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Morningstar: Destiny Trilogy #2
Namesake
A ruthless enemy. A shocking secret. An impossible choice.
Xander and her friends onboard the bounty hunter ship, Prodigal, risk their lives to recover the derelict spaceship that could restore the shattered pieces of her memory. No one realizes what that decision will cost them.
A ruthless syndicate is determined to capture Xander by any means necessary. For protection, she turns to top Prodigal hunter and former assassin Kale Ravenwood, but as their relationship heats up, so does the syndicate threat. The closer they grow to each other, the more danger they face, for Xander can’t remember enough, and Kale remembers far too much.
Xander’s search for her memories leads her across the solar system, only to discover the unbelievable secret of the Destiny Project. When Xander learns the truth of her identity and origins, she must choose between the comfort of her former life and the new, dangerous life she has come to know and love.
Either choice means sacrifice. What would she rather give up—her friends or her name?
Xander and her friends onboard the bounty hunter ship, Prodigal, risk their lives to recover the derelict spaceship that could restore the shattered pieces of her memory. No one realizes what that decision will cost them.
A ruthless syndicate is determined to capture Xander by any means necessary. For protection, she turns to top Prodigal hunter and former assassin Kale Ravenwood, but as their relationship heats up, so does the syndicate threat. The closer they grow to each other, the more danger they face, for Xander can’t remember enough, and Kale remembers far too much.
Xander’s search for her memories leads her across the solar system, only to discover the unbelievable secret of the Destiny Project. When Xander learns the truth of her identity and origins, she must choose between the comfort of her former life and the new, dangerous life she has come to know and love.
Either choice means sacrifice. What would she rather give up—her friends or her name?
- GenresScience FictionFiction
ebook
Published December 1, 2015
4 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
A.C. Williams
29 books77 followersA.C. Williams also writes under the pen name Kimberly McNeil
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 13, 2016
*Content Warning*
Namesake deals with very adult themes, Suicide and Rape being the big ones. I do not recommend this book for anyone who can't watch an R rated movie. It's not explicit but it still might bring up conversations that parents of preteens might not be ready to tackle.
In Namesake there is a big pay off. If you read Nameless and became involved in Xander's search for her past, then you will read this book simply because I just promised you pay off.
If this book had one theme I would say that it was Sacrifice.
There must be a fine line between sacrifice and suicide. Xander, the main character of this book, toes that line almost constantly. At first this bothered me, but in the end I think it's something that needs to be discussed, especially among Christians. Xander has this, It should have been me, attitude. Over and over again she is shown the meaning of true sacrifice but it isn't until the end that she finally gets it.
This book has lot's of action and Characters that you will end up caring deeply for. It also has a heck of a cliff hanger.
Namesake deals with very adult themes, Suicide and Rape being the big ones. I do not recommend this book for anyone who can't watch an R rated movie. It's not explicit but it still might bring up conversations that parents of preteens might not be ready to tackle.
In Namesake there is a big pay off. If you read Nameless and became involved in Xander's search for her past, then you will read this book simply because I just promised you pay off.
If this book had one theme I would say that it was Sacrifice.
There must be a fine line between sacrifice and suicide. Xander, the main character of this book, toes that line almost constantly. At first this bothered me, but in the end I think it's something that needs to be discussed, especially among Christians. Xander has this, It should have been me, attitude. Over and over again she is shown the meaning of true sacrifice but it isn't until the end that she finally gets it.
This book has lot's of action and Characters that you will end up caring deeply for. It also has a heck of a cliff hanger.
May 3, 2023
So following on from Nameless, things get really, really dark. I mean like super dark. So I guess content warnings for rape and suicide ideation.
After the losses in the first book, things started to look up a little, at least at the start. After all, they did manage to find what they were looking for. Their sacrifices were not in vain. And their trip to McLeod's home forces some deeper conversations and discussions about their pasts - not just Xander's, but just about everyone left on the Prodigal.
The core of this book is the discovery of who Xander really is. And whilst it was amazing and mindblowing, Williams did a good job in laying down enough clues and hints for that delicious tension of ooohh I think this is what happened! and but how would it actually work? leading up to the reveal. (I was almost right about what happened, but am obviously not science-y enough to guess how lol)
But things don't stay peaceful for long...
I mean, who expected it to? They've got syndicates on their tail after all.
But coming back to the Morningstar: Destiny Trilogy's underpinnings of faith, where Nameless explores personal convictions, Namesake goes so much deeper into holding onto faith in dark times. Xander keeps asking the questions Where are you, God? and Why me? Why is all this happening to me? as she struggles through everything that has happened to her, everything that has brought her to the Prodigal, especially all the deaths she leaves in her wake. Because of her. Because of who she is. Because of the people who are trying to get her. And it culminates in the big one: Can I still then believe?
Namesake ends on another cliffhanger, and I'm excited to head into New Name when I have the time!
After the losses in the first book, things started to look up a little, at least at the start. After all, they did manage to find what they were looking for. Their sacrifices were not in vain. And their trip to McLeod's home forces some deeper conversations and discussions about their pasts - not just Xander's, but just about everyone left on the Prodigal.
The core of this book is the discovery of who Xander really is. And whilst it was amazing and mindblowing, Williams did a good job in laying down enough clues and hints for that delicious tension of ooohh I think this is what happened! and but how would it actually work? leading up to the reveal. (I was almost right about what happened, but am obviously not science-y enough to guess how lol)
But things don't stay peaceful for long...
I mean, who expected it to? They've got syndicates on their tail after all.
But coming back to the Morningstar: Destiny Trilogy's underpinnings of faith, where Nameless explores personal convictions, Namesake goes so much deeper into holding onto faith in dark times. Xander keeps asking the questions Where are you, God? and Why me? Why is all this happening to me? as she struggles through everything that has happened to her, everything that has brought her to the Prodigal, especially all the deaths she leaves in her wake. Because of her. Because of who she is. Because of the people who are trying to get her. And it culminates in the big one: Can I still then believe?
Namesake ends on another cliffhanger, and I'm excited to head into New Name when I have the time!
September 23, 2016
3.5 Stars
This is a tough one to rate and review.
On one hand, it's brilliant - I loved getting to journey with the characters again, but on the other - several things happen that I'm not a fan of. Namely, people die and it's just depressing, but then Xander gets put into situations that might possibly be too far? (See content warning).
Definitely enjoyed it. The same fast paced plot of the first one, coupled with some enormous character growth make for a great book 2. I loved seeing Kale grow, even if it does come at a cost. Xander has a huge breakthrough this book and we finally learn why the syndicate is after her, and we get to find out just exactly who she is. She has a bit of a rocky journey in this book, and manages to get herself caught in a cliffhanger ending. Yeah, definitely need book 3 right about now. Seriously, so many things happened in this book and so many characters were affected. I'm still holding out faint hope for certain of them.
Content Warning:
There's a fair amount of language - but the name of God is not taken in vain. No usages of the F-bomb either. But all of the characters except Xander curse frequently, so be prepared.
Sex: a couple almost has sex a few times but the girl stops it before it can go to far. A character gets raped - you get a lead up to and an after. Then she has to deal with being under the rapist's control for a short period of time following, so there's some vague descriptions of the act, the perv threatening her again, memories, and emotions from it all. I'm not sure if this whole thing was essential to the story - I guess the main point is for the character to briefly lose and then regain her faith stronger than before.
I'd give this book an R rating, so just be prepared.
The content warning sounds bad, but I'm still going to call it a Christian book. Why? Because this book deals with things such as sacrifice, forgiveness, and the power of God's love. Xander is trapped in a future that has forgotten God, but she, for the most part, sticks to what she believes and does what's right. At the end, she decides to trust God not matter what's happened or what might happen to her. It's a good message, so definitely give this book and the series a chance!! Eagerly waiting for book 3!
This is a tough one to rate and review.
On one hand, it's brilliant - I loved getting to journey with the characters again, but on the other - several things happen that I'm not a fan of. Namely, people die and it's just depressing, but then Xander gets put into situations that might possibly be too far? (See content warning).
Definitely enjoyed it. The same fast paced plot of the first one, coupled with some enormous character growth make for a great book 2. I loved seeing Kale grow, even if it does come at a cost. Xander has a huge breakthrough this book and we finally learn why the syndicate is after her, and we get to find out just exactly who she is. She has a bit of a rocky journey in this book, and manages to get herself caught in a cliffhanger ending. Yeah, definitely need book 3 right about now. Seriously, so many things happened in this book and so many characters were affected. I'm still holding out faint hope for certain of them.
Content Warning:
There's a fair amount of language - but the name of God is not taken in vain. No usages of the F-bomb either. But all of the characters except Xander curse frequently, so be prepared.
Sex: a couple almost has sex a few times but the girl stops it before it can go to far. A character gets raped - you get a lead up to and an after. Then she has to deal with being under the rapist's control for a short period of time following, so there's some vague descriptions of the act, the perv threatening her again, memories, and emotions from it all. I'm not sure if this whole thing was essential to the story - I guess the main point is for the character to briefly lose and then regain her faith stronger than before.
I'd give this book an R rating, so just be prepared.
The content warning sounds bad, but I'm still going to call it a Christian book. Why? Because this book deals with things such as sacrifice, forgiveness, and the power of God's love. Xander is trapped in a future that has forgotten God, but she, for the most part, sticks to what she believes and does what's right. At the end, she decides to trust God not matter what's happened or what might happen to her. It's a good message, so definitely give this book and the series a chance!! Eagerly waiting for book 3!
January 3, 2016
So many unexpected directions! I'm now on the edge of my seat for the next one.
August 2, 2016
Really good book, but it had some plot elements that I have some personal problems with (spoilers...) If you these elements don't bother you, you'll still love the book.
March 31, 2017
This sequel felt like the series' own The Empire Strikes Back with its darker, more mature town than Nameless. If anything, I was bothered about the pacing in the middle, but beyond that, it did raise questions, give painful answers, and presented a very good story.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews