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Spirit of Empire #4
Sky Knights
Sky Knights, the fourth book of the Spirit of Empire series, departs from the main story line to deal with Sir Galborae’s return to Tranxte. Gleasons are the most feared and lethal creatures in the galaxy. Eight feet tall and invisible, they mind link with others of their kind, so what one gleason knows, they all know. Rebels hired gleasons for a special mission against the Empire. Their payment to the gleasons for helping a new hunting ground, an emerging world called Tranxte. A world of castles and knights armed with swords and arrows, Tranxte is essentially helpless against these vicious creatures. Lady Krys, an Empire Knight, discovered the grim situation on Tranxte and rescued a near-dead knight, Sir Galborae. She nursed him back to health and delivered him to Empire authorities with the promise that he would one day lead a great army back to Tranxte to save his people. Sky Knights is his story.
- GenresScience Fiction
545 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 20, 2015
52 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 22, 2015
Well, it was indeed a long time since I read the first books in this series. Okay, okay, “long” is perhaps a relative term but when I looked up the date when I read the first book, Last of The Chosen, I found that it was 2011. That was the year when I joined Goodreads and the year when my interest in reading books was rekindled. I remember thinking these books were just great and I was quite sorry when the series ended or at least no more books came out. Needless to say I was quite eager to dig into this book when I found out it was a new book in the Spirit of Empire Series.
I did indeed enjoy this book. However, at the same time it was, well, not exactly what I expected and perhaps a reminder of how we humans change with time and, unfortunately, how we grow older, get more experienced and with more experience, again unfortunately, it becomes more difficult to get those easy fixes of enjoyment. Okay, okay I am digressing a bit here.
Anyway, what I am trying to say is that I am sure that 4 years ago I would probably have rated this book a full set of stars. Today I give it a solid above average but I also put it solidly in the “young adult” category. It is a good book, fairly well written, with a lot of adventure. The author states that it is not necessary to have read the previous book in the series before reading this and I would say that he is essentially correct but I also have to say that it would indeed be an advantage if the reader had actually read the previous books to get a better understanding of the whole picture and some parts of the story.
It is a nice story indeed which weaves together two worlds, one “emerging” world and the empire. I like stories where people, generally some unsuspecting human, discovers that there is more to their world than the end of the visible horizon. This time we are talking, not about the humans with a reasonable grasp of science, but of a medieval world far far from Earth. Having said that, the destiny of Earth, the Empire and this medieval world are nicely woven together in this enjoyable adventure story.
If you are hoping for a high tech story with star ships slugging it out then you are likely to not be so entertained by this book. If you are into pure adventure, a interesting mixture of old and new, the struggles of an “old” world having to adapt to a new reality, lots of emotions and a fair bit of romance, all written in a fairly simple young adult style, well then this book will probably entertain you…a lot
I keep coming back to the fact that, in my opinion, the book is of the “young adult” category. The book is somewhat simplistic in a fair amount of things. People are “reasoned” into abandoning centuries of tradition, not to mention accepting science thousands of years ahead of them, in a very simplistic way. Sometimes it happens over the course of a few pages. The tactics, the science and the general ways things are done are pretty loosely founded in any actual logic or science. A lot of these actions and the justifications of the actions are more founded more in emotions and hunches than anything else.
Now do not get me wrong. This book is nothing like the works of, for instance, Saxon Andrew, where people are “shown the light” with a few firework displays from a few (millions) distinctly coloured ships with near magical capabilities. This book is a lot more intelligent and have a lot more depth than that.
During the first third of the book I was actually getting a bit disappointed since I felt that it was rushing over a lot of the opportunities of delving into the medieval illiterate meets far future space traveling aliens. I felt that things just went too quickly between first encounter and acceptance of the new reality. During the second third of the book I got more at ease with the style of the book though and regardless of my reservations this book is really a good adventure story with plenty of heroes and damsels in distress.
The last third of the book is quite a change of pace compared to the first two thirds. Well, the word “pace” is perhaps not the right choice since the pace or speed is fairly well kept up throughout the book but in the last third of the book the story ties more and more together with the previous three books and here it takes on more of a sci-fi nature in that we move temporarily away from the previously mentioned medieval world to a world of true sci-fi horrors. That is not to say that we leave Tranxte. Far from it. Everything in the story, whether it is on Tranxte or not, leads back to Tranxte eventually. If not right away, so in the future.
On the whole the story is reasonably original and fairly well executed. It ties quite well into the rest of the series without actually being an instalment directly in the story arc of the previous books. The end do indeed bring the actual story of the book to a conclusion although it also leaves the door, perhaps not wide open but still open, for a continuation. The author also claims that there is a fifth book on the way and that this one would be the end of the series. Personally I am looking forward to that book. Especially since [warning, mild spoiler ahead] the author moved time a few hundred years ahead in the last few pages of this book.
I did indeed enjoy this book. However, at the same time it was, well, not exactly what I expected and perhaps a reminder of how we humans change with time and, unfortunately, how we grow older, get more experienced and with more experience, again unfortunately, it becomes more difficult to get those easy fixes of enjoyment. Okay, okay I am digressing a bit here.
Anyway, what I am trying to say is that I am sure that 4 years ago I would probably have rated this book a full set of stars. Today I give it a solid above average but I also put it solidly in the “young adult” category. It is a good book, fairly well written, with a lot of adventure. The author states that it is not necessary to have read the previous book in the series before reading this and I would say that he is essentially correct but I also have to say that it would indeed be an advantage if the reader had actually read the previous books to get a better understanding of the whole picture and some parts of the story.
It is a nice story indeed which weaves together two worlds, one “emerging” world and the empire. I like stories where people, generally some unsuspecting human, discovers that there is more to their world than the end of the visible horizon. This time we are talking, not about the humans with a reasonable grasp of science, but of a medieval world far far from Earth. Having said that, the destiny of Earth, the Empire and this medieval world are nicely woven together in this enjoyable adventure story.
If you are hoping for a high tech story with star ships slugging it out then you are likely to not be so entertained by this book. If you are into pure adventure, a interesting mixture of old and new, the struggles of an “old” world having to adapt to a new reality, lots of emotions and a fair bit of romance, all written in a fairly simple young adult style, well then this book will probably entertain you…a lot
I keep coming back to the fact that, in my opinion, the book is of the “young adult” category. The book is somewhat simplistic in a fair amount of things. People are “reasoned” into abandoning centuries of tradition, not to mention accepting science thousands of years ahead of them, in a very simplistic way. Sometimes it happens over the course of a few pages. The tactics, the science and the general ways things are done are pretty loosely founded in any actual logic or science. A lot of these actions and the justifications of the actions are more founded more in emotions and hunches than anything else.
Now do not get me wrong. This book is nothing like the works of, for instance, Saxon Andrew, where people are “shown the light” with a few firework displays from a few (millions) distinctly coloured ships with near magical capabilities. This book is a lot more intelligent and have a lot more depth than that.
During the first third of the book I was actually getting a bit disappointed since I felt that it was rushing over a lot of the opportunities of delving into the medieval illiterate meets far future space traveling aliens. I felt that things just went too quickly between first encounter and acceptance of the new reality. During the second third of the book I got more at ease with the style of the book though and regardless of my reservations this book is really a good adventure story with plenty of heroes and damsels in distress.
The last third of the book is quite a change of pace compared to the first two thirds. Well, the word “pace” is perhaps not the right choice since the pace or speed is fairly well kept up throughout the book but in the last third of the book the story ties more and more together with the previous three books and here it takes on more of a sci-fi nature in that we move temporarily away from the previously mentioned medieval world to a world of true sci-fi horrors. That is not to say that we leave Tranxte. Far from it. Everything in the story, whether it is on Tranxte or not, leads back to Tranxte eventually. If not right away, so in the future.
On the whole the story is reasonably original and fairly well executed. It ties quite well into the rest of the series without actually being an instalment directly in the story arc of the previous books. The end do indeed bring the actual story of the book to a conclusion although it also leaves the door, perhaps not wide open but still open, for a continuation. The author also claims that there is a fifth book on the way and that this one would be the end of the series. Personally I am looking forward to that book. Especially since [warning, mild spoiler ahead] the author moved time a few hundred years ahead in the last few pages of this book.
June 24, 2020
think I'm going to have to rate this series as a whole. It's like one majestic book. It has its ups and a few downs, but mostly ups. I love and relate to the characters. I feel emotion as I'm reading many parts of the series. Sky Knights was an excellent book all the way through. I'm not going to give you spoilers. Suffice it to say that it is a good read. You will care about the characters. I love that the worst of the bad guys are not entirely evil. I love that Lawrence rarely takes a cheap or easy way out of a jam. There are many complex problems to be solved and I think the author offers us genius in his working through various quandaries. I believe I have come to know Mr. White in a way because his key protagonists display deep humanity that gives us hope. White comes off without knowing it, I'm sure as a deeply wise and generous soul who truly cares about the Humanity of his characters be they humans or bugs or dragons.
May 22, 2020
Disclaimer: I know the author.
Pretty decent read, though not quite as good as the first three in the series. Sky Knights shoots off in a different direction than the other three, but brings in several of the main characters. Larry also introduces new characters, and we get to see some of the side stories to this fun series.
There are some grammar issues, mostly with the word "its." Throughout the book it appears as it s. The space could be a crossover from the writing program to the Kindle format since I read the e-version and not the paperback this time. Still, not too bad that it pulls you from the story.
For my clean readers: mostly violence, minor romance.
Pretty decent read, though not quite as good as the first three in the series. Sky Knights shoots off in a different direction than the other three, but brings in several of the main characters. Larry also introduces new characters, and we get to see some of the side stories to this fun series.
There are some grammar issues, mostly with the word "its." Throughout the book it appears as it s. The space could be a crossover from the writing program to the Kindle format since I read the e-version and not the paperback this time. Still, not too bad that it pulls you from the story.
For my clean readers: mostly violence, minor romance.
June 10, 2019
Book #4 definitely ‘better’ than previous 3
This book made an effort to tie things together. In doing so, it also skipped over several important themes from the previous books, and took an entirely different direction by initially centering on just a single world — for THAT, I skipped the 5-star rating, and only allowed a ‘4’.
This book made an effort to tie things together. In doing so, it also skipped over several important themes from the previous books, and took an entirely different direction by initially centering on just a single world — for THAT, I skipped the 5-star rating, and only allowed a ‘4’.
June 30, 2019
An LPW. SYFY. Novel (SK. - SOEB - 4)
-LPW. has. penned the fourth novel of the Spirit of the Empire which has Tranxte under duress from the Gleasons. These creatures are eight feet tall and invisible. The Gleasons assume control Tranxte
But the Sky Knights threaten to return. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
-LPW. has. penned the fourth novel of the Spirit of the Empire which has Tranxte under duress from the Gleasons. These creatures are eight feet tall and invisible. The Gleasons assume control Tranxte
But the Sky Knights threaten to return. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
May 27, 2019
Action you feel part of
There is plenty of action, along with bits of wisdom of what makes civilization possible or maybe impossible, choices are posed within this saga.
A novel that has action suspense and teaches is very rare.
There is plenty of action, along with bits of wisdom of what makes civilization possible or maybe impossible, choices are posed within this saga.
A novel that has action suspense and teaches is very rare.
August 21, 2019
Not missing a beat.
At least for me this particular story is as good as or better than the others. I had a sense of bitter sweet as I finished the book.
At least for me this particular story is as good as or better than the others. I had a sense of bitter sweet as I finished the book.
August 30, 2019
4 stars. Pretty good, but it was a deviation from the main story line and, for me, not as engaging..
July 10, 2021
It made me cry, several times.
I read a lot, I have to. When a story makes me cry, it has touched me deeply.
I think it will touch you also.
I read a lot, I have to. When a story makes me cry, it has touched me deeply.
I think it will touch you also.
August 3, 2021
Mediocre. Was probably going to be a new spin off in the series but never happened. You could skip this book all together and not miss anything important.
July 24, 2015
Spirit of Empire series......
FUN!!! Excitement, combat, romance and FUN!!! These books are some of the best that I have read. I judge most books by their re-readability...over the course of time these books will be re-read repeatedly, at least by myself.
Starting with an ordinary night traveling across the desert in Nevada, to an immense interstellar empire....going from comfortable knowledge of your world and life and the people in it to the immensity of galactic space and the numerous races and beings inhabiting it is a transition that is difficult enough, but even more so when some of them are trying very hard to kill you. Both space and physical combat in plenty for everyone.
A great read, a lot of fun, and definitely 5 stars! ENJOY...........
FUN!!! Excitement, combat, romance and FUN!!! These books are some of the best that I have read. I judge most books by their re-readability...over the course of time these books will be re-read repeatedly, at least by myself.
Starting with an ordinary night traveling across the desert in Nevada, to an immense interstellar empire....going from comfortable knowledge of your world and life and the people in it to the immensity of galactic space and the numerous races and beings inhabiting it is a transition that is difficult enough, but even more so when some of them are trying very hard to kill you. Both space and physical combat in plenty for everyone.
A great read, a lot of fun, and definitely 5 stars! ENJOY...........
June 23, 2015
I hesitate to say this book was worth the wait, because I already dread having to wait for the next one to come out. This author truly is a master story teller, creating characters that the reader cannot help cheering for and crying for, action that leaves leaves knuckles white from gripping the book so tightly, and a great storyline that manages to tie together so many facets that it is difficult to put the book down. Here's hoping he has a long career.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews