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The Secret King #1
Lethao
Kendro, King of the Aonise, can do nothing to prevent their sun from collapsing, consuming their home planet Letháo in a single fiery blast. Running out of time and options, he evacuates the entire population, setting off into the unknown galaxy in four crowded ships. Under constant danger from their ancient enemy, the Zefron, treasonous dissent seeps into his inner circle. Threatened inside and out, Kendro struggles with whom to trust, until a mysterious vision finally brings hope to the distraught King. A new home awaits the Aonise, if Kendro can only unite them long enough to survive the journey.
307 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2015
9 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Dawn Chapman
60 books178 followersDawn Chapman has been creating sci-fi and fantasy stories for thirty years. In 2005, her life and attention turned to scripts, and she started work on The Secret King (TSK), a 13-episode science fiction television series, with great passion for this medium.
In 2010, Dawn returned to her first love of prose. She has been working with Coach EJ Runyon, who has encouraged her away from fast-paced script writing, to revel in the world of TSK and Letháo as an epic prose space journey.
This year, her experience of working with producers/directors from the United States and Australia has expanded. From drama and science fiction to action, Dawn has built a portfolio of writing, consulting, and publishing.
In 2010, Dawn returned to her first love of prose. She has been working with Coach EJ Runyon, who has encouraged her away from fast-paced script writing, to revel in the world of TSK and Letháo as an epic prose space journey.
This year, her experience of working with producers/directors from the United States and Australia has expanded. From drama and science fiction to action, Dawn has built a portfolio of writing, consulting, and publishing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
August 15, 2016
I got the audio book for free in exchange for an unbiased review.
When I read the synopsis, it sounded interesting, so I applied for a free copy. It's been quite some time now that I did, and still I haven't finished the book. First of all: it took me ages to get an inkling as to who is who and who does what. Not only are all the names completely unfamiliar, but sometimes, the characters go by names, other times by surnames, which makes it twice as difficult to remember them. I had to search through the book to find out. A list of characters would help greatly for this book.
And then, it didn't keep my initial interest. I can't say why that is, it is well written, and the narrator is excellent, but maybe there are just too many characters introduced at once, and too many things happen which I couldn't see the connection of, or guess where they would lead (which, as such, is a good thing, but here, I was overwhelmed).
The book is well written, the language flows smoothly, so the fact that I didn't get into the book is not due to style or topic.
I'll certainly try again at a later time, maybe it was just the wrong book at the wrong time for me.
When I read the synopsis, it sounded interesting, so I applied for a free copy. It's been quite some time now that I did, and still I haven't finished the book. First of all: it took me ages to get an inkling as to who is who and who does what. Not only are all the names completely unfamiliar, but sometimes, the characters go by names, other times by surnames, which makes it twice as difficult to remember them. I had to search through the book to find out. A list of characters would help greatly for this book.
And then, it didn't keep my initial interest. I can't say why that is, it is well written, and the narrator is excellent, but maybe there are just too many characters introduced at once, and too many things happen which I couldn't see the connection of, or guess where they would lead (which, as such, is a good thing, but here, I was overwhelmed).
The book is well written, the language flows smoothly, so the fact that I didn't get into the book is not due to style or topic.
I'll certainly try again at a later time, maybe it was just the wrong book at the wrong time for me.
September 15, 2017
Recap: Kendro, King of the Aonise is evacuating his home planet from a dying sun and an alien race bent on their destruction whilst knowing, through his vision, that not everyone will make it.
Review: At first I struggled with huge cast of characters who use both their first name and surname interchangeably and some of them have additional rank names - not confusing at all! Plus we are told very early on that not everyone is going to make it, so you might think that knowing that would affect the tension however each disaster is powerfully written with grit and emotion, making you hope that somehow things will work out. The main story arc gets confusing with the large cast of characters but the smaller story lines are easier to follow and many of them are clearly there to set up later books. We have a super child, secret seer, dastardly and possibly immortal brother & sister enemies, a forbidden love story and a deep division between the upper and lower classes of citizens in the spaceships. The excitement of the space battles, the unusual illness, and the inter character tensions all help move the plot speedily along, keeping you gripped until the cliffhanger of an ending.
Review: At first I struggled with huge cast of characters who use both their first name and surname interchangeably and some of them have additional rank names - not confusing at all! Plus we are told very early on that not everyone is going to make it, so you might think that knowing that would affect the tension however each disaster is powerfully written with grit and emotion, making you hope that somehow things will work out. The main story arc gets confusing with the large cast of characters but the smaller story lines are easier to follow and many of them are clearly there to set up later books. We have a super child, secret seer, dastardly and possibly immortal brother & sister enemies, a forbidden love story and a deep division between the upper and lower classes of citizens in the spaceships. The excitement of the space battles, the unusual illness, and the inter character tensions all help move the plot speedily along, keeping you gripped until the cliffhanger of an ending.
January 3, 2016
It took me a little time to get into this book - I was initially befuddled by the large number of characters and the details of their world - but I'm very glad I persisted, as it's definitely a good one. The story deposits you in the world of the Aonise, with their unique technology, abilities and language, and largely allows you to figure out how things work in this world without any info-dumping: fortunately, the different elements are not too difficult to grasp, though a glossary is provided at the end to make things easier. The story itself has many subplots, ranging from defence against hostile enemies, to different parties working for or against the throne, to a bit of romantic drama: these are all interwoven beautifully, and nothing feels out of place.
As I previously mentioned, there are a large number of characters, and it occasionally gets a bit confusing as some characters are referred to by their first names at some points and their last names at others. But the characters that the story focusses on, such as Kendro and Octav, are very easy to engage with, particularly as the narrative makes it clear how draining their work is as they strive to keep things going.
I did find that while the action and dialogue were handled well, there could have been more descriptive prose, particularly with regards to character appearances (though there is always plenty of focus on the Aonise birthmarks, which form an important part of their day-to-day existence). Overall, this is an excellent multi-faceted story that I would definitely recommend to fans of sci-fi, and I look forward to seeing where the rest of the series goes.
As I previously mentioned, there are a large number of characters, and it occasionally gets a bit confusing as some characters are referred to by their first names at some points and their last names at others. But the characters that the story focusses on, such as Kendro and Octav, are very easy to engage with, particularly as the narrative makes it clear how draining their work is as they strive to keep things going.
I did find that while the action and dialogue were handled well, there could have been more descriptive prose, particularly with regards to character appearances (though there is always plenty of focus on the Aonise birthmarks, which form an important part of their day-to-day existence). Overall, this is an excellent multi-faceted story that I would definitely recommend to fans of sci-fi, and I look forward to seeing where the rest of the series goes.
March 4, 2016
The Aonise's sun is dying, and they must evacuate or die. But their evaluation is complicated by the Zefron, another race that seems determined to see every last Aonise dead. Their king, Kedro, is their only hope, but even his power might not be enough in the face of such enormous obstacles!
I enjoyed this book, but it was slow to grow on me. It's odd for me to have to say that the beginning was slow because it starts out in the middle of a planet-wide evacuation due to a dying sun. It was a beginning that was predictive of the whole book, with a lot of non-stop action. But it took a while for me to be able to learn enough about the characters to care about all the troubles they were overcoming. It also has a cliff-hanger ending, which is one of my biggest pet-peeves when it comes to books However, once I got to know everyone, I found it to be an enjoyable addition to the sci-fi genre and I can almost forgive the ending. :-)
I enjoyed this book, but it was slow to grow on me. It's odd for me to have to say that the beginning was slow because it starts out in the middle of a planet-wide evacuation due to a dying sun. It was a beginning that was predictive of the whole book, with a lot of non-stop action. But it took a while for me to be able to learn enough about the characters to care about all the troubles they were overcoming. It also has a cliff-hanger ending, which is one of my biggest pet-peeves when it comes to books However, once I got to know everyone, I found it to be an enjoyable addition to the sci-fi genre and I can almost forgive the ending. :-)
September 25, 2016
Dawn Chapman has struck gold with this book. It takes the very best of sci fi, a worldwide evacuation in a small fleet due to invasion by an implacable foe, and adds the political elements and intrigues of a kingdom with multiple noble houses. Add to this a King who who is mentally connected with all his subjects, and you have sci fi of epic proportions. With enemies without and withing, the King of Lethao, Kendro, must see his people safely to a new world, all while surviving the plots to bring him down. With a fast paced plot, lots of action and some outstanding characters that you can really get into, this is a book for any sci fi fan looking for a new series.
Greg Trembley's narration is spot on, giving each character a voice all their own, and moving the story along at a consistent pace. I for one can't wait to see where the story goes in the next book.
I was given a copy of this book free of charge by the Author in exchange for an honest review through Audiobook Boom.
Greg Trembley's narration is spot on, giving each character a voice all their own, and moving the story along at a consistent pace. I for one can't wait to see where the story goes in the next book.
I was given a copy of this book free of charge by the Author in exchange for an honest review through Audiobook Boom.
January 5, 2018
It is very rare for me to rate science fiction this low, but this took the cake. I just didn't enjoy it that much.
When I was younger I loved shows where people had psychic powers and I absolutely loved the original Battlestar Galactica. This story had elements of both of these but they are mixed together which a huge amount of data dumped fake language/syntax, characters that are interchangeable and confusing, and a vague element of existential threat. As a result, it just dragged and, in the end, I forced myself to finish hoping it would get better.
I may have to watch a real space opera to get this dreck out of my head.
When I was younger I loved shows where people had psychic powers and I absolutely loved the original Battlestar Galactica. This story had elements of both of these but they are mixed together which a huge amount of data dumped fake language/syntax, characters that are interchangeable and confusing, and a vague element of existential threat. As a result, it just dragged and, in the end, I forced myself to finish hoping it would get better.
I may have to watch a real space opera to get this dreck out of my head.
July 15, 2016
Excellent space opera, almost flawless. I saw that the story was originally planned to be a TV series, and that comes through the story a lot. It's more or less episodic, following the dramas of a global population who've fled the destruction of their planet and are seeking a safe haven. It ends on a cliff hanger, so I surmise there will be more books in the series later.
March 9, 2018
FACEBOOK LINK: https://www.facebook.com/EyesOpenRevi...
*this review contains minor spoiler(s)*
*this is the review of the EBOOK FORMAT, not the audiobook*
I'm not going to lie, this book was a little hard to get into. The writing was EXCELLENT, the imagery and descriptions were EXCELLENT, the author is, probably, one of the best indie writers I've read in awhile when it comes to detail and world-building. That part of the book was, hands down, absolutely amazing.
However, the reason I struggled so much getting into this book was because of the seemingly endless amount of characters! It got to the point where I struggled so much with keeping up with the cast that, suddenly, I was on page 100 and I found myself going...well, shit. I had absorbed very little of the actual plot-line and by that point, it was too late. I read everything, I finished the book, but there were very little plot points I could actually absorb. It was like reading on autopilot.
There was one plot point I was able to absorb the most: Mika's pregnancy with Kendro's baby and the complications they faced with it. However, because the majority of the rest of the plot was hard to pick up on, I found the whole deal with the birthmarks and energy-transferring to be pretty confusing. So, while it was the plot point that I enjoyed the most, I feel like I still didn't get the full experience that I could have gotten. I'm glad I requested the ebook to read instead of the audiobook because I can hardly focus at all with audiobooks. I'm afraid that, if I'd requested the audiobook instead, this review would have been next to nothing.
HOWEVER, I DO believe this book would be PERFECT for the right reader. That reader just isn't me. It is NOT a bad book by any means (trust me, if it were, I'd say so in this review), the writing is INSANELY detailed from what I *could* pick up. If you like Star Wars or Star Trek or any of those kind of franchises, you will probably fall in love with this book. For me, though, it was simply too much too fast.
*this review contains minor spoiler(s)*
*this is the review of the EBOOK FORMAT, not the audiobook*
I'm not going to lie, this book was a little hard to get into. The writing was EXCELLENT, the imagery and descriptions were EXCELLENT, the author is, probably, one of the best indie writers I've read in awhile when it comes to detail and world-building. That part of the book was, hands down, absolutely amazing.
However, the reason I struggled so much getting into this book was because of the seemingly endless amount of characters! It got to the point where I struggled so much with keeping up with the cast that, suddenly, I was on page 100 and I found myself going...well, shit. I had absorbed very little of the actual plot-line and by that point, it was too late. I read everything, I finished the book, but there were very little plot points I could actually absorb. It was like reading on autopilot.
There was one plot point I was able to absorb the most: Mika's pregnancy with Kendro's baby and the complications they faced with it. However, because the majority of the rest of the plot was hard to pick up on, I found the whole deal with the birthmarks and energy-transferring to be pretty confusing. So, while it was the plot point that I enjoyed the most, I feel like I still didn't get the full experience that I could have gotten. I'm glad I requested the ebook to read instead of the audiobook because I can hardly focus at all with audiobooks. I'm afraid that, if I'd requested the audiobook instead, this review would have been next to nothing.
HOWEVER, I DO believe this book would be PERFECT for the right reader. That reader just isn't me. It is NOT a bad book by any means (trust me, if it were, I'd say so in this review), the writing is INSANELY detailed from what I *could* pick up. If you like Star Wars or Star Trek or any of those kind of franchises, you will probably fall in love with this book. For me, though, it was simply too much too fast.
June 16, 2017
My original The Secret King: Lethao audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Lethao, home planet of the Aonise is under imminent destruction. Their sun is dying and will soon collapse. Kendro, their King, organizes a total evacuation in four large ships. But they have two problems: the Aonise do not have a destination, and they will have to escape and fight the Zefron, their mortal enemies. Sadly these are not the only troubles Kendro will find, since there is some rivalry among the four big houses, and some of them will attempt to assassinate him. Maybe, and just maybe, Taliri will bring some hope to the Aonise and their King.
I had my eye on this book for a very long time, since I follow Dawn Chapman on Facebook, so it has been an honor to be able to review this audiobook. I have to say that I am absolutely impressed, not only with Chapman's writing skills, but also with her capability for world building and creating well developed characters.
This is a very dense book, with several subplots which add depth to the main story. We are progressively introduced to the characters, helping the listener to remember and associate names to personalities, ranks and jobs. In some cases they are referred by their surname and other times by their given name. This posed no issues for me since Chapman did a very good job in presenting each character and making them unique, and in a way this made them more real. Their conversations and relationships were fluid and felt real. I liked the fact that not all is black or white, and we witness an atypical relationship between two important characters in the book. I guess prejudges are not specific to the human race.
There is a great world building here. We learn about the Aonise society, their customs and part of their biology. I found very interesting and original the birth marks they have on their bodies and how they use their croex (energy) in a way that would seem almost magical to us. Their way of bonding was something unique that added another dimension to the story.
The Aonise have their own language, and we get a glimse of it here. There are some words which are repeated several times, like 'water', incorporating the Aonise word to the text in a seamleass way. The chapter titles appear in both Aonise and English, which really shows a great amount of work behind this book.
Greg Tremblay's narration and style was perfect for this book. He used a neutral accent for the narration and a different accent for the Aonise, making it more credible. Tremblay also gave different voices to the characters, so that it was always clear who was talking. He also transmitted well the characters emotions and succeeded in having the listener immersed in the story. The only issue I found with the audio production was a little noise at the end of a paragraph.
Behind The Secret King there is a whole team working on more novels, 3D designs, and building a complete language. By becoming a member of TSK you can have access to some of these freebies. You can visit their site at http://thesecretking.com/
There is a continuation to this book called 'The Secret King: First Contact', in which the Aonise arrive to their destination. I am really looking forward to an audio version of this book. I love the Anoise world, and I hope Dawn Chapman will have more Aonise adventures for us.
Lethao, home planet of the Aonise is under imminent destruction. Their sun is dying and will soon collapse. Kendro, their King, organizes a total evacuation in four large ships. But they have two problems: the Aonise do not have a destination, and they will have to escape and fight the Zefron, their mortal enemies. Sadly these are not the only troubles Kendro will find, since there is some rivalry among the four big houses, and some of them will attempt to assassinate him. Maybe, and just maybe, Taliri will bring some hope to the Aonise and their King.
I had my eye on this book for a very long time, since I follow Dawn Chapman on Facebook, so it has been an honor to be able to review this audiobook. I have to say that I am absolutely impressed, not only with Chapman's writing skills, but also with her capability for world building and creating well developed characters.
This is a very dense book, with several subplots which add depth to the main story. We are progressively introduced to the characters, helping the listener to remember and associate names to personalities, ranks and jobs. In some cases they are referred by their surname and other times by their given name. This posed no issues for me since Chapman did a very good job in presenting each character and making them unique, and in a way this made them more real. Their conversations and relationships were fluid and felt real. I liked the fact that not all is black or white, and we witness an atypical relationship between two important characters in the book. I guess prejudges are not specific to the human race.
There is a great world building here. We learn about the Aonise society, their customs and part of their biology. I found very interesting and original the birth marks they have on their bodies and how they use their croex (energy) in a way that would seem almost magical to us. Their way of bonding was something unique that added another dimension to the story.
The Aonise have their own language, and we get a glimse of it here. There are some words which are repeated several times, like 'water', incorporating the Aonise word to the text in a seamleass way. The chapter titles appear in both Aonise and English, which really shows a great amount of work behind this book.
Greg Tremblay's narration and style was perfect for this book. He used a neutral accent for the narration and a different accent for the Aonise, making it more credible. Tremblay also gave different voices to the characters, so that it was always clear who was talking. He also transmitted well the characters emotions and succeeded in having the listener immersed in the story. The only issue I found with the audio production was a little noise at the end of a paragraph.
Behind The Secret King there is a whole team working on more novels, 3D designs, and building a complete language. By becoming a member of TSK you can have access to some of these freebies. You can visit their site at http://thesecretking.com/
There is a continuation to this book called 'The Secret King: First Contact', in which the Aonise arrive to their destination. I am really looking forward to an audio version of this book. I love the Anoise world, and I hope Dawn Chapman will have more Aonise adventures for us.
February 3, 2018
This book isn’t a genre I usually read but I am glad I branched out and gave this a go, those who love star trek would thoroughly enjoy this.
This did take me a little bit to get into as there was a lot to take in with the start but it all came together well.
Kendro, the King of Aonise has to evacuate his people because their sun has gone dark. They set off in search of a new home. They only have a few ships but that’s not the biggest problem Kendro faces. There is the ancient enemy who is out to wipe them out of existence and there is also the threat of being of being torn down from within. The moment Kendro makes one step forward he is thrown three steps back. This is action packed and pacing is great for how much there in instore.
There is a lot of characters and while I loved this because I got a glimpse of the ships and how Kendro is connected to every one of them through their birthmarks and Croex.
The author did such a great job with this unique idea and that’s the thing that stood out to me most about this book. This can be quite dark as hard decisions need to be made but continue on as the read is worth it.
I would highly recommend this and I look forward to seeing what else this author has to follow this.
Great writing, pacing and unique idea. It’s all you want in a book plus more.
Kimberley
This did take me a little bit to get into as there was a lot to take in with the start but it all came together well.
Kendro, the King of Aonise has to evacuate his people because their sun has gone dark. They set off in search of a new home. They only have a few ships but that’s not the biggest problem Kendro faces. There is the ancient enemy who is out to wipe them out of existence and there is also the threat of being of being torn down from within. The moment Kendro makes one step forward he is thrown three steps back. This is action packed and pacing is great for how much there in instore.
There is a lot of characters and while I loved this because I got a glimpse of the ships and how Kendro is connected to every one of them through their birthmarks and Croex.
The author did such a great job with this unique idea and that’s the thing that stood out to me most about this book. This can be quite dark as hard decisions need to be made but continue on as the read is worth it.
I would highly recommend this and I look forward to seeing what else this author has to follow this.
Great writing, pacing and unique idea. It’s all you want in a book plus more.
Kimberley
September 30, 2015
I am not a typical reader of space opera, but when I unexpectedly touched base with this amazing author, and was asked to edit this book, I was immediately captivated by the premise.
The Aonise must flee their planet, under the leadership of King Kendro. Ejected into space, they desperately seek a new home planet. The journey is fraught not only with attacking enemies, but internal betrayal and strife.
I could not put this book down. Not only does Miss Chapman capture the elements of science fiction and space opera, but she also adds in the "human" element. I was drawn to all the characters, and felt so attached to them by the end. I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment with glee! This is not one to be missed for fans of science fiction and space opera.
The Aonise must flee their planet, under the leadership of King Kendro. Ejected into space, they desperately seek a new home planet. The journey is fraught not only with attacking enemies, but internal betrayal and strife.
I could not put this book down. Not only does Miss Chapman capture the elements of science fiction and space opera, but she also adds in the "human" element. I was drawn to all the characters, and felt so attached to them by the end. I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment with glee! This is not one to be missed for fans of science fiction and space opera.
April 21, 2017
I'm in a space opera kind of mood which, if my genre fondness holds out, means I'll probably spend the next couple of months absorbed in the genre before moving on. That means trying to find good examples from both mainstream and independent authors. While the "easy" sources like Star Trek, Star Wars, and newcomer in the Expanse are out there, I wanted to try something which was not linked to a major franchise. Steve Caldwell (The Bookwyrm Speaks) recommended I try out The Secret King series by Dawn Chapman. I'm glad he did because it was a treat.
The premise of the book is very similar to Battlestar Galactica in that a space opera civilization of Earth-descended humans must flee their colony world to return to their ancient homeland. However, it's very much in the vein of the original 1970s BSG with Lorne Greene, Richard Hatch, and Dirk Benedict versus the modern version. It also has elements of a Jack Kirby-esque universe of feuding New Gods-esque families, bloodlines, and psychic powers. There's even a few elements of the Silver Age Krypton thrown in. For those who prefer dark and gritty space opera, this is pretty much its anithesis but I'm a major lover of grimdark yet loved this work.
The premise is Kendro of Aonise is the psychic God-King of said world. Having had a vision of his planet's sun exploding, he's assembled four arks to take them to safety along with the other houses. Unfortunately, no sooner has this come out that their ancient enemies in the Zefron decide to finish their extermination by attacking their refugee ships as they flee. Kendro's life is complicated further by his wife's troubled pregnancy, a mysterious new enemy trying to usurp his throne, and (just to make things complicated) his second-in-command developing adulterous feelings for one of his men.
The Secret King was apparently developed as a TV series and it's a pity this didn't get a chance as one because the characters grow over their episodic struggles. A book isn't limited by budget, though, and I'm able to imagine the glamorous costumes and scenes hinted inside the work. It also has a nicely balanced cast with the King, his wife, their doctor, the chief of security, and other supporting cast members. There's also some nice subplots related to the fact Aonise is kind of a awful society, despite the king being our lead, since a good portion of its population are treated as second-class citizens because they weren't born with the mystical marks that unite everyone to their leader.
Kendro is a strong lead character and I was interested in his adventures despite my anti-royalist sentiments even in fiction. You can see he's just imperious enough that I buy him as the hereditary dictator of a long-line of conquerors but nice enough that I believed this was actually going to cause him trouble. I also enjoyed the romance between the King's second and his lover as that was a genuine surprise as well as not a typical lovey dovey story. No, it's a story about regret, duty, and the fact sometimes love just isn't enough.
Much of the book is concerned with the issues of surviving once they've taken off from their doomed home planet. There's numerous space battles with the Zefron, questions about using the life-force of the dying to heal those who can be salvaged, succession, as well as what point tradition may or may not serve in a refugee colony. All of these are interesting tidbits and help enrich the larger character-based stories.
I like the world building in the story as it hints and references rather than outright explains. While it's frustrating in places, we get the sense of an antique society that has existed for multiple millennium and lost its larger history. There's also a grandiosity to the characters speech and mannerisms that makes them feel larger than life. These are people who are dwelling in a somewhat Shakespearian world, which makes their brief psychic sojorn to Earth feel all the more contrasting like Tolkien's hobbits being visited by Gondorians--or people from the 1980 Flash Gordon movie.
There's some flaws in the book in the fact the first part of the book has a bit of a pacing issue until the arrival of a certain Lady (you'll know when you meet her) who brings a lot of energy to the story. There's also the fact we never really learn anything about the Zefron, who remain frustratingly inscrutable throughout. I would have very much liked to have discovered why they're so hell bent on eradicating the Aonise as we only get an answer which opens up more questions. The story could have used a bit more Dalamaar, too, as he doesn't quite solidify himself as the kind of epic evil ala Ming the Merciless or original Baltar which this kind of story needs.
Even so, I heartily recommend this book to anyone who loves space opera and wants a colorful fantastic story about psychics, bonds, kings, and spaceships. There's some decent action, excellent plotting, and good storytelling all around.
9/10
The premise of the book is very similar to Battlestar Galactica in that a space opera civilization of Earth-descended humans must flee their colony world to return to their ancient homeland. However, it's very much in the vein of the original 1970s BSG with Lorne Greene, Richard Hatch, and Dirk Benedict versus the modern version. It also has elements of a Jack Kirby-esque universe of feuding New Gods-esque families, bloodlines, and psychic powers. There's even a few elements of the Silver Age Krypton thrown in. For those who prefer dark and gritty space opera, this is pretty much its anithesis but I'm a major lover of grimdark yet loved this work.
The premise is Kendro of Aonise is the psychic God-King of said world. Having had a vision of his planet's sun exploding, he's assembled four arks to take them to safety along with the other houses. Unfortunately, no sooner has this come out that their ancient enemies in the Zefron decide to finish their extermination by attacking their refugee ships as they flee. Kendro's life is complicated further by his wife's troubled pregnancy, a mysterious new enemy trying to usurp his throne, and (just to make things complicated) his second-in-command developing adulterous feelings for one of his men.
The Secret King was apparently developed as a TV series and it's a pity this didn't get a chance as one because the characters grow over their episodic struggles. A book isn't limited by budget, though, and I'm able to imagine the glamorous costumes and scenes hinted inside the work. It also has a nicely balanced cast with the King, his wife, their doctor, the chief of security, and other supporting cast members. There's also some nice subplots related to the fact Aonise is kind of a awful society, despite the king being our lead, since a good portion of its population are treated as second-class citizens because they weren't born with the mystical marks that unite everyone to their leader.
Kendro is a strong lead character and I was interested in his adventures despite my anti-royalist sentiments even in fiction. You can see he's just imperious enough that I buy him as the hereditary dictator of a long-line of conquerors but nice enough that I believed this was actually going to cause him trouble. I also enjoyed the romance between the King's second and his lover as that was a genuine surprise as well as not a typical lovey dovey story. No, it's a story about regret, duty, and the fact sometimes love just isn't enough.
Much of the book is concerned with the issues of surviving once they've taken off from their doomed home planet. There's numerous space battles with the Zefron, questions about using the life-force of the dying to heal those who can be salvaged, succession, as well as what point tradition may or may not serve in a refugee colony. All of these are interesting tidbits and help enrich the larger character-based stories.
I like the world building in the story as it hints and references rather than outright explains. While it's frustrating in places, we get the sense of an antique society that has existed for multiple millennium and lost its larger history. There's also a grandiosity to the characters speech and mannerisms that makes them feel larger than life. These are people who are dwelling in a somewhat Shakespearian world, which makes their brief psychic sojorn to Earth feel all the more contrasting like Tolkien's hobbits being visited by Gondorians--or people from the 1980 Flash Gordon movie.
There's some flaws in the book in the fact the first part of the book has a bit of a pacing issue until the arrival of a certain Lady (you'll know when you meet her) who brings a lot of energy to the story. There's also the fact we never really learn anything about the Zefron, who remain frustratingly inscrutable throughout. I would have very much liked to have discovered why they're so hell bent on eradicating the Aonise as we only get an answer which opens up more questions. The story could have used a bit more Dalamaar, too, as he doesn't quite solidify himself as the kind of epic evil ala Ming the Merciless or original Baltar which this kind of story needs.
Even so, I heartily recommend this book to anyone who loves space opera and wants a colorful fantastic story about psychics, bonds, kings, and spaceships. There's some decent action, excellent plotting, and good storytelling all around.
9/10
October 15, 2016
This book bears a heavy responsibility. It is part of a larger team enterprise called The Secret King, which has a website, several book titles, a dictionary, audiobooks, 3D artwork, and a created language associated with it. This book, Lethao (named for the home planet), is where it all starts in more ways than one: it introduces the important characters, their conflicts, and their quest.
Fans of Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica will probably enjoy this world, which hints at being as complex and multifaceted as anything in those imagined universes. As it stands, however, the ebook is not as well realized as the SF universes that are currently out there for popular consumption.
I received the ebook in exchange for an honest review. As a fan of popular SF and space opera, I was eager to dive in. There were several factors that made the book slow going for me: the unfamiliar language, the plethora of characters, and the lack of certain important concrete details about the plot, characters, and themes.
I was happy enough to start off with Kendro, the king who saves his people by evacuating them from their exploding planet. I found the descriptions of birthmarks and how “croex” works to be just sufficient to keep me going, but ideally I would have liked more on these topics. The pictures on the TSK website help a great deal in visualizing what birthmarks look like. I think I had less trouble in general with Star Trek novelizations because I had seen the TV shows first, and already had a good mental picture of Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, etc. before I read about them. Not so with Kendro, Mika, Octav, Sheve, Frie, Katya, Chace, et al.
I also found it confusing for the same reason that others have pointed out: sometimes characters were referred to by their first names and sometimes their last, often for no apparent reason. It took me an embarrassingly long time to figure out that Sheve and Hadi were the same person, for example. And I spent a good 10 minutes searching for a definition of “Ainoren” until I found the glossary at the back. Even then, I found the definition "Admiral/General” to be rather unsatisfying. Admirals and Generals are different offices in our military. And sometimes the Ainoren title is used with such reverence that one wonders if it has a religious or additional cultural significance in Aonise society. What did Octav do to earn this title, or is it appointed, inherited, or otherwise bestowed? And why is there only one Ainoren on the entire planet anyway?
There are a number of fascinating and even poignant subplots going on, but I had a hard time figuring out who and what I should care about as I jumped between them. I’m still not even sure who “The Secret King” actually is. I’m assuming it is Taliri, and the fast-maturing child is a trope I’ve seen before in SF, but it’s unclear what it signifies here. The Zefron’s motivations are similarly confusing. If they are after something in the blood of the Aonise, as mentioned, why are they attacking and trying to annihilate the entire Aonise space fleet, rather than infiltrating it and capturing Aonise people alive to be used as donors?
As a reader I’m also hungry for more Aonise culture and history. It’s not clear to me why the forbidden love affair has to be so forbidden. Is it because the love is between two men? Is it because one of them has a much higher position than the other within the hierarchy? Is it because one of them is already mated to a woman? Does it have to do with house loyalties? All of the above? Some more historical and cultural details about Aonise marriage and mating customs, gender and house roles, and attitudes towards same-sex relationships would really help to flesh this out and make the reader feel a greater sense of urgency about what the lovers have to lose, and to gain.
The strongest aspects of this world, in my opinion, are the birthmarks and the croex (energy/force) that they enable in their bearers. This is a self-consistent system of “magic” that has a great deal of potential for exploring plots and themes. How a society with these powers will interact with humans on Earth will be very interesting, but that is not the subject of this book, which ends just as they arrive at Earth’s solar system. I would recommend not reading this book in isolation, but rather checking out the website and other supporting materials. There is a lot of potential here and the TSK team needs more time to bring it to life.
Fans of Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica will probably enjoy this world, which hints at being as complex and multifaceted as anything in those imagined universes. As it stands, however, the ebook is not as well realized as the SF universes that are currently out there for popular consumption.
I received the ebook in exchange for an honest review. As a fan of popular SF and space opera, I was eager to dive in. There were several factors that made the book slow going for me: the unfamiliar language, the plethora of characters, and the lack of certain important concrete details about the plot, characters, and themes.
I was happy enough to start off with Kendro, the king who saves his people by evacuating them from their exploding planet. I found the descriptions of birthmarks and how “croex” works to be just sufficient to keep me going, but ideally I would have liked more on these topics. The pictures on the TSK website help a great deal in visualizing what birthmarks look like. I think I had less trouble in general with Star Trek novelizations because I had seen the TV shows first, and already had a good mental picture of Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, etc. before I read about them. Not so with Kendro, Mika, Octav, Sheve, Frie, Katya, Chace, et al.
I also found it confusing for the same reason that others have pointed out: sometimes characters were referred to by their first names and sometimes their last, often for no apparent reason. It took me an embarrassingly long time to figure out that Sheve and Hadi were the same person, for example. And I spent a good 10 minutes searching for a definition of “Ainoren” until I found the glossary at the back. Even then, I found the definition "Admiral/General” to be rather unsatisfying. Admirals and Generals are different offices in our military. And sometimes the Ainoren title is used with such reverence that one wonders if it has a religious or additional cultural significance in Aonise society. What did Octav do to earn this title, or is it appointed, inherited, or otherwise bestowed? And why is there only one Ainoren on the entire planet anyway?
There are a number of fascinating and even poignant subplots going on, but I had a hard time figuring out who and what I should care about as I jumped between them. I’m still not even sure who “The Secret King” actually is. I’m assuming it is Taliri, and the fast-maturing child is a trope I’ve seen before in SF, but it’s unclear what it signifies here. The Zefron’s motivations are similarly confusing. If they are after something in the blood of the Aonise, as mentioned, why are they attacking and trying to annihilate the entire Aonise space fleet, rather than infiltrating it and capturing Aonise people alive to be used as donors?
As a reader I’m also hungry for more Aonise culture and history. It’s not clear to me why the forbidden love affair has to be so forbidden. Is it because the love is between two men? Is it because one of them has a much higher position than the other within the hierarchy? Is it because one of them is already mated to a woman? Does it have to do with house loyalties? All of the above? Some more historical and cultural details about Aonise marriage and mating customs, gender and house roles, and attitudes towards same-sex relationships would really help to flesh this out and make the reader feel a greater sense of urgency about what the lovers have to lose, and to gain.
The strongest aspects of this world, in my opinion, are the birthmarks and the croex (energy/force) that they enable in their bearers. This is a self-consistent system of “magic” that has a great deal of potential for exploring plots and themes. How a society with these powers will interact with humans on Earth will be very interesting, but that is not the subject of this book, which ends just as they arrive at Earth’s solar system. I would recommend not reading this book in isolation, but rather checking out the website and other supporting materials. There is a lot of potential here and the TSK team needs more time to bring it to life.
December 17, 2015
THEIR SUN is dying, and Kendro, King of the Aonise, has to evacuate his people from their planet. With merely a handful of ships and resources, the Aonise take off into space, in search of a new home. A space opera, brimful of battles, futuristic technology, and an epic plot, The Secret King: Letháo is the beginning of a beautiful saga.
There are plenty of wonderful things to say about this novel, but for me, the world-building of the Anoise was the most interesting. We get tantalizing tidbits of their biology and psychology throughout the novel, and the following is the best I was able to piece together, but is by no means canon.
The Anoise’s life forces are full of light, or croex, and the brilliant color seeps through their skin in an almost artful pattern. They are connected to each other through this light, and one of the reasons Kendro is king, is because he connects to them all. Their croex also has a power, or energy, which they can harness, sometimes randomly, and often to their own peril.
For an empathic people, the Anoise are often hard on each other, enforcing harsh discipline. They have a strict hierarchy, and won’t think twice about pushing a broken soldier to keep fighting to their death against their alien enemy. They are also oddly complacent. Their planet is dying, falling apart all around them, and quite a few of them take their time, gathering their possessions from their old homes/lives. One of our characters is also aware of two people who would want him dead, but he chooses to spend time with them, vulnerable. To explain these observations, I’d hazard a guess that the Anoise believe in fate, and part of their life’s purpose is to accept their place in the galaxy, which some do with more grace than others.
Perhaps also due to their empathic abilities, the Anoise often feel sick. Their croex is the center of their health, and whenever it’s in danger, they are in danger. As I said, they are a very interesting people, and while not everything is fully explained about their abilities, I am looking forward to the next books to illuminate some of the mysteries.
As for character, Kendro starts out as the protagonist in the first part of the book, and initially seems to have the most conflict, with the weight of his entire culture on his shoulders. However, we eventually enter another’s head, the one who carries most of the story for the rest of the book: Octav Brodi, Ainoren of the fleet.
Octav’s story is the most LGBTQ+ of any of them—if there is such a thing in Anoise culture. I can’t decide if Octav’s conflict with loving another man is because he is married, and is expected to provide the bereft culture with heirs, or if he is unsettled because his idea of his fate, and feels he may be pushing his own destiny harder than he deems prudent. Either way, Octav has some tough choices ahead, and I do not envy him, but I am interested to see how he handles himself.
If you like Star Wars, or other space operas, you’ll love The Secret King: Lethao. One of the fun facts about this book is that it was apparently originally designed as a screenplay, which makes perfect sense, because the dialog is done so well. I also enjoyed the veiled mystery of the plot, the characters, and the worldbuilding—Chapman masters intrigue.
Chapman has a blog and website, where she talks in depth about the TSK, and blogs about everything from her struggles to her joys—one of her pleasures being her koi. Visit her at: http://kanundra.com/
------------------------------
B. A. Brock is a reviewer for DSP and QSF. He enjoys reading, writing, running, family and food, and fills his life with bent bunk. He especially loves to discuss LGBTQ+ literature. His website is http://www.babrockbooks.com. You can find him on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/BABrockBooks.
There are plenty of wonderful things to say about this novel, but for me, the world-building of the Anoise was the most interesting. We get tantalizing tidbits of their biology and psychology throughout the novel, and the following is the best I was able to piece together, but is by no means canon.
The Anoise’s life forces are full of light, or croex, and the brilliant color seeps through their skin in an almost artful pattern. They are connected to each other through this light, and one of the reasons Kendro is king, is because he connects to them all. Their croex also has a power, or energy, which they can harness, sometimes randomly, and often to their own peril.
For an empathic people, the Anoise are often hard on each other, enforcing harsh discipline. They have a strict hierarchy, and won’t think twice about pushing a broken soldier to keep fighting to their death against their alien enemy. They are also oddly complacent. Their planet is dying, falling apart all around them, and quite a few of them take their time, gathering their possessions from their old homes/lives. One of our characters is also aware of two people who would want him dead, but he chooses to spend time with them, vulnerable. To explain these observations, I’d hazard a guess that the Anoise believe in fate, and part of their life’s purpose is to accept their place in the galaxy, which some do with more grace than others.
Perhaps also due to their empathic abilities, the Anoise often feel sick. Their croex is the center of their health, and whenever it’s in danger, they are in danger. As I said, they are a very interesting people, and while not everything is fully explained about their abilities, I am looking forward to the next books to illuminate some of the mysteries.
As for character, Kendro starts out as the protagonist in the first part of the book, and initially seems to have the most conflict, with the weight of his entire culture on his shoulders. However, we eventually enter another’s head, the one who carries most of the story for the rest of the book: Octav Brodi, Ainoren of the fleet.
Octav’s story is the most LGBTQ+ of any of them—if there is such a thing in Anoise culture. I can’t decide if Octav’s conflict with loving another man is because he is married, and is expected to provide the bereft culture with heirs, or if he is unsettled because his idea of his fate, and feels he may be pushing his own destiny harder than he deems prudent. Either way, Octav has some tough choices ahead, and I do not envy him, but I am interested to see how he handles himself.
If you like Star Wars, or other space operas, you’ll love The Secret King: Lethao. One of the fun facts about this book is that it was apparently originally designed as a screenplay, which makes perfect sense, because the dialog is done so well. I also enjoyed the veiled mystery of the plot, the characters, and the worldbuilding—Chapman masters intrigue.
Chapman has a blog and website, where she talks in depth about the TSK, and blogs about everything from her struggles to her joys—one of her pleasures being her koi. Visit her at: http://kanundra.com/
------------------------------
B. A. Brock is a reviewer for DSP and QSF. He enjoys reading, writing, running, family and food, and fills his life with bent bunk. He especially loves to discuss LGBTQ+ literature. His website is http://www.babrockbooks.com. You can find him on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/BABrockBooks.
February 6, 2016
Full disclosure, I was given a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect the rating.
Their world is dying, and the Aonise must evacuate their planet, heading to the stars in massive ships in hope of finding a new world. But their journey is not without its threats: they are hunted by the Zefron, an ancient enemy who seem hell-bent on trying to destroy them, as well as whispers of treason from within. Kendro. the king of the Aonise and their hope for the future, must protect himself while trying to save his people, not to mention his wife and unborn son. The risks are great, and the journey ahead is not an easy one...
The first thing that hit me about this novel was just how gripping it was. Much like in "The Martian" (Andy Weir), the second the Aonise think they are safe, as soon as one problem has been solved, they are thrown head first into another life or death situation. There is never a dull moment or a lull in the plot. They must work together to save their species, or none will survive. Because of this constant action, the book is incredibly difficult to put down and is addicting as heck.
There are multiple characters to follow, which makes the book read a lot like a show. This brings you to different parts of the ship, and introduces you to many aspects of their culture and customs. They're humanoid, but in many ways they differ completely from us humans, showing the quality of the author's world building. For example, every Aonise is born with a birthmark, which differs from person to person and across the houses. Their life forces, if you will, contain actual power: Croex. It runs through their veins and has tremendous potential. It lights their birthmark with raw emotion, meaning their feelings are always on display. This, and the croex itself, binds the people together, the king connected to every single one of his people, feeling their pain and anguish as his own. It's incredibly how the author has managed to make this aspect of their lives seem so natural to the reader when we have nothing like it here on earth.
It's a space saga of epic proportions. Not only is there the military aspect, but the life of these characters is studied, we share in their loss and their loves and their joys. We are following in their darkest times and their greatest hopes. It gives us surprising emotion, for a science fiction novel. You can't help but cheer for Kendro, whose faith in his people is remarkable, even when he knows there are those who wish him dead. Some of the storylines are a little more difficult, darker, like Octav's for example: he has difficult decisions, with his home life falling apart and his own emotions in turmoil. Life on the run, trying to keep your people safe, is not easy.
All in all, as a Sci Fi fan, I got my fill with this fantastic beginning of an awesome saga. With brilliant world building, tough characters, and great writing, I'm hooked and I can't wait for more.
Their world is dying, and the Aonise must evacuate their planet, heading to the stars in massive ships in hope of finding a new world. But their journey is not without its threats: they are hunted by the Zefron, an ancient enemy who seem hell-bent on trying to destroy them, as well as whispers of treason from within. Kendro. the king of the Aonise and their hope for the future, must protect himself while trying to save his people, not to mention his wife and unborn son. The risks are great, and the journey ahead is not an easy one...
The first thing that hit me about this novel was just how gripping it was. Much like in "The Martian" (Andy Weir), the second the Aonise think they are safe, as soon as one problem has been solved, they are thrown head first into another life or death situation. There is never a dull moment or a lull in the plot. They must work together to save their species, or none will survive. Because of this constant action, the book is incredibly difficult to put down and is addicting as heck.
There are multiple characters to follow, which makes the book read a lot like a show. This brings you to different parts of the ship, and introduces you to many aspects of their culture and customs. They're humanoid, but in many ways they differ completely from us humans, showing the quality of the author's world building. For example, every Aonise is born with a birthmark, which differs from person to person and across the houses. Their life forces, if you will, contain actual power: Croex. It runs through their veins and has tremendous potential. It lights their birthmark with raw emotion, meaning their feelings are always on display. This, and the croex itself, binds the people together, the king connected to every single one of his people, feeling their pain and anguish as his own. It's incredibly how the author has managed to make this aspect of their lives seem so natural to the reader when we have nothing like it here on earth.
It's a space saga of epic proportions. Not only is there the military aspect, but the life of these characters is studied, we share in their loss and their loves and their joys. We are following in their darkest times and their greatest hopes. It gives us surprising emotion, for a science fiction novel. You can't help but cheer for Kendro, whose faith in his people is remarkable, even when he knows there are those who wish him dead. Some of the storylines are a little more difficult, darker, like Octav's for example: he has difficult decisions, with his home life falling apart and his own emotions in turmoil. Life on the run, trying to keep your people safe, is not easy.
All in all, as a Sci Fi fan, I got my fill with this fantastic beginning of an awesome saga. With brilliant world building, tough characters, and great writing, I'm hooked and I can't wait for more.
July 28, 2016
Dawn Chapman has conceived of a detailed, intricate society with characters that are intense and compelling. Kendro must save his people from a dying sun, an enemy bent on destroying them for apparently no reason at all, and from enemies within his own royal house. In the middle of it all, he has to find the energy and alliances to save his son and hold his number one together as well.
Aonise who seem on the king's side to begin with turn out to be enemies and others who appear sinister turn out to be friends. In the middle of it all are complex family relationships with familial struggles to work out. This is a story science fiction story fans will be able to sink their teeth into. I, for one, will be on the lookout for the next book in the series to see if Kendro can overcome all the obstacles placed before him and find the courage to face his greatest enemy and save his family and people.
Greg Tremblay does an excellent job bringing this universe to life. Each character has a distinct voice that he accomplishes through surprisingly subtle variations. I enjoyed the story much more because of his ability to consistently pronounce all of the exotic words used to create the people and language used to create the Aonise culture and society.
I received this book for free from Audiobook Boom! in exchange for an honest review.
Aonise who seem on the king's side to begin with turn out to be enemies and others who appear sinister turn out to be friends. In the middle of it all are complex family relationships with familial struggles to work out. This is a story science fiction story fans will be able to sink their teeth into. I, for one, will be on the lookout for the next book in the series to see if Kendro can overcome all the obstacles placed before him and find the courage to face his greatest enemy and save his family and people.
Greg Tremblay does an excellent job bringing this universe to life. Each character has a distinct voice that he accomplishes through surprisingly subtle variations. I enjoyed the story much more because of his ability to consistently pronounce all of the exotic words used to create the people and language used to create the Aonise culture and society.
I received this book for free from Audiobook Boom! in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2015
4.5 stars
I was given an ARC book for an honest review free of persuasion from the author or anyone else affiliated with this book.
CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS
This book was good for a sci-fi type of book. Think Star Trek when you read this book. If you aren't into that type of book then this isn't for you. I had a hard time at first getting into the book. I took off half a star because I felt that there were traits that were common to the species that could have been described earlier in the book. This would have led to a better understanding of what all was going on from the beginning.
The book is about a species whose sun is going dark. They are having to evacuate their planet because of this. The entire species crowds onto four ships to escape the dangers on their home planet. While searching the galaxies for a new home, the Aonise species encounter may trials and tribulations. Will they be able to find a new home? What dangers do they face?
I enjoyed this book as a whole. I look forward to reading more of this series.
I was given an ARC book for an honest review free of persuasion from the author or anyone else affiliated with this book.
CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS
This book was good for a sci-fi type of book. Think Star Trek when you read this book. If you aren't into that type of book then this isn't for you. I had a hard time at first getting into the book. I took off half a star because I felt that there were traits that were common to the species that could have been described earlier in the book. This would have led to a better understanding of what all was going on from the beginning.
The book is about a species whose sun is going dark. They are having to evacuate their planet because of this. The entire species crowds onto four ships to escape the dangers on their home planet. While searching the galaxies for a new home, the Aonise species encounter may trials and tribulations. Will they be able to find a new home? What dangers do they face?
I enjoyed this book as a whole. I look forward to reading more of this series.
June 24, 2016
A science fiction space opera at it's finest. With their world dying, a King must lead his people to safety through space. All the while they are pursued by another race of aliens. While trying to keep as many of his people alive as possible the King also faces threats form withing as there is quite a bit of plotting against him. The story has a large cast but this is managed by focusing on different individuals each chapter, much like in a television series. There is also a convenient guide in the back of the book of the major names.
There is a lot to take in at first in the book but once you've been introduced to the basic concepts of the story being told and have an idea fo the major characters' personalities, the book is an intensely enjoyable read right to the very end.
There is a lot to take in at first in the book but once you've been introduced to the basic concepts of the story being told and have an idea fo the major characters' personalities, the book is an intensely enjoyable read right to the very end.
May 5, 2017
Fantastic world building
The planet of Lethao is dying and King Kendro is working hard to evacuate the entire population. The loading of spaceships is rushed but completed. The population is divided into the upper class houses of Aonise and the lower Heiako who are treated as second class citizens. They are pursued by their enemy, the Zenfron but also face internal dangers. Most characters are well drawn and relatable. The king holds a magical connection to all the houses, especially the head of each house.
I was pleasantly surprised with how good this story flows. I try not to judge a book by its cover but this one had the look of being geared towards teens, but I found it quite complex and the action nonstop. Well written and highly recommended.
The planet of Lethao is dying and King Kendro is working hard to evacuate the entire population. The loading of spaceships is rushed but completed. The population is divided into the upper class houses of Aonise and the lower Heiako who are treated as second class citizens. They are pursued by their enemy, the Zenfron but also face internal dangers. Most characters are well drawn and relatable. The king holds a magical connection to all the houses, especially the head of each house.
I was pleasantly surprised with how good this story flows. I try not to judge a book by its cover but this one had the look of being geared towards teens, but I found it quite complex and the action nonstop. Well written and highly recommended.
November 12, 2015
As always when first diving into a new world created by an author, there are many questions and catching up to do. I think Dawn Chapman did a good job of explaining her world and characters, but could have done with a bit more detail in certain aspects.
That was really the only downfall of the novel though and it wasn't even really that huge of a deal. Other than that the pacing and plot of the novel was very well done. There was plenty of action and it really kept my attention throughout!
That was really the only downfall of the novel though and it wasn't even really that huge of a deal. Other than that the pacing and plot of the novel was very well done. There was plenty of action and it really kept my attention throughout!
July 23, 2016
I was checking a thesaurus for other ways of expressing how I felt about this book and I discovered there just aren't enough superlatives. Dawn Chapman has creatives a rich and detailed works full of characters that you can't get enough of. The plot draws you in and doesn't let go until the final page and even then you lay in its arm unwilling to leave this world.
An absolute masterpiece. A hearty congratulations on a wonderful debut novel.
An absolute masterpiece. A hearty congratulations on a wonderful debut novel.
November 12, 2015
There are a lot of moving parts to this novel and a lot of action. I liked the way the characters were relatable even though it was a space and alien type group.
The Sci-Fi aspect is very well done and the imagery and setting is amazing. The Author really brings the world to life through words.
Get ready to be immersed in the world and captivated by the characters she has created.
The Sci-Fi aspect is very well done and the imagery and setting is amazing. The Author really brings the world to life through words.
Get ready to be immersed in the world and captivated by the characters she has created.
December 3, 2015
I was given this book and asked for an honest review. Not my usual type of book, but I liked it. Was a science fiction book. It is well written and I loved the characters. I encourage people who like SciFi to get this one you will not be disappointed. It is worth your time and effort. This is the first Dawn Chapman book I have read but it will not be the last. I enjoyed reading this one.
August 25, 2016
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review. This book was an amazing book to read. It has so many twists that make it hard to predict. As a Sci-fi lover this book has all of the strange yet so familiar aspects that I just couldn't resist. A book I will definitely recommend to friends and family.
December 2, 2016
An emotional investment
When I started this book I wasn't sure what I was getting into. Aliens, fighting, all that and more. My heart broke with them and I almost put it down several times because I couldn't handle the pain. I'm glad I didn't and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good adventure and emotional ride.
When I started this book I wasn't sure what I was getting into. Aliens, fighting, all that and more. My heart broke with them and I almost put it down several times because I couldn't handle the pain. I'm glad I didn't and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good adventure and emotional ride.
May 7, 2017
The Secret King- Lethao is sci-fi and you can find all the good things you expect in the genre.
The Aonise are strong, good-hearted and caring; the interactions between the ruling families and the rest of their people made me wish I were one of them.
A king who feels in his body the pains of his subjects is refreshing. Obviously, acting like an irresponsible twit can't happen.
I can assure you King Kendro M'akshaw is amazing. He fights for his family and his people as he spends the years of his life to protect and provide for them in the literal sense. When he uses his power-and he does it all the time-he depletes his own life force. His existence belongs to those he loves.
The characters are strong either way-if they belong to the realm of good guys who care about people or to the bad guys-they are equally impressive.
The plot is easy to follow, and the creativity is above the average.
Lethao is a book full of interesting lives.
Lots of characters come and go and they are all useful to the story line. You never feel a character superfluous or unneeded.
The powers the ruling family possess are amazing and as such they reach the paranormal level in many events.
The Aonise travel in more than a spacecraft and the gigantic objects are really interesting to imagine as they cross the universe.
Fighters and fights, enemies materializing from other galaxies and the struggles to get to safety make the book impossible to drop down since page one.
The Secret King is a series and King Lethao is the first book; thrilling and interesting, Dawn Chapman' s writing pace is fast but regular. A real achievement, in my opinion.
I read Lethao before going to bed and as a result, I never slept. I couldn't stop reading until the very last line.
And the best news is the story continues. I was not ready to leave the wonderful King Kendro.
Now, I am eager for the second book. Let The First Contact come!
The Aonise are strong, good-hearted and caring; the interactions between the ruling families and the rest of their people made me wish I were one of them.
A king who feels in his body the pains of his subjects is refreshing. Obviously, acting like an irresponsible twit can't happen.
I can assure you King Kendro M'akshaw is amazing. He fights for his family and his people as he spends the years of his life to protect and provide for them in the literal sense. When he uses his power-and he does it all the time-he depletes his own life force. His existence belongs to those he loves.
The characters are strong either way-if they belong to the realm of good guys who care about people or to the bad guys-they are equally impressive.
The plot is easy to follow, and the creativity is above the average.
Lethao is a book full of interesting lives.
Lots of characters come and go and they are all useful to the story line. You never feel a character superfluous or unneeded.
The powers the ruling family possess are amazing and as such they reach the paranormal level in many events.
The Aonise travel in more than a spacecraft and the gigantic objects are really interesting to imagine as they cross the universe.
Fighters and fights, enemies materializing from other galaxies and the struggles to get to safety make the book impossible to drop down since page one.
The Secret King is a series and King Lethao is the first book; thrilling and interesting, Dawn Chapman' s writing pace is fast but regular. A real achievement, in my opinion.
I read Lethao before going to bed and as a result, I never slept. I couldn't stop reading until the very last line.
And the best news is the story continues. I was not ready to leave the wonderful King Kendro.
Now, I am eager for the second book. Let The First Contact come!
May 22, 2018
Easily among the more awe-inspiring and amazing books I’ve read! It’s the incredible world-building of Dune with the steady, expanding character and plot development of an Isaac Asimov novel. The unique terms and character names took some getting used to, but I felt like the context gave plenty of hints as to who/what the words referred to, and with repetition, I grew accustomed to them. Certainly the amateur linguist in me was happy!
It’s not your average showy, flashy, SHINY BATTLES IN SPACE kind of story, but it pulses with a steady kind of energy that can only come from long hours of dedicated, careful thought and deliberate intentionality from the author. Stellar craftsmanship all the way through!
Recommended if you enjoy: Stargate, Dune, Isaac Asimov, Classic Star Wars, or hard sci-fi with just a lot of time on its hands!
It’s not your average showy, flashy, SHINY BATTLES IN SPACE kind of story, but it pulses with a steady kind of energy that can only come from long hours of dedicated, careful thought and deliberate intentionality from the author. Stellar craftsmanship all the way through!
Recommended if you enjoy: Stargate, Dune, Isaac Asimov, Classic Star Wars, or hard sci-fi with just a lot of time on its hands!
October 8, 2017
The Aonise people must abandon their sun. In spaceships, they flee solar explosion and the enemy Zefron. The Aonise king, Kedro, leads the people amid deep class divisions and conspiracies against the royal family.
After the excitement of the planet-wide evacuation, is much learning about the characters and interconnections between them. As other reviews have mentioned, keeping track of the names is challenging, at first. The action is well paced and leads to important conflicts and resolutions. This story reminds me of Battlestar Galactica. There is a setup of a complex world, and the space fleet is fleeing to a distant destination. There are clearly many adventures ahead for these characters. I would recommend this tale for middle grade and up.
After the excitement of the planet-wide evacuation, is much learning about the characters and interconnections between them. As other reviews have mentioned, keeping track of the names is challenging, at first. The action is well paced and leads to important conflicts and resolutions. This story reminds me of Battlestar Galactica. There is a setup of a complex world, and the space fleet is fleeing to a distant destination. There are clearly many adventures ahead for these characters. I would recommend this tale for middle grade and up.
May 8, 2017
I loved this story and loved this world!
Book Two just ordered.
I read this epic tale in 3 sittings. Wow! Wow!
I am a huge Star Trek fan and this was so right up my alley.
There is everything you want in sci-fi: complex characters, cool powers, excellent descriptions, remarkable tech, gallant races, and epic battles.... but also beautiful and graceful romance.
Love it! And there is a very useful glossary of terms/ characters at the end if you confused by all the nouveau terms. This is a must read
Book Two just ordered.
I read this epic tale in 3 sittings. Wow! Wow!
I am a huge Star Trek fan and this was so right up my alley.
There is everything you want in sci-fi: complex characters, cool powers, excellent descriptions, remarkable tech, gallant races, and epic battles.... but also beautiful and graceful romance.
Love it! And there is a very useful glossary of terms/ characters at the end if you confused by all the nouveau terms. This is a must read
May 22, 2018
This was a great read. It took me a long time to get through it but that was only because I wanted to pick it up and read it through to the end, but life wouldn't allow that. I'm gonna have to pick it up when I have some time to binge read and read it through again.
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