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Dawn of Defiance: Manus Dei Chronicles Book 1
578 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2026
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Did Not Finish
June 19, 2026Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!
DNF @ 16%
I really, REALLY wanted to like this. I love epic sci-fi and the world building in this book is really impressive. The cover is eye-catching, the premise intriguing.
Unfortunately, the writing is clunky enough to keep me from really getting immersed in the story. There are many, many odd turns of phrase used in the prose that had me scratching my head. The lack of sentence structure variation made the writing monotonous. I don’t think the tech in this world is adequately explained, either. My experience reading this book could be summed up perfectly by “I’m so confused”.
The female characters introduced in the first few chapters could use some reworking. They felt one-dimensional and rather stereotypical.
Quite a let down! Again, I really wanted to love this. Unfortunately, I just didn’t vibe with the writing style and tone.
DNF @ 16%
I really, REALLY wanted to like this. I love epic sci-fi and the world building in this book is really impressive. The cover is eye-catching, the premise intriguing.
Unfortunately, the writing is clunky enough to keep me from really getting immersed in the story. There are many, many odd turns of phrase used in the prose that had me scratching my head. The lack of sentence structure variation made the writing monotonous. I don’t think the tech in this world is adequately explained, either. My experience reading this book could be summed up perfectly by “I’m so confused”.
The female characters introduced in the first few chapters could use some reworking. They felt one-dimensional and rather stereotypical.
Quite a let down! Again, I really wanted to love this. Unfortunately, I just didn’t vibe with the writing style and tone.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5)
*Dawn of Defiance* is an ambitious and imaginative start to the *Manus Dei Chronicles*, blending science fiction, fantasy, theology, and dystopian warfare into a sprawling epic that asks some fascinating questions about humanity, faith, and what happens when technology reaches beyond the boundaries of death itself.
The premise immediately hooked me. A century after humanity created the Manus Dei System and gained access to the afterlife, God has seemingly vanished, leaving civilization fractured by endless conflict, political extremism, and competing visions of humanity's future. It's a bold concept, and Charles Haugen clearly isn't afraid to tackle large-scale ideas. The combination of advanced technology, religious mystery, and military conflict creates a unique world that feels both expansive and thought-provoking.
One of the novel's strengths is its scope. The story follows multiple characters across different factions, each with their own goals and perspectives. Daniel's struggle against the oppressive UHF regime, Lazarus's desperate journey through the afterlife in search of his daughter, and Ivan Reaps's search for the truth about his origins all bring different dimensions to the narrative. I especially enjoyed the mystery surrounding Ivan and the gradual revelations about his place in the larger story.
The worldbuilding is incredibly detailed and often the highlight of the book. Haugen creates a future that feels lived-in, complete with political intrigue, ideological conflicts, advanced technology, and complex religious questions. The concept of humanity interacting directly with the afterlife opens the door to countless philosophical discussions, and I appreciated how the novel explored themes of belief, mortality, identity, and the dangers of absolute power.
That said, the sheer scale of the story can sometimes be overwhelming. There are many characters, factions, concepts, and plot threads introduced throughout the novel, and at times it felt like a lot to keep track of. Some sections moved more slowly as the worldbuilding and political dynamics took center stage, and I occasionally found myself wishing for a bit more emotional depth from certain characters amidst the larger narrative.
Even so, I was consistently intrigued by the ideas at the heart of the story. The mystery surrounding the reappearance of the Deity, the competing agendas of the various factions, and the looming conflict over the final Manus Dei System kept me turning pages. The novel does an excellent job of building anticipation for future installments while still delivering a satisfying story of its own.
Overall, *Dawn of Defiance* is a creative and thought-provoking science fiction epic filled with big ideas, complex worldbuilding, and intriguing mysteries. While the ambitious scope occasionally made it feel dense, I admired how much it attempted and how confidently it explored its themes. Readers who enjoy philosophical science fiction, dystopian futures, intricate political conflicts, and stories that blend technology with questions of faith will find plenty to enjoy here. I'm definitely curious to see where the *Manus Dei Chronicles* goes next.
*Dawn of Defiance* is an ambitious and imaginative start to the *Manus Dei Chronicles*, blending science fiction, fantasy, theology, and dystopian warfare into a sprawling epic that asks some fascinating questions about humanity, faith, and what happens when technology reaches beyond the boundaries of death itself.
The premise immediately hooked me. A century after humanity created the Manus Dei System and gained access to the afterlife, God has seemingly vanished, leaving civilization fractured by endless conflict, political extremism, and competing visions of humanity's future. It's a bold concept, and Charles Haugen clearly isn't afraid to tackle large-scale ideas. The combination of advanced technology, religious mystery, and military conflict creates a unique world that feels both expansive and thought-provoking.
One of the novel's strengths is its scope. The story follows multiple characters across different factions, each with their own goals and perspectives. Daniel's struggle against the oppressive UHF regime, Lazarus's desperate journey through the afterlife in search of his daughter, and Ivan Reaps's search for the truth about his origins all bring different dimensions to the narrative. I especially enjoyed the mystery surrounding Ivan and the gradual revelations about his place in the larger story.
The worldbuilding is incredibly detailed and often the highlight of the book. Haugen creates a future that feels lived-in, complete with political intrigue, ideological conflicts, advanced technology, and complex religious questions. The concept of humanity interacting directly with the afterlife opens the door to countless philosophical discussions, and I appreciated how the novel explored themes of belief, mortality, identity, and the dangers of absolute power.
That said, the sheer scale of the story can sometimes be overwhelming. There are many characters, factions, concepts, and plot threads introduced throughout the novel, and at times it felt like a lot to keep track of. Some sections moved more slowly as the worldbuilding and political dynamics took center stage, and I occasionally found myself wishing for a bit more emotional depth from certain characters amidst the larger narrative.
Even so, I was consistently intrigued by the ideas at the heart of the story. The mystery surrounding the reappearance of the Deity, the competing agendas of the various factions, and the looming conflict over the final Manus Dei System kept me turning pages. The novel does an excellent job of building anticipation for future installments while still delivering a satisfying story of its own.
Overall, *Dawn of Defiance* is a creative and thought-provoking science fiction epic filled with big ideas, complex worldbuilding, and intriguing mysteries. While the ambitious scope occasionally made it feel dense, I admired how much it attempted and how confidently it explored its themes. Readers who enjoy philosophical science fiction, dystopian futures, intricate political conflicts, and stories that blend technology with questions of faith will find plenty to enjoy here. I'm definitely curious to see where the *Manus Dei Chronicles* goes next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received and ARC of this book through NetGalley, these are my honest opinions.
I have mixed feelings about this one, but I want to preface it by saying that by no means do I think it’s a *bad* book. Despite the negatives, I did enjoy the overall story and would love to know what will happen in future books. But certain elements did keep me from liking it as much as I wanted to, which is why I’m giving it a very nebulous 3.5 stars (rounded to 4 stars). The world(s) and idea of the story are great; humanity piercing the veil to the afterlife, discovering a deity, and the way it fractured humanity are great ideas. The factions were also interesting; the Pures with their un-human augmentations, and the Pariahs the outcasts of both groups.
The characters were… a mixed bag. I think the main issue I have is that there are a *lot* of characters with PoV chapters (eight of them) which does affect the pacing. I honestly think one or two could have been cut and their arcs covered in flashback in later books (Valyrie in particular as she only has 3 chapters in the whole book). But, I will say there’s a degree of satisfaction when the characters arcs all finally start to become intertwined. (It’s hard to explain without spoilers, but the first chapter turns out to be more important than I initially thought it would be.)
The book tries to do a lot. Sometimes it succeeds and other times it feels like it’s a bit much. This is hard sci-fi, so there’s a lot of world-building and important concepts and, for the most part, it does handle them well, but it can feel like a slog in the moments where it needs you to know something mid-action. But, as someone who likes high concept sci-fi, in the end I did appreciate most of what was done to set up the world(s), factions, and politics.
However, there are moments that really took me out of the book. Odd word choices and stilted dialogue (not through the entire book, but often enough that it did become hard to ignore), like a character asking another if he’s heard of the Manus Dei -- which, given the set up of the book, everyone should have and the question makes no sense. There’s also expositions put into dialogue which felt a little hit and miss, and there are several instances of restating and repeating things that the reader has already been made aware of. By 50% it got a little tiring. That said, it wasn’t a deal breaker for me, I finished the whole thing.
The ending definitely made me want to read the next instalment and, while it ends as an obvious set up for the next book, it does manage to give a few plot points closure, which I always appreciate.
All that said, I enjoyed the action and the fact that no punches were held (so scenes get a little gory, so beware -- there’s some eye trauma), I liked the pacing, and found the general concept enjoyable. In the grand scheme of things, my gripes were minor to me, and I feel like in future books the author could definitely improve. So, yeah, 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
I have mixed feelings about this one, but I want to preface it by saying that by no means do I think it’s a *bad* book. Despite the negatives, I did enjoy the overall story and would love to know what will happen in future books. But certain elements did keep me from liking it as much as I wanted to, which is why I’m giving it a very nebulous 3.5 stars (rounded to 4 stars). The world(s) and idea of the story are great; humanity piercing the veil to the afterlife, discovering a deity, and the way it fractured humanity are great ideas. The factions were also interesting; the Pures with their un-human augmentations, and the Pariahs the outcasts of both groups.
The characters were… a mixed bag. I think the main issue I have is that there are a *lot* of characters with PoV chapters (eight of them) which does affect the pacing. I honestly think one or two could have been cut and their arcs covered in flashback in later books (Valyrie in particular as she only has 3 chapters in the whole book). But, I will say there’s a degree of satisfaction when the characters arcs all finally start to become intertwined. (It’s hard to explain without spoilers, but the first chapter turns out to be more important than I initially thought it would be.)
The book tries to do a lot. Sometimes it succeeds and other times it feels like it’s a bit much. This is hard sci-fi, so there’s a lot of world-building and important concepts and, for the most part, it does handle them well, but it can feel like a slog in the moments where it needs you to know something mid-action. But, as someone who likes high concept sci-fi, in the end I did appreciate most of what was done to set up the world(s), factions, and politics.
However, there are moments that really took me out of the book. Odd word choices and stilted dialogue (not through the entire book, but often enough that it did become hard to ignore), like a character asking another if he’s heard of the Manus Dei -- which, given the set up of the book, everyone should have and the question makes no sense. There’s also expositions put into dialogue which felt a little hit and miss, and there are several instances of restating and repeating things that the reader has already been made aware of. By 50% it got a little tiring. That said, it wasn’t a deal breaker for me, I finished the whole thing.
The ending definitely made me want to read the next instalment and, while it ends as an obvious set up for the next book, it does manage to give a few plot points closure, which I always appreciate.
All that said, I enjoyed the action and the fact that no punches were held (so scenes get a little gory, so beware -- there’s some eye trauma), I liked the pacing, and found the general concept enjoyable. In the grand scheme of things, my gripes were minor to me, and I feel like in future books the author could definitely improve. So, yeah, 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Some science fiction novels entertain. Others challenge the way we think. Only a rare few accomplish both while presenting a world that feels genuinely original. Dawn of Defiance is one of those rare books.
The premise alone is extraordinary: humanity finally breaks through the barrier of death, gains access to the afterlife, and discovers that God is missing. From that moment, the novel expands into an epic exploration of faith, identity, grief, power, and what remains of humanity when existence's greatest mystery is no longer a mystery at all.
What impressed me most was the sheer ambition of the world-building. The Manus Dei System is far more than an inventive science-fiction concept. It fundamentally transforms civilization. Politics, religion, warfare, culture, and personal relationships all evolve in believable ways within a society where consciousness survives death. The setting is vast, immersive, and meticulously crafted, yet it never feels like world-building for its own sake. Every detail serves the story.
The characters are equally compelling. Daniel, Lazarus, and Ivan each offer distinct perspectives, and their journeys intersect in ways that continually enrich both the narrative and its themes. Lazarus's search for his daughter is especially affecting, providing an emotional anchor that grounds the novel's larger philosophical questions.
What truly sets Dawn of Defiance apart, however, is its willingness to engage with difficult ideas. Rather than providing easy answers, the novel invites readers to wrestle with questions of mortality, belief, consciousness, and the consequences of transcending human limitations. It is intellectually ambitious without ever sacrificing narrative momentum.
That said, prospective readers should know what they're getting into. The tone is relentlessly dark, fitting comfortably within the grimdark tradition. The novel is also dense, packed with terminology, philosophical concepts, and layered ideas that demand attention and patience from the reader.
Even so, the rewards are substantial. Ambitious, imaginative, emotionally resonant, and unforgettable, Dawn of Defiance delivers the sense of wonder that great science fiction promises while asking profound questions about what it means to be human. Readers who enjoy philosophical science fiction, grimdark space opera, and expansive world-building paired with existential themes will find much to admire here.
Overall, Dawn of Defiance is a bold and thought-provoking space opera that combines breathtaking world-building, memorable characters, and ideas worthy of the genre's finest traditions.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley, Voidscape Press, and Charles Haugen for the ARC copy of this book! I appreciate the opportunity endlessly ♥
That being said, my review is my absolute honest opinion regardless of it being an ARC given to me.
This book is perfect for:
Lovers of politics in Fantasy/Sci Fi settings, never knowing who's the good guys in the story, relationships are complicated, and death is not the worst thing that can happen to a person.
My thoughts:
This book is not beginner-friendly for someone new to science fiction, but that does not take away from how good it is.
I’ll start with the positive: my favorite part was the relationships between the characters. There are three major groups fighting one another, alongside other groups that are treated as collateral damage. We get a kind of representative from each one, giving us an inside look at their values, how they interact with the other groups, and how the past shapes everything that happens in the present.
This creates a wide web of complicated and unique relationships, fascinating characters who feel human rather than like words on a page, and a rich, fully developed world. Even when I imagined the different planets mentioned throughout the book, they seemed to take on the “personality” of the faction controlling them, which made each one feel completely distinct.
I fell in love with so many of the characters and felt genuinely anxious whenever they were in danger. That was the best part of the reading experience: how completely the story pulls you in.
The entire concept of the Manus Dei machine is incredibly fascinating, especially because we know so little about what happens inside it or what it might mean for humanity. One character is irreversibly changed after entering the Manus Dei, and through his experience, we are left with so many questions about what the machine actually does, how it affects the world, and what it could mean for the future of humanity and the war that will continue in the next books.
That aspect alone makes me want to read the second book immediately!
The part I liked less was the repeated use of something I find very difficult to read in books: women being raped as a way to hurt the men who love them. This sometimes appears in older fantasy and science-fiction novels, but the repetition of it here affected my reading experience to some extent.
I hope this is not something that continues in the next books and that, instead, we get to focus on the continuation of the fascinating story unfolding around it.
That being said, my review is my absolute honest opinion regardless of it being an ARC given to me.
This book is perfect for:
Lovers of politics in Fantasy/Sci Fi settings, never knowing who's the good guys in the story, relationships are complicated, and death is not the worst thing that can happen to a person.
My thoughts:
This book is not beginner-friendly for someone new to science fiction, but that does not take away from how good it is.
I’ll start with the positive: my favorite part was the relationships between the characters. There are three major groups fighting one another, alongside other groups that are treated as collateral damage. We get a kind of representative from each one, giving us an inside look at their values, how they interact with the other groups, and how the past shapes everything that happens in the present.
This creates a wide web of complicated and unique relationships, fascinating characters who feel human rather than like words on a page, and a rich, fully developed world. Even when I imagined the different planets mentioned throughout the book, they seemed to take on the “personality” of the faction controlling them, which made each one feel completely distinct.
I fell in love with so many of the characters and felt genuinely anxious whenever they were in danger. That was the best part of the reading experience: how completely the story pulls you in.
The entire concept of the Manus Dei machine is incredibly fascinating, especially because we know so little about what happens inside it or what it might mean for humanity. One character is irreversibly changed after entering the Manus Dei, and through his experience, we are left with so many questions about what the machine actually does, how it affects the world, and what it could mean for the future of humanity and the war that will continue in the next books.
That aspect alone makes me want to read the second book immediately!
The part I liked less was the repeated use of something I find very difficult to read in books: women being raped as a way to hurt the men who love them. This sometimes appears in older fantasy and science-fiction novels, but the repetition of it here affected my reading experience to some extent.
I hope this is not something that continues in the next books and that, instead, we get to focus on the continuation of the fascinating story unfolding around it.
July 6, 2026
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Charles Haugen delivers a really strong opening salvo with Dawn of Defiance, kicking off the Manus Dei Chronicles with an impressive sense of scale and a lot of heart. If you are a fan of epic stories that blend deep, immersive world-building with intense political intrigue and a touch of the mythic, this one is going to hit the sweet spot for you. It drops you right into a world on the brink of major upheaval, where ancient orders and modern rebellion collide in a really compelling way.
What really elevates this to a four-star read is how well Haugen handles the lore without making it feel like a history textbook. The concept of the Manus Dei and the complex societal structures surrounding it feel incredibly well-thought-out, and the stakes are clear right from the get-go. The characters are equally sharp. The central protagonist has a heavy burden to carry, and watching their evolution from a reluctant player into a genuine symbol of defiance feels completely earned. The dialogue is snappy, and the action sequences are written with a cinematic flair that makes it very easy to picture everything unfolding in your mind.
The only reason I am knocking off that fifth star is that the book has a massive amount of ground to cover as a series opener, which means the pacing can be a little uneven in the first half. There is a lot of setup required to introduce the various factions, rivalries, and historical backstories, so it takes a few chapters for the main plot engine to really start firing on all cylinders. A few of the secondary plotlines also feel like they are cut off a bit abruptly, clearly being saved as setup for the next installment rather than finding a satisfying micro-resolution here.
But honestly, those are minor gripes for a series debut that accomplishes this much world-building while keeping the reader entertained. By the time you reach the explosive final chapters, the momentum is entirely unstoppable, and it leaves you genuinely eager to see where the saga goes next. It is an ambitious, highly engaging ride that speculative fiction fans will thoroughly enjoy.
Charles Haugen delivers a really strong opening salvo with Dawn of Defiance, kicking off the Manus Dei Chronicles with an impressive sense of scale and a lot of heart. If you are a fan of epic stories that blend deep, immersive world-building with intense political intrigue and a touch of the mythic, this one is going to hit the sweet spot for you. It drops you right into a world on the brink of major upheaval, where ancient orders and modern rebellion collide in a really compelling way.
What really elevates this to a four-star read is how well Haugen handles the lore without making it feel like a history textbook. The concept of the Manus Dei and the complex societal structures surrounding it feel incredibly well-thought-out, and the stakes are clear right from the get-go. The characters are equally sharp. The central protagonist has a heavy burden to carry, and watching their evolution from a reluctant player into a genuine symbol of defiance feels completely earned. The dialogue is snappy, and the action sequences are written with a cinematic flair that makes it very easy to picture everything unfolding in your mind.
The only reason I am knocking off that fifth star is that the book has a massive amount of ground to cover as a series opener, which means the pacing can be a little uneven in the first half. There is a lot of setup required to introduce the various factions, rivalries, and historical backstories, so it takes a few chapters for the main plot engine to really start firing on all cylinders. A few of the secondary plotlines also feel like they are cut off a bit abruptly, clearly being saved as setup for the next installment rather than finding a satisfying micro-resolution here.
But honestly, those are minor gripes for a series debut that accomplishes this much world-building while keeping the reader entertained. By the time you reach the explosive final chapters, the momentum is entirely unstoppable, and it leaves you genuinely eager to see where the saga goes next. It is an ambitious, highly engaging ride that speculative fiction fans will thoroughly enjoy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
‘Dawn of Defiance’ is the first edition of a series set in a world where, even after death, your consciousness remains intact.
I would say, if you are new to the sci-fi genre, this may be quite the challenge to read. It is a lengthy story with a lot of jargon that can take a bit of time to fully get into. But that’s not to say it’s not enjoyable!
I thoroughly enjoyed the immersive world building created by the author. There are strong topics of politics and war and the impacts these have on things such as personal relationships between the characters. The ending felt satisfying and I mostly enjoyed reading Lazarus and his story throughout the book, I felt as though he was the most well fleshed out character!
One thing that has caused me to lower my rating is the repeated mentions of women being raped as a means to upset the men who have some form of attachment to said women. I do feel that while it has a part to the plot in *some* aspects, it didn’t need to be mentioned as much as it was in my personal opinion and it did take away a bit of the enjoyment of my reading experience. I would say to proceed with caution if repeated mentions of rape / SA are a sensitive topic to you as it is mentioned periodically up until about the 75% mark.
The writing style is also very lengthy wording which made me need to re-read paragraphs to get a better grasp of what was happening, but this could just be my own personal issue:)
I would recommend this is you are already somewhat familiar with reading sci-fi, as it may feel intimidating for someone who is new to the genre, but that’s not to say you *can’t* read it as a sci-fi newbie (just to proceed with a lot of patience and caution!)
Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-arc in exchange for my honest opinions <3
I would say, if you are new to the sci-fi genre, this may be quite the challenge to read. It is a lengthy story with a lot of jargon that can take a bit of time to fully get into. But that’s not to say it’s not enjoyable!
I thoroughly enjoyed the immersive world building created by the author. There are strong topics of politics and war and the impacts these have on things such as personal relationships between the characters. The ending felt satisfying and I mostly enjoyed reading Lazarus and his story throughout the book, I felt as though he was the most well fleshed out character!
One thing that has caused me to lower my rating is the repeated mentions of women being raped as a means to upset the men who have some form of attachment to said women. I do feel that while it has a part to the plot in *some* aspects, it didn’t need to be mentioned as much as it was in my personal opinion and it did take away a bit of the enjoyment of my reading experience. I would say to proceed with caution if repeated mentions of rape / SA are a sensitive topic to you as it is mentioned periodically up until about the 75% mark.
The writing style is also very lengthy wording which made me need to re-read paragraphs to get a better grasp of what was happening, but this could just be my own personal issue:)
I would recommend this is you are already somewhat familiar with reading sci-fi, as it may feel intimidating for someone who is new to the genre, but that’s not to say you *can’t* read it as a sci-fi newbie (just to proceed with a lot of patience and caution!)
Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-arc in exchange for my honest opinions <3
July 7, 2026
A really satisfying science fiction book with a strong story line and interesting characters.
I liked the premise of the book and how the narrative is organised around today’s issues facing mankind. The story takes place millennia after the earth has become inhabitable due to the use of nuclear weapons.For humanity to be able to rebuild, they were forced to colonise other planets to ensure their survival as a specie. A new world order ensued composed of three groups: the UHF (the Universal Humanities Federation) who believe in the deity (God in other words) and want to convert the rest of the universe to their way of life, the Pariahs who are fighting against the UHF and want to free humanity from the deity, and the Pures who want to transcend human existence through the use of technology. Effectively Pures are largely machines whose human consciousness can be uploaded at will in a variety of bodies.
The book is organised around the key characters of the story, each one of them with near super-natural powers either through augmentation or through the use of a powerful armour.
I found the story to be really immersive but also accessible. While you get the usual world building associated with science fiction novels, it does not take over the narrative and in fact serves to reinforce it. The characters are fully developed and their back story intriguing. The concepts of human augmentation and immortality of the mind through technology are brought to life in a compelling way and the book gives us a glimpse of what the future of humanity could look like in the far future.
This is the first book in what is to become a series of 6 books however the book feels complete and sets the scene nicely for the next chapter.
Many thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for the advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5/5 stars
Dawn of Defiance is a cosmic horror, grimdark, space opera with one of the more unique premises I've encountered in the genre.
A century before the events of the book, humanity develops a machine called the Manus Dei, a device that allows us to pierce the veil of death, access the afterlife, and safely return. But instead of being greeted by a welcoming god, the deity turns out to be something beyond our comprehension, and it vanishes.
By the time the story begins, a space-faring humanity has fractured into multiple factions, each with their own interpretation of what the deity is and what it means for us. Some want to worship it. Some want to fight it. Some have decided the problem goes away entirely if death is simply no longer an option, pushing toward augmented immortality.
And then the deity returns.
Despite the enormous scope, warring factions, multiple worlds, cosmic horror theology, the story is told through multiple intimate character POVs and the pacing is refreshing for the genre. There's no world-building for its own sake. Haugen shows you how things work rather than explaining them, and the result is a story that always feels like it's moving.
A personal note worth including: I have aphantasia, meaning I can't visualise things in my head, so fantastical books live and die for me on how effectively they communicate visual information through prose. I've been lukewarm on otherwise strong books that fall short here. Dawn of Defiance handles it exceptionally well, the events of this book are genuinely wild, but I was never lost in a conflict, always clear on what was happening, who was involved, and what was at stake.
I will consume any novel or short story in the universe any day of the week
Dawn of Defiance is a cosmic horror, grimdark, space opera with one of the more unique premises I've encountered in the genre.
A century before the events of the book, humanity develops a machine called the Manus Dei, a device that allows us to pierce the veil of death, access the afterlife, and safely return. But instead of being greeted by a welcoming god, the deity turns out to be something beyond our comprehension, and it vanishes.
By the time the story begins, a space-faring humanity has fractured into multiple factions, each with their own interpretation of what the deity is and what it means for us. Some want to worship it. Some want to fight it. Some have decided the problem goes away entirely if death is simply no longer an option, pushing toward augmented immortality.
And then the deity returns.
Despite the enormous scope, warring factions, multiple worlds, cosmic horror theology, the story is told through multiple intimate character POVs and the pacing is refreshing for the genre. There's no world-building for its own sake. Haugen shows you how things work rather than explaining them, and the result is a story that always feels like it's moving.
A personal note worth including: I have aphantasia, meaning I can't visualise things in my head, so fantastical books live and die for me on how effectively they communicate visual information through prose. I've been lukewarm on otherwise strong books that fall short here. Dawn of Defiance handles it exceptionally well, the events of this book are genuinely wild, but I was never lost in a conflict, always clear on what was happening, who was involved, and what was at stake.
I will consume any novel or short story in the universe any day of the week
July 2, 2026
This is an ARC review! Thank you Voidscape and NetGalley!
God, the Deity, has been discovered. The Universal Humanities Federation seeks to control mankind and enforce the ideals of the Deity. The Pariahs, once small in numbers that broke away from the Pure group, seek to exterminate mankind’s creator and liberate mankind to live with free will. The Pure group the Pariahs were once part of, are bent on fusing mankind with cybernetics and augmentation, seeking to “transcend” humanity and loophole their way into free will, evading the wishes of the Deity by becoming something outside the Deity’s creation. “All but one of these followings is founded on the idea of freedom … and mankind’s voice is rising.” You had me at the premise. Get in the car, we’re going to fight god.
Did a Harkonnen write this? It is GRAPHIC. People get squidgy about eye gore (included), or electrocution (included) but I get squidgy about disembowelment (included). This does not shy away from a huge stage and ambitious scope, I love a space grim dark that centers its focus on theology. A natural fit for Dune fans. This is not, however, for the sci fi newbs, having eight (?) POVs did understandably clip the tempo of the main storyline. The formatting feels reminiscent of A Song of Ice and Fire, and while I love that, I’m not sure it’s a perfect tempo fit for a space opera. I did also find this does not necessarily pass the female character in sci fi litmus test, and female characters felt very flat and two dimensional. One of them evil laughs at one point and I found some of it a little too on the nose. That said, I really do love the premise, and I will be reading the next!
If you read Red Rising, this is right up your alley!
God, the Deity, has been discovered. The Universal Humanities Federation seeks to control mankind and enforce the ideals of the Deity. The Pariahs, once small in numbers that broke away from the Pure group, seek to exterminate mankind’s creator and liberate mankind to live with free will. The Pure group the Pariahs were once part of, are bent on fusing mankind with cybernetics and augmentation, seeking to “transcend” humanity and loophole their way into free will, evading the wishes of the Deity by becoming something outside the Deity’s creation. “All but one of these followings is founded on the idea of freedom … and mankind’s voice is rising.” You had me at the premise. Get in the car, we’re going to fight god.
Did a Harkonnen write this? It is GRAPHIC. People get squidgy about eye gore (included), or electrocution (included) but I get squidgy about disembowelment (included). This does not shy away from a huge stage and ambitious scope, I love a space grim dark that centers its focus on theology. A natural fit for Dune fans. This is not, however, for the sci fi newbs, having eight (?) POVs did understandably clip the tempo of the main storyline. The formatting feels reminiscent of A Song of Ice and Fire, and while I love that, I’m not sure it’s a perfect tempo fit for a space opera. I did also find this does not necessarily pass the female character in sci fi litmus test, and female characters felt very flat and two dimensional. One of them evil laughs at one point and I found some of it a little too on the nose. That said, I really do love the premise, and I will be reading the next!
If you read Red Rising, this is right up your alley!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Let me start by saying I didn’t expect this book to hook me the way it did. I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of Dawn of Defiance, and the concept of humanity accessing the afterlife through a device called the Manus Dei System was way too interesting to put down.
Sci-fi lives or dies on world-building, and there’s no question this book delivers there. The scope of the universe is massive and incredibly well thought out. (I read somewhere that the author has been building this world for around a decade or so, and honestly, it shows.) The stakes feel huge, and so do the ideas, with multiple factions pursuing the Manus Dei System for completely different reasons and agendas.
That said, what I liked most were the characters. They all feel layered and fully developed, with motivations that actually make sense. I especially liked Daniel and Lazarus. You can feel Daniel’s hatred of the UHF and how far he’s willing to go to accomplish his goals. Lazarus is just as intense, but his search for his missing daughter ended up being the emotional core of the book for me. There are so many other great characters in this one, but you'll have to read it for yourself to see.
This is one of those stories where the scale keeps getting bigger, but it never loses the human side of the story. I flew through it.
Easy 5 stars for me.
Sci-fi lives or dies on world-building, and there’s no question this book delivers there. The scope of the universe is massive and incredibly well thought out. (I read somewhere that the author has been building this world for around a decade or so, and honestly, it shows.) The stakes feel huge, and so do the ideas, with multiple factions pursuing the Manus Dei System for completely different reasons and agendas.
That said, what I liked most were the characters. They all feel layered and fully developed, with motivations that actually make sense. I especially liked Daniel and Lazarus. You can feel Daniel’s hatred of the UHF and how far he’s willing to go to accomplish his goals. Lazarus is just as intense, but his search for his missing daughter ended up being the emotional core of the book for me. There are so many other great characters in this one, but you'll have to read it for yourself to see.
This is one of those stories where the scale keeps getting bigger, but it never loses the human side of the story. I flew through it.
Easy 5 stars for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First things first, credit where it's due: I could read this through NetGalley with the approval of Voidscape Press. I think I have to review it but I always review what I read so it doesn’t change much.
I'm quite conflicted. The start was quite weak on he character side but the atmosphere and setting really came through so I went on. I could feel the mystique early on which hooked me.
Sadly it's quite heavy to read in the sense that the prose sometimes feels overengineered but not taking into account the musicality of the words. The problem is not the "brutish" style but has more to do with it's length wearying down my mind.
Which is the characteristic of some characters but not of others.
To be clear it's mostly related to Daniel's storyline, Valyrie's though didn't have that problem, same with Lazarus I'd say.
There are a lot of aspects of the story and setting that will appeal to fans of Warhammer 40k, I'd say.
The scales, the battles, the religious tone. All of that condensed around individuals of different "power scalings" but all with a story to tell and a part to play in the great scheme of things.
I'm quite conflicted. The start was quite weak on he character side but the atmosphere and setting really came through so I went on. I could feel the mystique early on which hooked me.
Sadly it's quite heavy to read in the sense that the prose sometimes feels overengineered but not taking into account the musicality of the words. The problem is not the "brutish" style but has more to do with it's length wearying down my mind.
Which is the characteristic of some characters but not of others.
To be clear it's mostly related to Daniel's storyline, Valyrie's though didn't have that problem, same with Lazarus I'd say.
There are a lot of aspects of the story and setting that will appeal to fans of Warhammer 40k, I'd say.
The scales, the battles, the religious tone. All of that condensed around individuals of different "power scalings" but all with a story to tell and a part to play in the great scheme of things.
July 2, 2026
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Dawn of Defiance by Charles Haugen
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Dystopian Fantasy
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: July 1, 2026
🌌 Sci-Fi Horror
⚙️ Cybernetic Augmentation
👁 Religious Schism
🛡 Faction War
This book features the classic conflict of following a deity versus following oneself —though in this case, the deity has been missing for many years. We have a faction loyal to the deity, alongside two groups who augment their bodies but clash over some very key moral arguments, like using child soldiers.
We follow multiple characters as a brutal war rages between the UHF, Pures, and Pariahs, and getting so many different POVs makes it impossible not to be fully enthralled. I especially loved reading from Lazarus's and Ivan's perspectives! The characters are incredibly complex, and the world-building is deeply immersive, featuring unique technology and diverse planets.
If you love sci-fi or horror, you absolutely must check this one out. I can't wait for book 2!
Thank you so much VoidScape Press and NetGalley for the digital review copy!
⚠️ gore, war violence, domestic abuse, mentions of SA
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Dystopian Fantasy
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: July 1, 2026
🌌 Sci-Fi Horror
⚙️ Cybernetic Augmentation
👁 Religious Schism
🛡 Faction War
This book features the classic conflict of following a deity versus following oneself —though in this case, the deity has been missing for many years. We have a faction loyal to the deity, alongside two groups who augment their bodies but clash over some very key moral arguments, like using child soldiers.
We follow multiple characters as a brutal war rages between the UHF, Pures, and Pariahs, and getting so many different POVs makes it impossible not to be fully enthralled. I especially loved reading from Lazarus's and Ivan's perspectives! The characters are incredibly complex, and the world-building is deeply immersive, featuring unique technology and diverse planets.
If you love sci-fi or horror, you absolutely must check this one out. I can't wait for book 2!
Thank you so much VoidScape Press and NetGalley for the digital review copy!
⚠️ gore, war violence, domestic abuse, mentions of SA
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was absolutely fantastic. It's high sci-fi-- lots of tech, lots of complicated vocab, lots of crazy. I haven't enjoyed a scifi book in a very long time and this one hooked me just from the prologue! While I did think the prologue was a bit long, it was so action-packed and dramatic I couldn't stop reading. I love when authors don't waste time with too much exposition. I want to be dropped in the middle of the warzone and have to figure my way out myself, and that's exactly what this book delivered!
There are multiple POV characters throughout the book, which helps the story span across the large established world. Each character has their own backstory and desires and I loved getting to have those moments where we got to look into their motivations. I LOVE when people play with religion, and this story, of three factions fighting for what they believe humanity should become, is right there in that category.
This is definitely a must read!
There are multiple POV characters throughout the book, which helps the story span across the large established world. Each character has their own backstory and desires and I loved getting to have those moments where we got to look into their motivations. I LOVE when people play with religion, and this story, of three factions fighting for what they believe humanity should become, is right there in that category.
This is definitely a must read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I've made a promise to myself to read more sci-fi. It's the genre I read the least, and I want that to change. This book was fresh and fun; it was immersive and action-y. The beginning felt a bit weak and slow with the character, but it did pick up, and once it did, you were off. I couldn't put it down. I wanted, no, I needed to know what happened next. Sometimes I felt I had to read some parts again to really gather what was happening. This isn't a writing thing or story thing; this is just my brain not being used to reading sci-fi, and for those who aren't, the book may be difficult to get through. It was easy to follow the characters, and never once did you get confused or bored; the pacing was good. I would recommend this book to die-hard sci-fi fans. I may recommend it to newbies, with the disclaimer to take their time.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book started of strong and never let up. We follow a lot of characters but eventhough things keep happening it never gets confusing. And every single one of them plots and plans for their own gain or sometimes their very survival. I love to read their motives and they keep being very human, eventhough some are more human than others. The worldbuilding is amazing as well. The universe feels so big and I could almost find myself there with these characters.. Which I definitely do not want to.. Way to dangerous. So if your looking for a fastpaced, actionpacked and fresh scifi book, please give this one a try!
Thank you for providing me with an early copy to the author and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Thank you for providing me with an early copy to the author and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Dawn of Defiance
By Charles Haugen
Pub Date: July 01 2026
This was a fantastic read. A ruthless grimdark sci-fi novel. Character development and world building are top notch. The pacing is fast and never lets up. This book is very impressive for a debut novel. I
I guess I will be waiting patiently for book two.
Thank you to NetGalley and Voidscape Press for the opportunity to read this book early in return for my honest review.
By Charles Haugen
Pub Date: July 01 2026
This was a fantastic read. A ruthless grimdark sci-fi novel. Character development and world building are top notch. The pacing is fast and never lets up. This book is very impressive for a debut novel. I
I guess I will be waiting patiently for book two.
Thank you to NetGalley and Voidscape Press for the opportunity to read this book early in return for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I admittedly struggled to get into the story, but the premise is very interesting. I felt that some of the character names were a little "on the nose," but nothing too distracting. One of the major concepts reminds me of Event Horizon, which was pretty cool. Just overall, I couldn't connect with the characters.
Review of advance copy
As someone who loves cosmic horror and dead space this book was just what i was looking for, and i will be re reading in the near future!
Read
June 19, 2026Dawn of Defiance by Charles Haugen is a strong, immersive sci-fi adventure that delivers exactly what fans of the genre crave: high-stakes action, intriguing world-building, and a protagonist you can root for.The story moves at a brisk pace from the very first pages, throwing readers into a richly imagined universe filled with tension, moral complexity, and plenty of pulse-pounding sequences. Haugen has a real talent for crafting intense, cinematic scenes that play vividly in the mind. The writing is sharp and accessible without sacrificing depth, making this an easy book to get lost in for long reading sessions.What I appreciated most was the balance between relentless forward momentum and quieter character moments that let you connect with the cast. The central conflicts feel personal and consequential, and the supporting characters add layers of loyalty, betrayal, and unexpected alliances that keep things interesting.While the book excels in its action and atmosphere, a few threads felt slightly underdeveloped by the end, leaving me wanting just a touch more exploration in certain areas. That said, this is clearly the launch of something bigger, and it does an excellent job setting the stage for what’s to come.Overall, Dawn of Defiance is a solid and entertaining debut (or series starter) that kept me engaged and eager to see where the story goes next. Perfect for readers who enjoy epic sci-fi with heart, grit, and defiance in the face of overwhelming odds. I’ll definitely be picking up the next installment.
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