What do you think?
Rate this book
The Treasons Cycle #2
A Choice of Treasons
Gripping, fast-moving military science fiction starring the hero of Of Treasons Born
As a lifer in the Imperial Navy, fighting in a war that has lasted generations, Lieutenant York Ballin’s only hope for an honorable discharge is the grave. Neither the Empire nor the Directorate seems to care that millions have died or that millions more are doomed as hostilities continue. Ballin’s only option is to hunker down, keep his crewmen and women in top condition, and try not to get them all killed. But matters take a turn for the worse when he’s forced to hijack the cruiser Cinesstar in order to evacuate the empress, her daughter, and the imperial embassy just before the planet Dumark falls to the enemy.
Now, deep behind enemy lines, aboard a ship without a trained crew and commanded by an incompetent nobleman, it becomes clear to Ballin that the empress has a dangerous agenda—so dangerous, it threatens the power structures of both the Empire and the Directorate. Now even their comrades in the Empire are hell-bent on turning Cinesstar into a cloud of radioactive vapor. It falls to Lieutenant Ballin to save them all, but every option leads to a quandary—and he finds himself faced with a choice of treasons.
A Choice of Treasons is part of J. L. Doty’s Treasons Cycle, which also includes Of Treasons Born, the story of York Ballin’s reluctant enlistment in the Imperial Navy, his loyalty to his friends, and his doubts regarding the imperial uniform he once wore with great pride.
As a lifer in the Imperial Navy, fighting in a war that has lasted generations, Lieutenant York Ballin’s only hope for an honorable discharge is the grave. Neither the Empire nor the Directorate seems to care that millions have died or that millions more are doomed as hostilities continue. Ballin’s only option is to hunker down, keep his crewmen and women in top condition, and try not to get them all killed. But matters take a turn for the worse when he’s forced to hijack the cruiser Cinesstar in order to evacuate the empress, her daughter, and the imperial embassy just before the planet Dumark falls to the enemy.
Now, deep behind enemy lines, aboard a ship without a trained crew and commanded by an incompetent nobleman, it becomes clear to Ballin that the empress has a dangerous agenda—so dangerous, it threatens the power structures of both the Empire and the Directorate. Now even their comrades in the Empire are hell-bent on turning Cinesstar into a cloud of radioactive vapor. It falls to Lieutenant Ballin to save them all, but every option leads to a quandary—and he finds himself faced with a choice of treasons.
A Choice of Treasons is part of J. L. Doty’s Treasons Cycle, which also includes Of Treasons Born, the story of York Ballin’s reluctant enlistment in the Imperial Navy, his loyalty to his friends, and his doubts regarding the imperial uniform he once wore with great pride.
375 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 22, 2009
34 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Doty
24 books88 followersJim is a full-time SF&F writer, scientist and laser geek (Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, specialty laser physics), and former running-dog-lackey for the bourgeois capitalist establishment. He's been writing for over 30 years, with 15 published books. His first success came through self-publishing when his books went word-of-mouth viral, and sold enough that he was able to quit his day-job, start working for himself and write full time--his new boss is a real jerk. That led to contracts with traditional publishers like Open Road Media and Harper Collins Voyager, and his books are now a mix of traditional and self-published.
The four novels in his new hard science fiction series, The Blacksword Regiment, are scheduled for release in July 2020. Right now he’s fleshing out ideas for the next book in The Dead Among Us, he’s writing another episode in The Treasons Cycle, and he’s working on a new fantasy series The Deck of Chaos.
Jim was born in Seattle, but he's lived most of his life in California, though he did live on the east coast and in Europe for a while. He now resides in Arizona with his wife Karen and three little beings who claim to be cats: Tilda, Julia and Natasha. But Jim is certain they're really extra-terrestrial aliens in disguise.
The four novels in his new hard science fiction series, The Blacksword Regiment, are scheduled for release in July 2020. Right now he’s fleshing out ideas for the next book in The Dead Among Us, he’s writing another episode in The Treasons Cycle, and he’s working on a new fantasy series The Deck of Chaos.
Jim was born in Seattle, but he's lived most of his life in California, though he did live on the east coast and in Europe for a while. He now resides in Arizona with his wife Karen and three little beings who claim to be cats: Tilda, Julia and Natasha. But Jim is certain they're really extra-terrestrial aliens in disguise.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 20, 2023
Re-read. I have decided this time around to add a star, because holy cow, this was good!!
Original review:
What a story! What a book! And oy vey, what a messy tangle! It started with a bang when the Marines had to do an emergency extraction at an embassy due to a planetary riot, and it was non-stop from that point onward.
I enjoyed this immensely. It wasn't perfect, (the author had a fixation for the words "screamed" and "shouted" among some other things), and definitely had some flaws, (the worst being that disgusting scene with the S+M floozy), but I loved it. High octane action, nerve-wracking plot, excellent characterization, and a terrific, sympathetic and complex MC with an awesome Marine sidekick.
I was so absorbed in the goings-on that I completely forgot to keep notes for myself in order to write a proper review. Sorry! Maybe when I re-read it in the future I'll remember to do that. It looks like a sequel is planned. I hope that's the case since this was published years ago and there isn't anything yet on the horizon. I might have to pick up the prequel in the meantime.
Thank you, Don, for this recommendation, and please keep them coming!
Original review:
What a story! What a book! And oy vey, what a messy tangle! It started with a bang when the Marines had to do an emergency extraction at an embassy due to a planetary riot, and it was non-stop from that point onward.
I enjoyed this immensely. It wasn't perfect, (the author had a fixation for the words "screamed" and "shouted" among some other things), and definitely had some flaws, (the worst being that disgusting scene with the S+M floozy), but I loved it. High octane action, nerve-wracking plot, excellent characterization, and a terrific, sympathetic and complex MC with an awesome Marine sidekick.
I was so absorbed in the goings-on that I completely forgot to keep notes for myself in order to write a proper review. Sorry! Maybe when I re-read it in the future I'll remember to do that. It looks like a sequel is planned. I hope that's the case since this was published years ago and there isn't anything yet on the horizon. I might have to pick up the prequel in the meantime.
Thank you, Don, for this recommendation, and please keep them coming!
October 27, 2015
Riveting military space opera!
Lieutenant York Ballin, a naval combat lifer, with more experience and determination in his little finger than the whole Imperial Fleet commanders put together is caught in a cat and mouse game of pursuit spanning deep space--and the pursuers are mounting. The Federal Directorate of the Republic of Syndon and his own Imperial forces want to blast his ship, the cruiser Cinesstar, into nothingness, and for what? True on board is the Empress and the Princess. Who wants them dead? A let's not forget the silent hunter who's tracked him from the beginning.
Then there's the mysterious references to Ballin's antecedents that he himself has only just gotten a fix on. Oh, and let's not forget Ballin's arch enemy on the deck, Sierka.
Political and economic power and greed are accompanying contributors behind this situation those on the Cinesstar are subjected to. This war has dragged on for over two years. Millions of lives have been wasted. And the Empress is up to something that's embroiled them all.
The drama drew me in. I hear echoes of David Drake and John Ringo. There's maybe a smidgin of Tanya Huff with the portrayal of the Master Sergeant, Mieka Palevi, a character I thoroughly enjoyed. When Ballin is made an acting marine CO, Palevi is the one who shepherds him through the transition. Palevi is the one who has his back.
This was a truly enthralling read. I am fascinated by the Kinathin and their breed warriors, allies of the 'feddie's' and hope to hear more about their culture.
Action is swift, the plot moves along at a hectic pace, and I'm definitely hooked!
I await the next book with baited breath! Bravo!
A NetGalley ARC
Lieutenant York Ballin, a naval combat lifer, with more experience and determination in his little finger than the whole Imperial Fleet commanders put together is caught in a cat and mouse game of pursuit spanning deep space--and the pursuers are mounting. The Federal Directorate of the Republic of Syndon and his own Imperial forces want to blast his ship, the cruiser Cinesstar, into nothingness, and for what? True on board is the Empress and the Princess. Who wants them dead? A let's not forget the silent hunter who's tracked him from the beginning.
Then there's the mysterious references to Ballin's antecedents that he himself has only just gotten a fix on. Oh, and let's not forget Ballin's arch enemy on the deck, Sierka.
Political and economic power and greed are accompanying contributors behind this situation those on the Cinesstar are subjected to. This war has dragged on for over two years. Millions of lives have been wasted. And the Empress is up to something that's embroiled them all.
The drama drew me in. I hear echoes of David Drake and John Ringo. There's maybe a smidgin of Tanya Huff with the portrayal of the Master Sergeant, Mieka Palevi, a character I thoroughly enjoyed. When Ballin is made an acting marine CO, Palevi is the one who shepherds him through the transition. Palevi is the one who has his back.
This was a truly enthralling read. I am fascinated by the Kinathin and their breed warriors, allies of the 'feddie's' and hope to hear more about their culture.
Action is swift, the plot moves along at a hectic pace, and I'm definitely hooked!
I await the next book with baited breath! Bravo!
A NetGalley ARC
January 8, 2019
Prvo književno delo koje sam ove godine pročitao je zastrašujuć amalgam amaterskog pisanja i dobre zabave. Ova prilično obimna knjiga je inače druga u nizu, ali ja sam je omaškom pročitao pre nego što sam to shvatio, što mi očito nije nimalo smetalo u razumevanju i praćenju radnje, kao i razvoja - takvog kakav je - glavnog junaka i relativno široke lepeze pratećih likova.
U suštini, ovo je loše napisan power trip u kome se ceo univerzum vrti oko glavnog lika. Roman se čita ponajviše kao Honorverse/Vorkosigan fanfiction, kad bi je pisao Džoni Ringo - samo bez beskrajnih infodampova u koje se pretvorio Honorverse, ili Ringovih white power sanjarenja.
U zanatskom smislu, ovo je travestija. Deus Ex Machina momenti obiluju, protagonista je Mary Sue kao da mu je majka Anita Blejk a otac sinteza svih velikih belih pomorskih kapetana, od Kuka do Kirka - samo bez tračka Pikarda, ali s dosta primesa poznog Vejdera. Ženski likovi su zapostavljeni do nepostojeći i služe samo da bi se svetlo glavnog junaka odbijalo o njih. I tako dalje i tako redom.
No, sve to rekavši, ovo jeste iznenađujuće zabavno štivo. Kada bi ga neki dobar urednik propustio kroz šake, ili ga neki dobar pisac preradio, vredelo bi solidnih pet zvezdica. Ovako, sa stanovišta književne vrednosti, A Choice of Treasons zaslužuje 1*, dok sa stanovišta zabave koju pruža vredi celih 4*. Ukupni utisak mi se sve vreme vrteo oko 2*, iskren da budem, ali se roman ipak donekle izvukao u poslednjih 10%, tako da neka bude jedna trojka.
U suštini, ovo je loše napisan power trip u kome se ceo univerzum vrti oko glavnog lika. Roman se čita ponajviše kao Honorverse/Vorkosigan fanfiction, kad bi je pisao Džoni Ringo - samo bez beskrajnih infodampova u koje se pretvorio Honorverse, ili Ringovih white power sanjarenja.
U zanatskom smislu, ovo je travestija. Deus Ex Machina momenti obiluju, protagonista je Mary Sue kao da mu je majka Anita Blejk a otac sinteza svih velikih belih pomorskih kapetana, od Kuka do Kirka - samo bez tračka Pikarda, ali s dosta primesa poznog Vejdera. Ženski likovi su zapostavljeni do nepostojeći i služe samo da bi se svetlo glavnog junaka odbijalo o njih. I tako dalje i tako redom.
No, sve to rekavši, ovo jeste iznenađujuće zabavno štivo. Kada bi ga neki dobar urednik propustio kroz šake, ili ga neki dobar pisac preradio, vredelo bi solidnih pet zvezdica. Ovako, sa stanovišta književne vrednosti, A Choice of Treasons zaslužuje 1*, dok sa stanovišta zabave koju pruža vredi celih 4*. Ukupni utisak mi se sve vreme vrteo oko 2*, iskren da budem, ali se roman ipak donekle izvukao u poslednjih 10%, tako da neka bude jedna trojka.
April 26, 2017
An excellent military sci-fi story that was brought to life by a great narrator (Noah Levine). Though I felt frustration from time to time with the MC, I really enjoyed a full story told in a single novel with lots of action and a great ending.
4.5 Stars for a great listen and recommended for any fan of military science fiction (or just science fiction in general)
4.5 Stars for a great listen and recommended for any fan of military science fiction (or just science fiction in general)
November 9, 2015
>Minor plot spoilers ahead<
Summary:
As a young boy, York Ballin knew the sting of rejection as his foster parents paid him little heed, and as he grew older the choices he made garnered him no more respect from society. So after a barbaric act committed by him and a few friends as young men, Ballin finds himself with a choice between a guaranteed short life on a distant mining facility or the possibility of an even shorter life aboard a starship in the Imperial Navy. In the end the choice is made for him, and he finds himself a lifer in the navy.
Now a grown man and a lieutenant on the front lines, Ballin is unceremoniously appointed leader of a group of marine grunts setting out to rescue Princess Aeya from a local uprising on some distant rock of a planet. Not too happy being appointed the leader of the marines, and the marines not too happy with his appointment, Ballin finds a way to prove himself in the eyes of the grunts with his acts of loyalty to the troops. As a lifer, Ballin has little way of climbing the ranks in the Imperial Navy, yet his actions in the Princess's rescue sees him appointed the leader of all marines in the fleet.
Now appointed to a new ship, the Cinesstar, Ballin finds himself the protector of not only the Princess but the Empress as well. After struggling to keep his crew alive under the horrible leadership of the ship's not so noble CO, Ballin finds a way to fight against enemy forces both within and beyond Imperial borders. As time goes on, it seems just about everyone is out to see the destruction of the Cinesstar. Forces meet in secret to hatch plans to see that death is brought to the ship, yet as time goes on it becomes more and more clear that the target of these assassin plans is not the royalty aboard, but Ballin himself. In the end we watch as one man, ripped apart and put back together again, finds a way to not only bring peace to his one ship, but to his people as well.
Characters:
Although there are plenty of great characters within the pages of Treasons, it is Ballin that is by far the most outstanding. Painted as a loyal soldier for the fleet, Ballin also proves himself an honor-bound man willing to sacrifice all for his crew and his ship. Ripped apart by war over and over again, Ballin reads more as a sacrificial combatant than a martyr for the cause, but as the page numbers go on, the reader will see that his character is not without flaw. In the end, our hero is just a broken man wiling to make the ultimate sacrifice for loyalty and peace.
Writing:
As a reader, we all want every book we read to be a real page turner, to be forced to stay awake long after our bedtimes. Here, in Choice of Treasons, we actually get a book difficult to put down; a rarity with books with such high page numbers. The characters in this book are very well refined and are written with incredible depth and meaning. Thankfully there is little in the way of filler, surprising given the 600+ page count, and every page is integral to the events on the next. And even though this is a space opera slash scifi book, the science fiction is left light so that the story can make for a more impactful presentation without being dragged down by irrelevant techno-babble.
Conclusion:
Although I initially delayed downloading this book because it is outside my usual Star Wars – Star Trek addiction, I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to the second installment out early 2016. The characters were brilliantly portrayed and the story was well crafted and presented. In the end the book achieved everything I look for in a great SciFi book and had all the elements that make me okay with the cover price. As someone who calls himself a huge fan of space operas, I recommend this to anyone looking for a good cat and mouse space drama.
5 out of 5 stars from me.
* I received this in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
As a young boy, York Ballin knew the sting of rejection as his foster parents paid him little heed, and as he grew older the choices he made garnered him no more respect from society. So after a barbaric act committed by him and a few friends as young men, Ballin finds himself with a choice between a guaranteed short life on a distant mining facility or the possibility of an even shorter life aboard a starship in the Imperial Navy. In the end the choice is made for him, and he finds himself a lifer in the navy.
Now a grown man and a lieutenant on the front lines, Ballin is unceremoniously appointed leader of a group of marine grunts setting out to rescue Princess Aeya from a local uprising on some distant rock of a planet. Not too happy being appointed the leader of the marines, and the marines not too happy with his appointment, Ballin finds a way to prove himself in the eyes of the grunts with his acts of loyalty to the troops. As a lifer, Ballin has little way of climbing the ranks in the Imperial Navy, yet his actions in the Princess's rescue sees him appointed the leader of all marines in the fleet.
Now appointed to a new ship, the Cinesstar, Ballin finds himself the protector of not only the Princess but the Empress as well. After struggling to keep his crew alive under the horrible leadership of the ship's not so noble CO, Ballin finds a way to fight against enemy forces both within and beyond Imperial borders. As time goes on, it seems just about everyone is out to see the destruction of the Cinesstar. Forces meet in secret to hatch plans to see that death is brought to the ship, yet as time goes on it becomes more and more clear that the target of these assassin plans is not the royalty aboard, but Ballin himself. In the end we watch as one man, ripped apart and put back together again, finds a way to not only bring peace to his one ship, but to his people as well.
Characters:
Although there are plenty of great characters within the pages of Treasons, it is Ballin that is by far the most outstanding. Painted as a loyal soldier for the fleet, Ballin also proves himself an honor-bound man willing to sacrifice all for his crew and his ship. Ripped apart by war over and over again, Ballin reads more as a sacrificial combatant than a martyr for the cause, but as the page numbers go on, the reader will see that his character is not without flaw. In the end, our hero is just a broken man wiling to make the ultimate sacrifice for loyalty and peace.
Writing:
As a reader, we all want every book we read to be a real page turner, to be forced to stay awake long after our bedtimes. Here, in Choice of Treasons, we actually get a book difficult to put down; a rarity with books with such high page numbers. The characters in this book are very well refined and are written with incredible depth and meaning. Thankfully there is little in the way of filler, surprising given the 600+ page count, and every page is integral to the events on the next. And even though this is a space opera slash scifi book, the science fiction is left light so that the story can make for a more impactful presentation without being dragged down by irrelevant techno-babble.
Conclusion:
Although I initially delayed downloading this book because it is outside my usual Star Wars – Star Trek addiction, I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to the second installment out early 2016. The characters were brilliantly portrayed and the story was well crafted and presented. In the end the book achieved everything I look for in a great SciFi book and had all the elements that make me okay with the cover price. As someone who calls himself a huge fan of space operas, I recommend this to anyone looking for a good cat and mouse space drama.
5 out of 5 stars from me.
* I received this in exchange for an honest review.
December 19, 2016
Well.
I've read... I think five... books in a row now without reviewing them. Some of them were very entertaining, some less so. And as many of you know, my major love is fantasy. But the book that moves me to start catching up on my reviews? SF all the way.
Damn, this was an exciting book. I actually disliked several things about it -- it had several glaring logic/physics problems, it was incredibly tropey in spots, and some of the dialogue was downright clunky. But it was breathless and exciting and kept me listening all day today -- I intentionally did stuff that would allow me to keep listening instead of doing the work I was SUPPOSED to be doing.
It's been on my TBR list for a while. I liked the sound of the blurb, and I'd seen some good reviews. And good Lord was it entertaining. Flaws out the wazoo -- the hero is your basic can-do-no-wrong, overcomes-all-obstacles, can't-be-killed, Gary-Stu, all-the-good-guys-love-him, lone-honorable-man-with-mysterious-past-and-fated-for-glory hero trope (oh, and the concept of the "lifer" who is doomed to being continually assigned to combat duty stolen straight from the classic Armor); the first villain was TSTL, the Big Bad Villain was gay (because of course he was), and most of the folks in power are either TSTL or entirely corrupt; torture and cold-blooded murder were justified by Our Hero For either the Greater Good or just plain vengeance; the laws of physics were blithely disregarded in several particulars, likewise the laws of logic... and you get the picture. Those sorts of details (and others) belong in books that I normally hate and jeer.
But guess what? I simply couldn't stop listening. The momentum, the incredible (in both senses of the word -- both intensely exciting and intensely unbelievable) action scenes, the nailbiting tension, the how-is-he-going-to-get-out-of-this-one twists and turns, the depiction of the hero (yeah, he's all the bad things I listed above, but I kinda love him too -- yes, he is that magnetic) -- made me forgive or at least deprioritize all the flaws I mentioned earlier.
I don't quite understand the publishing history of this book -- GR says it was first published in 2009, but all the reviews I see are 2014-2016, and IMHO this deserves many more reviews than it has gotten so far. If you want exciting reading, you can't go wrong here. I can't give this five stars because of all the flaws, but I give it a big "Hell Yeah!" for the action and a loud "Oo-Rah!" for the kickass Marines. Do NOT start reading this when you have other things to do. You have been warned.
I've read... I think five... books in a row now without reviewing them. Some of them were very entertaining, some less so. And as many of you know, my major love is fantasy. But the book that moves me to start catching up on my reviews? SF all the way.
Damn, this was an exciting book. I actually disliked several things about it -- it had several glaring logic/physics problems, it was incredibly tropey in spots, and some of the dialogue was downright clunky. But it was breathless and exciting and kept me listening all day today -- I intentionally did stuff that would allow me to keep listening instead of doing the work I was SUPPOSED to be doing.
It's been on my TBR list for a while. I liked the sound of the blurb, and I'd seen some good reviews. And good Lord was it entertaining. Flaws out the wazoo -- the hero is your basic can-do-no-wrong, overcomes-all-obstacles, can't-be-killed, Gary-Stu, all-the-good-guys-love-him, lone-honorable-man-with-mysterious-past-and-fated-for-glory hero trope (oh, and the concept of the "lifer" who is doomed to being continually assigned to combat duty stolen straight from the classic Armor); the first villain was TSTL, the Big Bad Villain was gay (because of course he was), and most of the folks in power are either TSTL or entirely corrupt; torture and cold-blooded murder were justified by Our Hero For either the Greater Good or just plain vengeance; the laws of physics were blithely disregarded in several particulars, likewise the laws of logic... and you get the picture. Those sorts of details (and others) belong in books that I normally hate and jeer.
But guess what? I simply couldn't stop listening. The momentum, the incredible (in both senses of the word -- both intensely exciting and intensely unbelievable) action scenes, the nailbiting tension, the how-is-he-going-to-get-out-of-this-one twists and turns, the depiction of the hero (yeah, he's all the bad things I listed above, but I kinda love him too -- yes, he is that magnetic) -- made me forgive or at least deprioritize all the flaws I mentioned earlier.
I don't quite understand the publishing history of this book -- GR says it was first published in 2009, but all the reviews I see are 2014-2016, and IMHO this deserves many more reviews than it has gotten so far. If you want exciting reading, you can't go wrong here. I can't give this five stars because of all the flaws, but I give it a big "Hell Yeah!" for the action and a loud "Oo-Rah!" for the kickass Marines. Do NOT start reading this when you have other things to do. You have been warned.
February 13, 2018
Confessions are in order. I write novels and most recently wrote my first complete science fiction story. It is called, "USS Kepler Dawn," a story of mankind's first attempt to colonize another star system. Previous novels were two westerns, two police procedural mysteries with paranormal twists, and one World War II military romance set during the Battle of Britain.
As it turns out, J. L. Doty and I share a former publisher, Telemachus Press. The owner introduced me to Jim and I decided to read some of his work. This book, "A Choice of Treasons," was the first. I can only say that it was unlike anything I have ever read before. I loved it. The way he structured the novel, in discrete sections logically following each other, the way he carried the plot and developed the personalities of his characters was first rate. I felt as if I were the leading character and knew how his companions felt about me. I now cannot wait to get into some of his other works. If they are half as good as "A Choice of Treasons," I will be stuck in my Kindle Fire for a long time.
Gerald Lane Summers, J.D.
As it turns out, J. L. Doty and I share a former publisher, Telemachus Press. The owner introduced me to Jim and I decided to read some of his work. This book, "A Choice of Treasons," was the first. I can only say that it was unlike anything I have ever read before. I loved it. The way he structured the novel, in discrete sections logically following each other, the way he carried the plot and developed the personalities of his characters was first rate. I felt as if I were the leading character and knew how his companions felt about me. I now cannot wait to get into some of his other works. If they are half as good as "A Choice of Treasons," I will be stuck in my Kindle Fire for a long time.
Gerald Lane Summers, J.D.
July 15, 2016
SEND OUT THE ALERT THIS BOOK IS REALLY GOOD AND ON AUDIBLE.
The fact that this book only has 88 ratings is straight up criminal, this book was fanastic. I know there is a prequel but I read this one first because well it was written first and I felt it worked great.
I kind of don't want to give away too much of the plot but the main character is the driving force of the story, he is a bit more aggressive/angry/crazy(especially when he starts getting low on sleep) compared to other space opera heroes, and his fears will be a constant theme of the story.
The fact that this book only has 88 ratings is straight up criminal, this book was fanastic. I know there is a prequel but I read this one first because well it was written first and I felt it worked great.
I kind of don't want to give away too much of the plot but the main character is the driving force of the story, he is a bit more aggressive/angry/crazy(especially when he starts getting low on sleep) compared to other space opera heroes, and his fears will be a constant theme of the story.
October 5, 2016
l'histoire d'un militaire qui réussit à stopper par la force et son habilité à déjouer toutes les manœuvres ennemies, une guerre sans fin entre deux civilisations humaines Quelques scènes dispensables de tentatives de meurtres et de tortures, un fond politique mince (on ne sait pas vraiment pourquoi cette guerre ) des méchants assez caricaturés et un héros qui survit à tout... Bref, pas déplaisant à lire pour qui aime l'action mais rien de transcendant dans le genre sinon pour les circonvolutions politiques et les trahisons qui s'enchaînent
October 2, 2016
Wow! This one reminded me of Cherryh's book. Action-packed and tensed, sur le fil du rasoir. A (rightly) paranoid and half mad protagonist is to bring back his ship and his men to safe heaven through war and treasons. I really liked it.
May 23, 2020
This is one of those times when a person feels really stupid.
Somehow I missed that this was BOOK 2 of the series....lol
I will definitely get Book 1 when I get a break!
A perfect blend of focus on the characters & tech. I am no science expert so I can't comment on the accuracy of the technology but wonder of wonders I could follow it! There is enough tech to satisfy(I hope)any science guru while not overloading us layman's. Ah, I loved the main character/hero. Even being the hero he is human & flawed, and doesn't escape unscathed, after all it is war. I loved to hate the nastier characters & the well horrible things they did. I haven't been this anxious while reading in a long while, this book held me from the first page, I rarely give 5 stars but this book very much deserves it. I hope there will be more books based in this universe but I recommend anything by this author-I've read The Thirteenth man, Child of the sword, & soon When dead ain't dead enough, which were just as wonderful! A huge Thank you to the author. Can't wait for the next great read!
Somehow I missed that this was BOOK 2 of the series....lol
I will definitely get Book 1 when I get a break!
A perfect blend of focus on the characters & tech. I am no science expert so I can't comment on the accuracy of the technology but wonder of wonders I could follow it! There is enough tech to satisfy(I hope)any science guru while not overloading us layman's. Ah, I loved the main character/hero. Even being the hero he is human & flawed, and doesn't escape unscathed, after all it is war. I loved to hate the nastier characters & the well horrible things they did. I haven't been this anxious while reading in a long while, this book held me from the first page, I rarely give 5 stars but this book very much deserves it. I hope there will be more books based in this universe but I recommend anything by this author-I've read The Thirteenth man, Child of the sword, & soon When dead ain't dead enough, which were just as wonderful! A huge Thank you to the author. Can't wait for the next great read!
March 7, 2019
I enjoyed this one as well as its predecessor, and the author weaves a good tale. While set in the future and space to be called science fiction, to me this is more of a novel around the main character vs. a usual science fiction title with a military angle. You do feel as if you are part of the story and can relate to the Lieutenant.
However, note this one ends with the possibility of another title to continue the story – it does leave you kind of hanging – but as this one was published in 2015, and I am writing this review in 2019, I’m not holding out for one. That’s too bad as this could have been a great series.
However, note this one ends with the possibility of another title to continue the story – it does leave you kind of hanging – but as this one was published in 2015, and I am writing this review in 2019, I’m not holding out for one. That’s too bad as this could have been a great series.
August 5, 2017
This, the second in the series, follows the hero York Ballin through an even larger section of the cosmic war which was introduced in the first book. However, while the climax of the first book was in a much smaller space with a few key players, this story ends in a truly huge fashion, with multiple characters and impacts across the galaxy.
With great characters, incredible action, and a completely unexpected ending, this was a great add to the series. It's bloody and downright gory at times, but definitely enjoyable if you love sci-fi.
With great characters, incredible action, and a completely unexpected ending, this was a great add to the series. It's bloody and downright gory at times, but definitely enjoyable if you love sci-fi.
January 17, 2018
Still reasonably good space opera. Not up to the standard of the prequel, but a fun read. The author explicitly states that he changed things in this edition for the sake of continuity, for which l commend him. However, I think at least one important thing slipped by. If it is not wrong, it is confusingly stated.
In the prequel York achieves at least 24 1/2 blood chevrons. In this book the number is stated at 12. It appears that that is the total number (not just the number on one arm) and a large annoying discrepancy.
In the prequel York achieves at least 24 1/2 blood chevrons. In this book the number is stated at 12. It appears that that is the total number (not just the number on one arm) and a large annoying discrepancy.
February 23, 2020
Not bad but...
Minor irritants, starting with... “Estimated time to transition is now two minutes, eighty-one seconds, sir.” After reading the author’s latest book, I wanted to go back and reread some of his earlier books. And I saw I hadn’t reviewed this one the first time around. Bottom line this book could stand some minor rewriting. And since this story is supposed to be a cycle or series, the author should consider writing a sequel. I would think the next would show his improvement as an author. With that said, I would recommend this book as a nice afternoon read.
Minor irritants, starting with... “Estimated time to transition is now two minutes, eighty-one seconds, sir.” After reading the author’s latest book, I wanted to go back and reread some of his earlier books. And I saw I hadn’t reviewed this one the first time around. Bottom line this book could stand some minor rewriting. And since this story is supposed to be a cycle or series, the author should consider writing a sequel. I would think the next would show his improvement as an author. With that said, I would recommend this book as a nice afternoon read.
August 19, 2019
Complicated plot, excellent character development, unanticipated climax!
I highly recommend reading both books, in sequence. The could stand alone but would suffer slightly. The plot is complex, devious, and skillfully crafted. Character development is excellent and science is believable and detailed. Lots of twists and turns and supporting characters. Excellent depiction of unbridled power and privilege and the unfortunate outcomes.
I highly recommend reading both books, in sequence. The could stand alone but would suffer slightly. The plot is complex, devious, and skillfully crafted. Character development is excellent and science is believable and detailed. Lots of twists and turns and supporting characters. Excellent depiction of unbridled power and privilege and the unfortunate outcomes.
May 15, 2018
Great book about politics, leadership and overcoming difficulties. I liked the great technical detail and complexity of the main character. I didn't like the fltatnes of villians. Also some technical details were unconvincing, for example the high number of people needed to man a spaceship or spaceship's guns being operated by people who had to be located near the gun.
August 1, 2020
If I could give this book more stars I would. This is just an excellent book and fun to read. You don't have to be a Sci-Fi junkie to like this story. It is fast paced and keeps you guessing along the way. I could not read this book fast enough, and now I'm sorry it's over. I would suggest reading part one first but it's not necessary. A part 3 would be nice.
June 20, 2025
I'm on the fence on this one. on one hand, I'm a big fan of York ballin and enjoyed the storyline. on the other hand parts of this book are really tedious and confusing. I almost quit a couple of times because of how stupid it was, but I'm glad I stuck with it and finished the book
May 7, 2017
I didn't like York Ballin in the beginning liked him better as the story went on. The story was good enough that I wanted to see how it would end. And it was a satisfying ending.
December 9, 2020
This started off SO. GOOD.
But then it got more and more Gary Stu, to the point of ridiculousness.
But then it got more and more Gary Stu, to the point of ridiculousness.
Read
September 17, 2024If you like science fiction this is a wonderful series. I thoroughly enjoyed these books! - SN 8/9/24
Read
February 20, 2017J.L Doty's future might be grandiose but is not bright, no matter trough how many solar systems you may travel!
Intrigues old as life itself take place among the empire, and no one is safe from them, not even the rulers!
I never thought that not paying attention in physics class would pay off so beautifully, I bought in on all the tech explanation Doty introduced in the book and made a heavily packed science fiction tech book haughtily entertaining.
Is a cool view on what might be in the far far future, a very satisfying picture for my imagination.
So here is the thing: we have the humans and their empire fighting against the aliens known as Federals.
The imperial army has this particular kind of soldiers called lifers that is basically soldiers that never leave the war zones unless dead. Predictably these people are the most trained and qualified in real battle and is one of them who eventually ends up with the task of getting the empress, her daughter and a particularly important passenger to safe haven.
You may find lots of marine black humor, intrigues big and small scale and overpowering bravery from a man who hasn't lost his sense of duty together with ohhh sooo many body parts!
I love myself some brilliant military strategy and pirate tricks and this book didn't come short of any of them.
There is sizzling fighting action, big decision taken at high risks, and it could all end tragically especially since so many seem determined to get on the very last nerve and/or sense of duty of the only man that may have a chance to save them.
I enjoyed this book a lot, enjoyed every fighting scene, every table turning end every battle trick from the home team or the enemy!
It's an excitingly bumpy ride!
Intrigues old as life itself take place among the empire, and no one is safe from them, not even the rulers!
I never thought that not paying attention in physics class would pay off so beautifully, I bought in on all the tech explanation Doty introduced in the book and made a heavily packed science fiction tech book haughtily entertaining.
Is a cool view on what might be in the far far future, a very satisfying picture for my imagination.
So here is the thing: we have the humans and their empire fighting against the aliens known as Federals.
The imperial army has this particular kind of soldiers called lifers that is basically soldiers that never leave the war zones unless dead. Predictably these people are the most trained and qualified in real battle and is one of them who eventually ends up with the task of getting the empress, her daughter and a particularly important passenger to safe haven.
You may find lots of marine black humor, intrigues big and small scale and overpowering bravery from a man who hasn't lost his sense of duty together with ohhh sooo many body parts!
I love myself some brilliant military strategy and pirate tricks and this book didn't come short of any of them.
There is sizzling fighting action, big decision taken at high risks, and it could all end tragically especially since so many seem determined to get on the very last nerve and/or sense of duty of the only man that may have a chance to save them.
I enjoyed this book a lot, enjoyed every fighting scene, every table turning end every battle trick from the home team or the enemy!
It's an excitingly bumpy ride!
February 4, 2016
“A Choice of Treasons” eBook was published in 2015 and was written by J. L. Doty (http://www.jldoty.com). Mr. Doty is the author of 10 novels and this is the second of his “Treasons Cycle” series.
I received a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence, Mature Language and Mature Situations. The setting of this Science Fiction Thriller novel is in a far future. Humanity has spread through the stars and we have come into contact with a few other races.
The Empire and the Directorate have been at war for years. The main character in this story is Lieutenant York Ballin. He is a ‘lifer’, one of those rare in the Imperial Navy that seems to find themselves constantly at the front. Ballin has been on the front lines for more than 20 years.
Ballin has had an odd career, starting out as a teenager who joined the Navy instead of doing prison time. After some service as a non-com, he is sent to military college and is now an officer. Being aboard ship on the front lines for more than 20 years Ballin has experience in most facets of the Navy.
When the officer commanding the Marines on board his ship is killed, Ballin is placed in charge of the Marines. Over time he builds respect with the Marines. The Directorate attacks and Ballin with his Marines must rescue the empress, with her retinue and daughter, as well as the embassy staff from a planet before it falls into Directorate hands.
This begins a wild chase with the Directorate forces close behind Ballin’s ship. When no other competent officers prove to be available, the empress puts Ballin in command of the ship. Now he must find a way to get his high value passengers back to the Empire. Things are not all as they appear within the Empire. Soon Ballin and his crew finds that the Directorate is not their only enemy.
I enjoyed the 16.5 hours I spent with this 418 page novel. It reminded me a little of the “Lost Fleet” series. While this is the second of the author’s “Treasons Cycle” it can easily be read as a stand alone novel. The character of Ballin is a little rough around the edges and willing to ignore the rules when they get in the way, but he is firm in his commitment to keep his crew in top condition. Nor does he lightly think of sacrificing the men and women under his command. Besides the pure military aspects of the novel, there is also conspiracy and intrigue within the leadership of both the Directorate and the Empire. I give this novel a 5 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I received a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence, Mature Language and Mature Situations. The setting of this Science Fiction Thriller novel is in a far future. Humanity has spread through the stars and we have come into contact with a few other races.
The Empire and the Directorate have been at war for years. The main character in this story is Lieutenant York Ballin. He is a ‘lifer’, one of those rare in the Imperial Navy that seems to find themselves constantly at the front. Ballin has been on the front lines for more than 20 years.
Ballin has had an odd career, starting out as a teenager who joined the Navy instead of doing prison time. After some service as a non-com, he is sent to military college and is now an officer. Being aboard ship on the front lines for more than 20 years Ballin has experience in most facets of the Navy.
When the officer commanding the Marines on board his ship is killed, Ballin is placed in charge of the Marines. Over time he builds respect with the Marines. The Directorate attacks and Ballin with his Marines must rescue the empress, with her retinue and daughter, as well as the embassy staff from a planet before it falls into Directorate hands.
This begins a wild chase with the Directorate forces close behind Ballin’s ship. When no other competent officers prove to be available, the empress puts Ballin in command of the ship. Now he must find a way to get his high value passengers back to the Empire. Things are not all as they appear within the Empire. Soon Ballin and his crew finds that the Directorate is not their only enemy.
I enjoyed the 16.5 hours I spent with this 418 page novel. It reminded me a little of the “Lost Fleet” series. While this is the second of the author’s “Treasons Cycle” it can easily be read as a stand alone novel. The character of Ballin is a little rough around the edges and willing to ignore the rules when they get in the way, but he is firm in his commitment to keep his crew in top condition. Nor does he lightly think of sacrificing the men and women under his command. Besides the pure military aspects of the novel, there is also conspiracy and intrigue within the leadership of both the Directorate and the Empire. I give this novel a 5 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
February 26, 2017
Great book. Lots of action, strong leading character and a surprising number of tough women even though the author doesn't call attention to it which I like.
March 20, 2017
A Choice of Treasons by J.L. Doty is a very gripping military space opera.
The story revolves around York Ballin, a Navy veteran who finds himself leading marines on a warship trying to outwit the enemy. It's broadly split between 3 main parts - the initial rescue, fleeing the war and the enemy, and then the 'choice of treasons' to attempt to end the war.
This was a really great read - especially the main character Ballin with all his flaws - but to me the best part was the middle section of the book where Ballin and his crew were trying to outwit the enemy - it was very reminiscent of The Hunt for Red October, just in spaceships rather than submarines.
The ending dragged a little, and the number of times Ballin did nothing to corrupt leaders because of the marine's "code" got a bit repetitive, but otherwise this was an excellent, well-paced and exciting novel.
The story revolves around York Ballin, a Navy veteran who finds himself leading marines on a warship trying to outwit the enemy. It's broadly split between 3 main parts - the initial rescue, fleeing the war and the enemy, and then the 'choice of treasons' to attempt to end the war.
This was a really great read - especially the main character Ballin with all his flaws - but to me the best part was the middle section of the book where Ballin and his crew were trying to outwit the enemy - it was very reminiscent of The Hunt for Red October, just in spaceships rather than submarines.
The ending dragged a little, and the number of times Ballin did nothing to corrupt leaders because of the marine's "code" got a bit repetitive, but otherwise this was an excellent, well-paced and exciting novel.
Currently reading
September 4, 2016I won this audiobook from the author(thank you J.L. Doty) but Audible is giving me nothing but trouble and will not allow me to listen to the book. I just can't understand it. I followed the MANY directions on audible but it still says trouble connecting to server. I'll try again later when I"m not so frustrated with the whole thing.
I've finally gotten audible to work, after more dicking around, but it shouldn't take this much effort to get a simple service to play. (Plus it made me sign up for an outlook express account I have no use for and don't want so now I have to figure out how to get rid of that later.) I'm no internet genius but I'm not an idiot either, sooooo......
I guess I know I'll never pay for anything on Audible and I do thank winning this book for that. I will listen to this book but, once again, I've had enough for now.
I've finally gotten audible to work, after more dicking around, but it shouldn't take this much effort to get a simple service to play. (Plus it made me sign up for an outlook express account I have no use for and don't want so now I have to figure out how to get rid of that later.) I'm no internet genius but I'm not an idiot either, sooooo......
I guess I know I'll never pay for anything on Audible and I do thank winning this book for that. I will listen to this book but, once again, I've had enough for now.
February 2, 2015
Keep Reading
I almost did not read this book because the POV changes were confusing until I got to know the characters. I think the author could solve this with Headers indicating character or even local. A glossary of characters would help also. But once I got past the first 4 or 5 chapters I enjoyed the book. I did not give it 5 stars because of the unexplained weird powers the main character would occasionally experience which of course got him out of lethal situations. Also this was more political intrigue than space opera. I don't really see a need for a sequel but I would probably read it. (As long as it differs from "the hunted" aspect of this book.)
I almost did not read this book because the POV changes were confusing until I got to know the characters. I think the author could solve this with Headers indicating character or even local. A glossary of characters would help also. But once I got past the first 4 or 5 chapters I enjoyed the book. I did not give it 5 stars because of the unexplained weird powers the main character would occasionally experience which of course got him out of lethal situations. Also this was more political intrigue than space opera. I don't really see a need for a sequel but I would probably read it. (As long as it differs from "the hunted" aspect of this book.)
January 31, 2017
This was a nail-biter all the way through. Its like an old sea adventure tale, but, in space. I enjoyed being in the head of opposing captains and seeing how they rig their ships to trick the other.
The tech is realistic and well-placed throughout the book. Doty does not try to explain how they travel beyond the speed of light which is for the best because any such explanation would have created a giant hole.
This is the best sci-fi I have read in a very long time and I can't wait for the next installment in the series. In the meantime, I will check out some more of Doty's work.
The tech is realistic and well-placed throughout the book. Doty does not try to explain how they travel beyond the speed of light which is for the best because any such explanation would have created a giant hole.
This is the best sci-fi I have read in a very long time and I can't wait for the next installment in the series. In the meantime, I will check out some more of Doty's work.
January 31, 2014
Absolutely loved it! I can't say if the science is accurate but there was a perfect balance between focus on the characters & tech.Loved to hate the nastier situations the hero found himself in, I haven't been so anxious while reading for a while. I've read this authors The Thirteenth man & Child of the sword & will be reading When dead ain't dead enough, along w/anything this author writes.(yes, they were that good)Hope for more in this universe.Thank you for a great book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews