stellar book (pun intended) for the fans of Star Trek, Battlestar Galatica, or any other Space Opera with a vast cast.
The book follows Captain Rena Sheets and her handpicked crew aboard her brand new ship, the “Excalibur 2”. It starts with a bit of action packed backstory and then eases us into the introduction of the main members of the crew, hardened veterans and bright-eyed cadets alike, before starting the main journey they undertake and, I believe, will be on for the next books.
Although the characters are many, their plots are perfectly interwoven, giving us a bigger picture of the ship’s internal dynamics than would be possible with just one character. All of them were a pleasure to read, although I have my favorites, Commander Raleigh, Commander Clear Sky and Sonni being some of them.
The pacing was perfect, for me. Tense action sequences followed by big stretches filled with character development. Even down time felt engaging, since there was always something going on with the characters, be it emotional turmoil, a problem with the ship or just them trying to keep up with their superior’s expectations.
About the writing, it could be smoother at times, especially regarding the characters’ emotions. At times the author would show their reactions and tell us their emotions, removing me out of the immersion. A more “show, don’t tell” approach would benefit the writing immensely and would have given it the 5 stars quality. I believe, though, that craftsmanship will come in time as the author continues to write.
So, to conclude, apart from some clunky text at times, “A New Beginning” is a solid, immersive, gripping story with rich characters and the potential to turn into an amazing sci-fi series. I’ll be here to read it all!
A great scratch at the space exploration itch that the likes of Star Wars can’t seem to provide these days. If you like sci-fi and the pursuit of new horizons, this is for you. Read it!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book follows Captain Rena Sheets and her handpicked crew aboard her brand new ship, the “Excalibur 2”. It starts with a bit of action packed backstory and then eases us into the introduction of the main members of the crew, hardened veterans and bright-eyed cadets alike, before starting the main journey they undertake and, I believe, will be on for the next books.
Although the characters are many, their plots are perfectly interwoven, giving us a bigger picture of the ship’s internal dynamics than would be possible with just one character. All of them were a pleasure to read, although I have my favorites, Commander Raleigh, Commander Clear Sky and Sonni being some of them.
The pacing was perfect, for me. Tense action sequences followed by big stretches filled with character development. Even down time felt engaging, since there was always something going on with the characters, be it emotional turmoil, a problem with the ship or just them trying to keep up with their superior’s expectations.
About the writing, it could be smoother at times, especially regarding the characters’ emotions. At times the author would show their reactions and tell us their emotions, removing me out of the immersion. A more “show, don’t tell” approach would benefit the writing immensely and would have given it the 5 stars quality. I believe, though, that craftsmanship will come in time as the author continues to write.
So, to conclude, apart from some clunky text at times, “A New Beginning” is a solid, immersive, gripping story with rich characters and the potential to turn into an amazing sci-fi series. I’ll be here to read it all!
A great scratch at the space exploration itch that the likes of Star Wars can’t seem to provide these days. If you like sci-fi and the pursuit of new horizons, this is for you. Read it!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 3, 2025
A New Beginning is an exhilarating and deeply human entry into the realm of military space opera one that redefines what exploration among the stars can mean. E.J. Isaacs crafts a story that is as much about discovery and unity as it is about identity and belonging. The result is a richly layered adventure that captures the wonder of deep space while celebrating the diversity of those bold enough to journey through it.
Captain Rena Sheets is a fascinating protagonist: strong, intuitive, and quietly burdened by responsibility. Her creation of the Excalibur II, humanity’s most advanced starship, sets the stage for a voyage brimming with tension and heart. Each crew member carries their own secrets whether a past steeped in espionage, a hidden AI presence, or a stowaway with unexpected depend and Isaacs weaves these threads into a tapestry of interstellar intrigue.
What truly sets this novel apart is its deft balance of genre and emotion. Isaacs brings the grandeur of classic science fiction, alien contact, galactic politics, and high-stakes adventure—into harmony with tender explorations of love, identity, and trust. The representation feels organic, never forced, and adds layers of authenticity to a cast already vibrant with humanity.
A thrilling debut that will appeal to fans of The Expanse and Star Trek: Discovery, A New Beginning is both epic and intimate, a journey through the stars and the self.
Captain Rena Sheets is a fascinating protagonist: strong, intuitive, and quietly burdened by responsibility. Her creation of the Excalibur II, humanity’s most advanced starship, sets the stage for a voyage brimming with tension and heart. Each crew member carries their own secrets whether a past steeped in espionage, a hidden AI presence, or a stowaway with unexpected depend and Isaacs weaves these threads into a tapestry of interstellar intrigue.
What truly sets this novel apart is its deft balance of genre and emotion. Isaacs brings the grandeur of classic science fiction, alien contact, galactic politics, and high-stakes adventure—into harmony with tender explorations of love, identity, and trust. The representation feels organic, never forced, and adds layers of authenticity to a cast already vibrant with humanity.
A thrilling debut that will appeal to fans of The Expanse and Star Trek: Discovery, A New Beginning is both epic and intimate, a journey through the stars and the self.
October 15, 2025
Journey to the Stars . . .
When Earth was unexpectedly able to claim a victory over an alien enemy group, it was exactly what Captain Rena Sheets needed to justify creation of Excalibur II, an advanced starship for a mission to enable them to verify whether the enemy is still in existence and waiting for another chance to strike. Or even whether other enemies exist that need to be discovered so we will be ready to defend Earth. Her new crew will need to be the adventurous type to meet whatever challenges are waiting for them. Will they be able to deal with any unexpected aliens they may meet? Will they be able to meld as a competent crew able to carry out their mission? What does the future hold for them as they begin their 10-year journey to discover what is out there and whether they are able to deal with a new threat?
When Earth was unexpectedly able to claim a victory over an alien enemy group, it was exactly what Captain Rena Sheets needed to justify creation of Excalibur II, an advanced starship for a mission to enable them to verify whether the enemy is still in existence and waiting for another chance to strike. Or even whether other enemies exist that need to be discovered so we will be ready to defend Earth. Her new crew will need to be the adventurous type to meet whatever challenges are waiting for them. Will they be able to deal with any unexpected aliens they may meet? Will they be able to meld as a competent crew able to carry out their mission? What does the future hold for them as they begin their 10-year journey to discover what is out there and whether they are able to deal with a new threat?
October 20, 2025
Unexpected.
Captain Rena Sheets and her crew on the Excalibur II are a great bunch, it seems. There seems to be something between Rena and Commander Raleigh, which is great. But the book was classed under Lesbian Science Fiction, which I feel the main characters are then involved. The book is written from multiple POVs, which does include lesbian or gay characters, but not the captain of the ship.
The ship and crew had some exciting adventures in this book, and we will see what comes in the next book, I am sure there will be a next one, seeing that only one romance basically happened and not with a main character. Also with how the book ended there should be more…
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Captain Rena Sheets and her crew on the Excalibur II are a great bunch, it seems. There seems to be something between Rena and Commander Raleigh, which is great. But the book was classed under Lesbian Science Fiction, which I feel the main characters are then involved. The book is written from multiple POVs, which does include lesbian or gay characters, but not the captain of the ship.
The ship and crew had some exciting adventures in this book, and we will see what comes in the next book, I am sure there will be a next one, seeing that only one romance basically happened and not with a main character. Also with how the book ended there should be more…
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 1, 2025
This was a nicely written story and a good beginning to what's shaping up to be an interesting series of books. The characters have good depth and plenty of back story. The plot itself is decent and different enough from a lot of military sci-fi and first contact stories. The pacing is reasonable, but the first half is understandably slow given that this is the first of a series and it needs to focus on character development and world-building. That said, there's a lot to like here. I'm looking forward to the continuation of the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 7, 2025
A war that never really ended…
Captain Sheets is launching a new human spaceship, the start of a 10 year journey to map space for humans and figure out if the galaxy’s enemies are still out there. Her crew is pretty green, and the tech is unproven. Throw in the Alliance across the galaxy, and a few interesting aliens, and you have a gun story.
Good world building, and an interesting series of adventures. Only objection is the conflict seems light - dangers abound, but so far, little taxing for the crew.
That said, light enjoyable fun and look forward to the next book in the series.
Captain Sheets is launching a new human spaceship, the start of a 10 year journey to map space for humans and figure out if the galaxy’s enemies are still out there. Her crew is pretty green, and the tech is unproven. Throw in the Alliance across the galaxy, and a few interesting aliens, and you have a gun story.
Good world building, and an interesting series of adventures. Only objection is the conflict seems light - dangers abound, but so far, little taxing for the crew.
That said, light enjoyable fun and look forward to the next book in the series.
November 23, 2025
Fascinating storytelling for fans of Star Trek and other deep space adventures. While reading, I felt like I was binge watching episodes. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I have many happy memories of watching Star Trek, Deep Space Nine and Voyager. This book put me right back there with a unique cast and several missions to get the journey started as this is the first book in a series.
The world building is rich and vast. The cast are authentic and real. I look forward to seeing where Excalibur journeys to next…recommend!
I have many happy memories of watching Star Trek, Deep Space Nine and Voyager. This book put me right back there with a unique cast and several missions to get the journey started as this is the first book in a series.
The world building is rich and vast. The cast are authentic and real. I look forward to seeing where Excalibur journeys to next…recommend!
October 18, 2025
A New beginning: I really enjoyed this story it has action and was a thrilling journey, Well developed characters . If you like LGBTQIA sci-fi and fantasy adventure action I highly recommend it. I look forward to reading more of this series
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 31, 2025
Totally would have given this five stars but there are a few unfortunate typo/grammatical errors. Grabs you from the beginning. Keeps you rolling with intrigue, suspense and action. Some interesting correlations with the current political climate. Good characters, both male and female. Well developed.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews