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Vatic #1
Vatic
The dead don't always die
Top Company scientist, Chen Jelinek, has committed suicide.
Vatic, a half-alive empath with no memory of who or what he is, will die in six-hours if he can’t find out why—or so the Company tells him—an ‘added incentive to get the job done’.
Our hero soon discovers he is one of the Skilled, a genetically enhanced human revered and despised in equal measure—a bloodhound with a terrifying past who’ll stop at nothing in his pursuit of truth.
And ‘the Skilled always get their guy’… don’t they?
Top Company scientist, Chen Jelinek, has committed suicide.
Vatic, a half-alive empath with no memory of who or what he is, will die in six-hours if he can’t find out why—or so the Company tells him—an ‘added incentive to get the job done’.
Our hero soon discovers he is one of the Skilled, a genetically enhanced human revered and despised in equal measure—a bloodhound with a terrifying past who’ll stop at nothing in his pursuit of truth.
And ‘the Skilled always get their guy’… don’t they?
- GenresScience FictionMystery
258 pages, ebook
Published December 6, 2015
10 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
K.J. Heritage
34 books78 followers"K.J.Heritage's uncanny sense of pacing and story puts him at the forefront of today's speculative fiction writers." Samuel Peralta, Amazon bestselling author and creator of The Future Chronicles
TO ENJOY a K.J.Heritage starter book of his short stories and more, join his Mostly Reader's Club at: http://kjheritage.com/join/
I'D LIKE to thank you for visiting my page. I’ve been amazed by the reaction to my novels and stories, and by the many emails, tweets and posts (not all abuse!) I've received since my first release. In many ways, it’s a dream come true, to write, publish and get such wonderful feedback.
A BIT more about me...
I'M AN international bestselling author mostly writing mystery sci-fi, crime and fantasy.
I WRITE books that I love to read. From science fiction action and adventure mysteries to contemporary thrillers and paranormal fantasy.
MY FIRST sci-fi short story, ‘ESCAPING THE CRADLE’ was runner-up in the 2005 Clarke-Bradbury International Science Fiction Competition.
MY STORIES have appeared in several anthologies with such self-publishing sci-fi luminaries as Hugh Howey, Samuel Peralta and Michael Bunker.
I HAVE worked all the requisite ‘writer jobs' such as driver's mate, factory gateman, barman, labourer, telesales operative, sales assistant, warehouseman, IT contractor, Student Union President, university IT helpdesk guy, British Rail signal software designer, premiership football website designer, gigging musician, graphic designer, stand-up comedian, sound engineer, improv artist, magazine editor and web journo... Although I don't like to talk about it. Mostly.
I WAS born in the UK in one of the more interesting previous centuries. Originally from Derbyshire, I now live in the seaside town of Brighton. I am a tea drinker, avid Twitterer, and autistic (ASD) human being.
FOR ALL media enquiries, event/booking information, signed copies, etc. please email: contact@kjheritage.com
TO ENJOY a K.J.Heritage starter book of his short stories and more, join his Mostly Reader's Club at: http://kjheritage.com/join/
I'D LIKE to thank you for visiting my page. I’ve been amazed by the reaction to my novels and stories, and by the many emails, tweets and posts (not all abuse!) I've received since my first release. In many ways, it’s a dream come true, to write, publish and get such wonderful feedback.
A BIT more about me...
I'M AN international bestselling author mostly writing mystery sci-fi, crime and fantasy.
I WRITE books that I love to read. From science fiction action and adventure mysteries to contemporary thrillers and paranormal fantasy.
MY FIRST sci-fi short story, ‘ESCAPING THE CRADLE’ was runner-up in the 2005 Clarke-Bradbury International Science Fiction Competition.
MY STORIES have appeared in several anthologies with such self-publishing sci-fi luminaries as Hugh Howey, Samuel Peralta and Michael Bunker.
I HAVE worked all the requisite ‘writer jobs' such as driver's mate, factory gateman, barman, labourer, telesales operative, sales assistant, warehouseman, IT contractor, Student Union President, university IT helpdesk guy, British Rail signal software designer, premiership football website designer, gigging musician, graphic designer, stand-up comedian, sound engineer, improv artist, magazine editor and web journo... Although I don't like to talk about it. Mostly.
I WAS born in the UK in one of the more interesting previous centuries. Originally from Derbyshire, I now live in the seaside town of Brighton. I am a tea drinker, avid Twitterer, and autistic (ASD) human being.
FOR ALL media enquiries, event/booking information, signed copies, etc. please email: contact@kjheritage.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 22, 2017
Vatic, the story, takes place in our far future on an asteroid in some other solar system. The human race has come a long way scientifically and Vatic, the protagonist, is an altered and enhanced agent that ‘The Company’ sends to investigate a murder. The story begins with Vatic being awakened from hypersleep. He needs to have his blood cleaned of toxins used to wake him within 6ish hours or his organs shut down. The Company uses this as incentive for him to solve the case quickly and have him dumped at a research station on an asteroid.
I didn’t like any of the characters but I don’t think I was supposed to. Vatic himself is a crude arse but he was slightly under duress. The rest of the cast were all under suspicion, plus they all thought a bit too highly of themselves, so they mostly came off as obnoxious. Probably a good mix for a crime story.
This was a decent story where the science keeps you from being able to accurately guess where things are headed. If you like science fiction and murder mysteries, you should give this a read. It’s stand alone and the ebook was very cheap.
I didn’t like any of the characters but I don’t think I was supposed to. Vatic himself is a crude arse but he was slightly under duress. The rest of the cast were all under suspicion, plus they all thought a bit too highly of themselves, so they mostly came off as obnoxious. Probably a good mix for a crime story.
This was a decent story where the science keeps you from being able to accurately guess where things are headed. If you like science fiction and murder mysteries, you should give this a read. It’s stand alone and the ebook was very cheap.
November 2, 2015
First, I want to Thank Kev Heritage for giving me the opportunity to read his book. THANKS! :)
I really enjoyed reading this sci-fi mystery. Vatic is funny, unpredictable and dangerous. The characters are well developed and well described, especially Vatic's, who is always hard to predict. This was an easy read, interesting and entertaining. I had to keep reading...until the end. I read it in one day!
The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars was because some things happen with little or no build up to it. For example, when Vatic kisses Lunn and Offia... it happened in a weird place without any back story. It was like he just like them, so why not... it was a spike from vatic, but still it felt out of place. The slight romance could have been build up better. And there wasn't much of a back story on the War before... why are people living in other planets... and what happened to Earth?... Other then that it was a great book.
The investigation (Vatic's mission) didn't have much details in the beginning, but later on you find out why he was really there... although they don't talk much about what was the purpose of it all in the end....which I was looking forward to it.
The end with was short... which means another book must be coming soon... Hopefully!
I would definitely read the next book to see what really happens to Vatic and the whole Company crew!
I would definitely continue with the series if there is one in the future... and I do recommend you to read this BOOK.
:)
I really enjoyed reading this sci-fi mystery. Vatic is funny, unpredictable and dangerous. The characters are well developed and well described, especially Vatic's, who is always hard to predict. This was an easy read, interesting and entertaining. I had to keep reading...until the end. I read it in one day!
The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars was because some things happen with little or no build up to it. For example, when Vatic kisses Lunn and Offia... it happened in a weird place without any back story. It was like he just like them, so why not... it was a spike from vatic, but still it felt out of place. The slight romance could have been build up better. And there wasn't much of a back story on the War before... why are people living in other planets... and what happened to Earth?... Other then that it was a great book.
The investigation (Vatic's mission) didn't have much details in the beginning, but later on you find out why he was really there... although they don't talk much about what was the purpose of it all in the end....which I was looking forward to it.
The end with was short... which means another book must be coming soon... Hopefully!
I would definitely read the next book to see what really happens to Vatic and the whole Company crew!
I would definitely continue with the series if there is one in the future... and I do recommend you to read this BOOK.
:)
November 11, 2015
Book review coming soon.
December 7, 2015
I received an ARC from the author KEV HERITAGE in exchange for an honest opinion . This is Mismousey very honest opinion of his book VATIC.
What can I say about this amazing -talented-and very creative author. He has such a way with his writing of sci-fi. Mr Heritage writing is like Gene Roddenberry. He takes you to places beyond where you have ever gone before.
Our story opens as Vatic is being awaken from a deep sleep. He is being treated by a medic. The company now needs him - he has a special skill . Although he does not remember hi s skill The medic is injecting him with medicine that is suppose to bring back all his memories.
The company wants him to find out who killed the scientist Chen So they send him to Karst to investigate it-or so he thinks. But before he leaves -Vatic finds out that he has only 6 hours to solve the murder or he will die. as they injected him with a poison. If he can solve it then they will scrub his system of it.
Vatic arrives at the center- and is greeted by a boy named Bill He takes him to the director. At which time the director decides to give Vatic a hard time about Chen death . Vatic tells him that he works for the company and he is now in charge.
During the investigation Vatic is met with one issue after another. He comes to think that maybe he is not there to solve the death of Chen.
What actually happened to Chen? And why is Vatic there? Does Vatic solve the problem in time to save himself?
This story has so many twist and turns it is a MUST READ!! It held me hostage-I had to keep reading to find out what happened next. Mr. Heritage has written such a captivating story it has you on the edge of your seat-edge of the page. I recommend this book to everyone! Especially to those that love Sci-fi and fantasy. Mismousey gives it a firm rating of 80 out of 5 stars.
Now make sure to add this to your GOODREADS READING LIST ! THEN RUN AND GET YOUR COPY TODAY. YOU WILL FIND IT AVAILABLE ON AMAZON FOR JUST ----$.99 OR FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED.
SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR ??? TAKE THAT SPACE SHUTTLE AND GET YOUR COPY!!
What can I say about this amazing -talented-and very creative author. He has such a way with his writing of sci-fi. Mr Heritage writing is like Gene Roddenberry. He takes you to places beyond where you have ever gone before.
Our story opens as Vatic is being awaken from a deep sleep. He is being treated by a medic. The company now needs him - he has a special skill . Although he does not remember hi s skill The medic is injecting him with medicine that is suppose to bring back all his memories.
The company wants him to find out who killed the scientist Chen So they send him to Karst to investigate it-or so he thinks. But before he leaves -Vatic finds out that he has only 6 hours to solve the murder or he will die. as they injected him with a poison. If he can solve it then they will scrub his system of it.
Vatic arrives at the center- and is greeted by a boy named Bill He takes him to the director. At which time the director decides to give Vatic a hard time about Chen death . Vatic tells him that he works for the company and he is now in charge.
During the investigation Vatic is met with one issue after another. He comes to think that maybe he is not there to solve the death of Chen.
What actually happened to Chen? And why is Vatic there? Does Vatic solve the problem in time to save himself?
This story has so many twist and turns it is a MUST READ!! It held me hostage-I had to keep reading to find out what happened next. Mr. Heritage has written such a captivating story it has you on the edge of your seat-edge of the page. I recommend this book to everyone! Especially to those that love Sci-fi and fantasy. Mismousey gives it a firm rating of 80 out of 5 stars.
Now make sure to add this to your GOODREADS READING LIST ! THEN RUN AND GET YOUR COPY TODAY. YOU WILL FIND IT AVAILABLE ON AMAZON FOR JUST ----$.99 OR FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED.
SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR ??? TAKE THAT SPACE SHUTTLE AND GET YOUR COPY!!
November 11, 2015
Awakened from hyper sleep in record time, check - no memories of true identity, check- given a time line to do an investigation. check. Filled with a toxin that has a time limited and the only antidote is held by the ones who woke him up for this crap, they didnt even give him time to think much less remember who he was, but hell hes survived worse or at least that is what they say. He does not care about this investigation other than it can cost him his life if not done quickly, why are they even bothering him now he should be in hypersleep headed to a little unknown farm in an unknown territory in an unknown galaxy. A short time to do an investigation no one seems to care about and that those do care want him dead before he realizes what is really going on in their own little scientific world, so now he has 2 doomed points to fight. But hey hes Vatic it shouldnt matter but for some reason it makes all the difference, Grumpy as all get out, tired and wanting to go back into hypersleep, worn to the edges of his own reality, this is a good fast read that will keep you on edge guessing!
October 30, 2015
Vatic, super agent, is abruptly resuscitated from hyper sleep by chemicals with a toxic time release to solve a suicide/murder on an experimental station in space. If he doesn’t solve it in time he dies. He investigates a motley crew of scientists all of whom appear to be losers working or not working on experiments of little or no merit. The pace quickens, an attempt is made on his life, as he deftly fits the pieces of the mystery together. This a great read. I am not normally a sci-fi fan but Kev Heritage has put it all together. It is exciting with just enough space gabble and pseudo science to make it interesting along with unique characters and enough space dust to track but not reveal the clues.
I have received an electronic copy in return for an honest review.
I have received an electronic copy in return for an honest review.
November 3, 2015
Many thanks to Kev Heritage for the opportunity to read this novel ahead of its release later this year. From the wickedly paced opener to the unpredictable surprises you won't see coming, Vatic is a page-turning burn of a read that has an irresistible hook at the end of almost every chapter. I settled in on Friday night after the family went to bed and read most of this in one sitting, flipping pages until well after midnight. Vatic introduces some well thought out concepts that stand out as original in a genre known for repetitive ideas and themes. This is science fiction mystery well done.
My recommendation? Clear everything off your schedule one evening and set aside about six hours of time to dive into Vatic. Strap in, this is the kind of book made to be read in one sitting.
My recommendation? Clear everything off your schedule one evening and set aside about six hours of time to dive into Vatic. Strap in, this is the kind of book made to be read in one sitting.
January 10, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I don't typically go for space or futuristic themes so I was definitely outside my comfort zone with this book. I had previously read another book by this author though and enjoyed it so I decided to take a chance and read this anyway. The book is well written and the story line is unpredictable. The characters were not necessarily likable but they were interesting and not so dislikable that I didn't care what happened to them. I'd say it was worth going outside my comfort zone for this one and overall I enjoyed it.
May 22, 2021
What a fun read! I was drawn to the idea of a mystery in space and this book delivered. The pacing was great, just reading to find out what happens next. Things I liked, Vatic is an interesting protagonist, the hint of the future history, and detailed ship interiors.
Most mysteries have a twist and the one here is really well implemented. It's plausible and not super hidden. It's fairly short and would be a great beach read.
I received a free review copy but my opinions are my own. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Most mysteries have a twist and the one here is really well implemented. It's plausible and not super hidden. It's fairly short and would be a great beach read.
I received a free review copy but my opinions are my own. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 28, 2015
Originally posted at http://martasbookshelf.blogspot.com.es/ (if you like it, follow me)
Thank you so much Kev for sending me and e-copy of Vatic for review.
SUMMARY AND SPOILER-FREE REVIEW:
Vatic is a Skilled, a genetically enhanced human being. The Company sends him to solve a crime and discover if Chen Jelinke, a very important scientist, killed himself or was killed by one of his colleagues.
With time running out, not many chances of survival and a very peculiar team of scientists, Vatic must work fast to find out the truth.
The thing I loved the most about this book was Vatic himself. He is a powerful and charismatic character that makes you feel for him. I really, really was getting nervous while his time was running out.
The story that this book follows, a possible murder, might sound very typical, but it is not at all.
To begin with, this book takes place in a very special and different scenario. A very intriguing and nerve-wrecking one, without a doubt. The characters are all weird in their own way and you never really get to truly know them. However, the little things you learn about them create a good enough image of who they are. The thing is, you never know if they are lying.
I must admit that at first I wasn't sure about it. I was liking it, but I wasn't sure I would end up giving it a good rating. My e-reader is simply not good at all. It took me an eternity to finish the novel because I was getting fooled by my e-reader! Imagine having to read two pages that only counted as one! Very demotivating.
When I finished it I thanked myself for not giving up, because I wouldn't have forgiven me if I had.
The plot twist was amazing. I wasn't expecting that at all.
When I was halfway through the novel I started getting hopeless. I was clueless about the mystery and nothing huge really happened. There was nothing I could consider as a sign of the supposed murder of Chen. It was honestly letting me down.
But then the plot twist happened and everything changed. I loved it.
I have never read anything as different and unique as this novel.
Moreover, this book contains an important dose of biology, and I really like biology. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't or can't read Vatic if you don't like biology, because that doesn't matter. I just liked understanding certain things because of my biology classes.
I really don't care about the struggling journey Kev HeritageI went through reading this book. I'm rating this with the highest qualification just because of the plot twist and the peculiarity of the whole novel.
Thank you so much Kev for sending me and e-copy of Vatic for review.
SUMMARY AND SPOILER-FREE REVIEW:
Vatic is a Skilled, a genetically enhanced human being. The Company sends him to solve a crime and discover if Chen Jelinke, a very important scientist, killed himself or was killed by one of his colleagues.
With time running out, not many chances of survival and a very peculiar team of scientists, Vatic must work fast to find out the truth.
The thing I loved the most about this book was Vatic himself. He is a powerful and charismatic character that makes you feel for him. I really, really was getting nervous while his time was running out.
The story that this book follows, a possible murder, might sound very typical, but it is not at all.
To begin with, this book takes place in a very special and different scenario. A very intriguing and nerve-wrecking one, without a doubt. The characters are all weird in their own way and you never really get to truly know them. However, the little things you learn about them create a good enough image of who they are. The thing is, you never know if they are lying.
I must admit that at first I wasn't sure about it. I was liking it, but I wasn't sure I would end up giving it a good rating. My e-reader is simply not good at all. It took me an eternity to finish the novel because I was getting fooled by my e-reader! Imagine having to read two pages that only counted as one! Very demotivating.
When I finished it I thanked myself for not giving up, because I wouldn't have forgiven me if I had.
The plot twist was amazing. I wasn't expecting that at all.
When I was halfway through the novel I started getting hopeless. I was clueless about the mystery and nothing huge really happened. There was nothing I could consider as a sign of the supposed murder of Chen. It was honestly letting me down.
But then the plot twist happened and everything changed. I loved it.
I have never read anything as different and unique as this novel.
Moreover, this book contains an important dose of biology, and I really like biology. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't or can't read Vatic if you don't like biology, because that doesn't matter. I just liked understanding certain things because of my biology classes.
I really don't care about the struggling journey Kev HeritageI went through reading this book. I'm rating this with the highest qualification just because of the plot twist and the peculiarity of the whole novel.
December 9, 2015
Vatic was my first sci-fi book, and wow was it one to begin with. I would describe Vatic as a sci-fi/who-done-it novel of exceptional quality. I don't want to spoil it for you so I will just say this:
Vatic is a fast paced, thrill ride where you are thrown in at the deep end straight away. It is full of twists, turns and the ending is very unexpected. The deeper you delve into this book, the more you discover and question. There are a handful of characters, and it needs no more. Each one is fascinating and you get to find out about them all too, which is great. You think you have got a handle on each one, but do you really?
I can't truly express just how much I fell in love with Vatic and the writing style of Kev Heritage, but I shall be buying all of his previous books now, as skills such as his are hard to find. I am now a sci-fi fan because of this novel.
If you want a book that it wonderfully witty, superbly written, with the odd sly hint at sexual tension thrown in, and a descriptive prowess like no other then Vatic is definitely the book for you
Vatic is a fast paced, thrill ride where you are thrown in at the deep end straight away. It is full of twists, turns and the ending is very unexpected. The deeper you delve into this book, the more you discover and question. There are a handful of characters, and it needs no more. Each one is fascinating and you get to find out about them all too, which is great. You think you have got a handle on each one, but do you really?
I can't truly express just how much I fell in love with Vatic and the writing style of Kev Heritage, but I shall be buying all of his previous books now, as skills such as his are hard to find. I am now a sci-fi fan because of this novel.
If you want a book that it wonderfully witty, superbly written, with the odd sly hint at sexual tension thrown in, and a descriptive prowess like no other then Vatic is definitely the book for you
October 8, 2017
While reading this book, I was contemplating whether I was going to give it 5 stars or not, and then that game changer of a plot twist happened and bam!
I thought it was very well written, the characters were very diverse and interesting, especially intuitive, impulsive, snarky Vatic. I think that Kev Heritage planted just enough clues to make you think that you know exactly how things are going to end and who did what and how and whatnot, but, it's really not what you think, and I was so pleasantly surprised with this book. Not many authors are able to throw you for a loop with a plot twist like that, they're normally predictable if not a wee bit cliche. Let me tell you, there is NOTHING cliche about Kev Heritage's Vatic.
In addition, I would like to thank Kev for giving me the opportunity to read this book ahead of its release date. I will definitely have to read more of his work.
I thought it was very well written, the characters were very diverse and interesting, especially intuitive, impulsive, snarky Vatic. I think that Kev Heritage planted just enough clues to make you think that you know exactly how things are going to end and who did what and how and whatnot, but, it's really not what you think, and I was so pleasantly surprised with this book. Not many authors are able to throw you for a loop with a plot twist like that, they're normally predictable if not a wee bit cliche. Let me tell you, there is NOTHING cliche about Kev Heritage's Vatic.
In addition, I would like to thank Kev for giving me the opportunity to read this book ahead of its release date. I will definitely have to read more of his work.
December 26, 2015
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Vatic is a book like I have never read before, a space murder mystery with a huge amount of twists and turns along the way. The fact it is set in real time is another aspect I loved about this book as Vatic has a clock ticking down the last 5 hours 17 minutes of his life. An Empath, a member of 'The Skilled', Vatic has been sent by 'The Company' on what appears to be one final mission to solve the apparent suicide of Chen Jelinek, a failing scientist at Karst, a floating scientific research station on an asteroid. Over the next hours, Vatic interviews the fellow remaining scientists in his own inimitable, irascible style rubbing up more than one of them the wrong way resulting in some pretty hair-raising moments for Vatic. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Read it immediately, you won't be disappointed.
Vatic is a book like I have never read before, a space murder mystery with a huge amount of twists and turns along the way. The fact it is set in real time is another aspect I loved about this book as Vatic has a clock ticking down the last 5 hours 17 minutes of his life. An Empath, a member of 'The Skilled', Vatic has been sent by 'The Company' on what appears to be one final mission to solve the apparent suicide of Chen Jelinek, a failing scientist at Karst, a floating scientific research station on an asteroid. Over the next hours, Vatic interviews the fellow remaining scientists in his own inimitable, irascible style rubbing up more than one of them the wrong way resulting in some pretty hair-raising moments for Vatic. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Read it immediately, you won't be disappointed.
November 13, 2015
A truly awe-inspiring story. The fact we as the reader was able to follow Vatic from beginning to end, to see things through his eyes and what he discovered was none short of great. I really couldn't put this novel (my kindle) down except for the most basic of things (you know eating and such) and even then I had to take the kindle with me so that I could keep reading it.
Vatic was a great character to base this book on and he thoroughly had me from beginning to end. His discovery on what he was was also great as we, the reader discovered it along with the main character.
Kudos to the author for writing such a wonderful story.
Vatic was a great character to base this book on and he thoroughly had me from beginning to end. His discovery on what he was was also great as we, the reader discovered it along with the main character.
Kudos to the author for writing such a wonderful story.
November 11, 2015
Vatic was captivating - the story and the man! This was an immensely entertaining story. Fast-paced doesn't adequately describe it. I flew through it. I knew there was more to the story from the start but would have never guessed it. I loved the mystery and how the plot strategically unfolded. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this short story. Very well written. I hope there is more to come for Vatic in the future. I believe he would do nicely in a series of his own...
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 1, 2016
Great yarn. A roller coaster ride with a great story. I am not a great scifi reader and this novel changed my views to be more of one. I liked the count down and the pace of the book.
October 17, 2017
Background: Residing in Brighton in the UK, K.J. Heritage primarily writes action and adventure based sci-fi, mystery, and epic fantasy novels, all with the odd dash of humour thrown in.
Vatic, the titular character of this particular book, is in a spot of bother. You see, a top scientist named Chen Jelinek has committed suicide, and Vatic has been sent in to get to the truth of the matter. The problem? Vatic is half-dead, has little memory of who or what he is, and has been told that if he doesn’t solve the case within six hours, he’ll die. As he works his way through the denizens of an intergalactic research centre, things just get more and more complicated …
The Good: Sitting comfortably at 258 pages, Vatic is quite a quick read. That being the case, there was always going to be the inherent risk that there simply wasn’t enough space to fit the details of the mystery in in a satisfactory manner. As it happens though, this isn’t the case here. What Heritage has done is to take the approach of letting the story show us what we need without any dross to pad it out. Each chapter is integral in pushing things forward, whether that be by dropping hints about the mystery, or by giving us some background on our hero, Vatic. Streamlining the book in this way ensures that we get the most out of the tale without unnecessary distractions. Oh, and in terms of the mystery itself, while it could be argued that certain points were easy enough to figure out, the conclusion of the case offers a nice little twist that many likely won’t see coming.
Character-wise, Vatic and co are rounded enough to be interesting. The various researchers that we encounter each have their own quirks and foibles, not to mention their own brand of bad attitudes and paranoia, so you don’t tend to get bored when reading about them. Meanwhile, Vatic himself is fairly straight forward in attitude, but his skills and past add enough layers to keep your attention. I enjoyed the general concept of the Skilled too, and would love to see more about them in future books.
In all, the writing is smooth, the book is well paced, and there’s plenty here to enjoy if you have a preference for sci-fi or mystery. In a way, it reminds a little of Richard Morgan’s hardboiled cyberpunk series about Takeshi Lev Kovacs, which is no bad thing.
The Bad: This is all going to come down to taste, but I could see some readers being put off by Vatic himself. While I enjoyed his grumpy demeanour, he’s not a character that’s well suited to those who want a more upbeat, clean-cut hero. He has a job to do, and he’s going to do it. He’s not one for taking the moral high ground, he just does what he needs to. I’d also say that the romantic-ish subplot was probably the weakest part of the book, but again, that comes down to personal taste more than anything. It doesn’t detract from the story or leave you feeling derailed, so it’s not a major issue by any means.
Final View: Vatic serves up a hefty dose of action, intrigue and verbal jousting that draws you in, throws a few curve balls at you, and leaves you eagerly anticipating the finale. It’s a fun read that is well worth picking up, especially if you like your crime to have a sci-fi setting.
Final Score: 4.5 / 5
Vatic, the titular character of this particular book, is in a spot of bother. You see, a top scientist named Chen Jelinek has committed suicide, and Vatic has been sent in to get to the truth of the matter. The problem? Vatic is half-dead, has little memory of who or what he is, and has been told that if he doesn’t solve the case within six hours, he’ll die. As he works his way through the denizens of an intergalactic research centre, things just get more and more complicated …
The Good: Sitting comfortably at 258 pages, Vatic is quite a quick read. That being the case, there was always going to be the inherent risk that there simply wasn’t enough space to fit the details of the mystery in in a satisfactory manner. As it happens though, this isn’t the case here. What Heritage has done is to take the approach of letting the story show us what we need without any dross to pad it out. Each chapter is integral in pushing things forward, whether that be by dropping hints about the mystery, or by giving us some background on our hero, Vatic. Streamlining the book in this way ensures that we get the most out of the tale without unnecessary distractions. Oh, and in terms of the mystery itself, while it could be argued that certain points were easy enough to figure out, the conclusion of the case offers a nice little twist that many likely won’t see coming.
Character-wise, Vatic and co are rounded enough to be interesting. The various researchers that we encounter each have their own quirks and foibles, not to mention their own brand of bad attitudes and paranoia, so you don’t tend to get bored when reading about them. Meanwhile, Vatic himself is fairly straight forward in attitude, but his skills and past add enough layers to keep your attention. I enjoyed the general concept of the Skilled too, and would love to see more about them in future books.
In all, the writing is smooth, the book is well paced, and there’s plenty here to enjoy if you have a preference for sci-fi or mystery. In a way, it reminds a little of Richard Morgan’s hardboiled cyberpunk series about Takeshi Lev Kovacs, which is no bad thing.
The Bad: This is all going to come down to taste, but I could see some readers being put off by Vatic himself. While I enjoyed his grumpy demeanour, he’s not a character that’s well suited to those who want a more upbeat, clean-cut hero. He has a job to do, and he’s going to do it. He’s not one for taking the moral high ground, he just does what he needs to. I’d also say that the romantic-ish subplot was probably the weakest part of the book, but again, that comes down to personal taste more than anything. It doesn’t detract from the story or leave you feeling derailed, so it’s not a major issue by any means.
Final View: Vatic serves up a hefty dose of action, intrigue and verbal jousting that draws you in, throws a few curve balls at you, and leaves you eagerly anticipating the finale. It’s a fun read that is well worth picking up, especially if you like your crime to have a sci-fi setting.
Final Score: 4.5 / 5
August 10, 2021
Free review copy: epub via Book Sirens with this kindle cover. 206 pages
Vatic wakes screaming from hypersleep - emaciated and largely amnesiac he is almost immediately thrown in at the deep end and required to investigate a suspicious death on a remote research station.
Along with Vatic we gradually learn what is going on - as he slowly recovers his memories. The pace is headlong - Vatic has only 6 hours before his body starts to shut down - and promising leads turn out to have no foundation. The solution, when it comes is startling.
Vatic himself is an enigma but as we learn more about his personal history and the background universe he develops into a, perhaps not completely likeable but certainly admirable, antihero (I think it's an appropriate term!) and the world-building is intriguing. I have already bought the second book in the series - there's a good sample of the opening chapters included in this first volume.
Elements of classic space opera, a flawed 'super'hero, a 'locked asteroid' mystery... combine to produce a refreshingly different experience!
Vatic wakes screaming from hypersleep - emaciated and largely amnesiac he is almost immediately thrown in at the deep end and required to investigate a suspicious death on a remote research station.
Along with Vatic we gradually learn what is going on - as he slowly recovers his memories. The pace is headlong - Vatic has only 6 hours before his body starts to shut down - and promising leads turn out to have no foundation. The solution, when it comes is startling.
Vatic himself is an enigma but as we learn more about his personal history and the background universe he develops into a, perhaps not completely likeable but certainly admirable, antihero (I think it's an appropriate term!) and the world-building is intriguing. I have already bought the second book in the series - there's a good sample of the opening chapters included in this first volume.
Elements of classic space opera, a flawed 'super'hero, a 'locked asteroid' mystery... combine to produce a refreshingly different experience!
September 26, 2020
The premise is that a top Company scientist has been murdered. Vatic, an on-the-run half-alive empath with no memory of who or what he is, is told by the Company that he will die in six hours if he can’t find out why the scientist was murdered. This is the Company’s way to provide an ‘added incentive to get the job done’ and give them answers.
Vatic is one of the Skilled, a genetically enhanced human “bloodhound” who stops at nothing in pursuit of the truth.
This intriguing sci-fi mystery provides a strong story line that holds the reader’s complete attention while moving through the action and building up suspense as the “clock” starts ticking down for Vatic. The characters we meet are well developed and interesting. The combination of suspense, intrigue, and the overall mystery of what is really going on, will lead the reader to a final resolution of the story line. This is an unexpected challenging read that promises much more ahead!
Vatic is one of the Skilled, a genetically enhanced human “bloodhound” who stops at nothing in pursuit of the truth.
This intriguing sci-fi mystery provides a strong story line that holds the reader’s complete attention while moving through the action and building up suspense as the “clock” starts ticking down for Vatic. The characters we meet are well developed and interesting. The combination of suspense, intrigue, and the overall mystery of what is really going on, will lead the reader to a final resolution of the story line. This is an unexpected challenging read that promises much more ahead!
November 19, 2021
Short, but very satisfying. As opposed to novels that seemed to be stretched to add more pages than necessary, this novel was just the right length. Nonetheless, I wish that it was longer . . .
Let me explain. The novel is short. But, it was so much fun that I wish it were longer.
It is a combination of Sci-Fi and mystery novel and is satisfying as either. The main character is not "warm and fuzzy", nor are the other characters in the novel. In fact, many of them are quite despicable.
The combination of some science fiction, an increasingly mysterious mystery, and an unexpected twist made for an excellent work. Parts of it reminded me a bit of Agatha Christie's works.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Let me explain. The novel is short. But, it was so much fun that I wish it were longer.
It is a combination of Sci-Fi and mystery novel and is satisfying as either. The main character is not "warm and fuzzy", nor are the other characters in the novel. In fact, many of them are quite despicable.
The combination of some science fiction, an increasingly mysterious mystery, and an unexpected twist made for an excellent work. Parts of it reminded me a bit of Agatha Christie's works.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 28, 2017
I enjoyed this book greatly. Not usually a great fan of first-person narrative, but the uniqueness of the character and situation made for a good mystery and satisfying experience. Would definitely revisit the universe and the main character if KJ Heritage decides to add more novels to the sequence.
There were a number of logic issues that niggled me, but I put them aside to enjoy the ride. I won't mention them here, because it would be regarded as plot spoilers. Brace yourself for a minor "hmmmmmmm" at the end when the reveal shows how important a certain character is.
There were a number of logic issues that niggled me, but I put them aside to enjoy the ride. I won't mention them here, because it would be regarded as plot spoilers. Brace yourself for a minor "hmmmmmmm" at the end when the reveal shows how important a certain character is.
April 24, 2020
Superb and Exciting Read
First let me say I loved this story. Mr. Heritage has a wonderful way with words. He will draw you in and then have you reading into the night. I've read most of his books but I especially liked this one. An empath named Vatic takes you on an exciting trip. I read this in one day. I couldn't stop until I got to the end; it was that good. If you're on the fence on this one, jump off and read it. I would highly recommend this book and author.
First let me say I loved this story. Mr. Heritage has a wonderful way with words. He will draw you in and then have you reading into the night. I've read most of his books but I especially liked this one. An empath named Vatic takes you on an exciting trip. I read this in one day. I couldn't stop until I got to the end; it was that good. If you're on the fence on this one, jump off and read it. I would highly recommend this book and author.
March 17, 2021
I really enjoyed reading this book, it was a perfect scifi novel and a great space opera. I enjoyed the characters and the setting in the story, the writing was well done and I look forward to more from the author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 16, 2021
Wildly imaginative! Great, multi-faceted characters. Very unique plot. Vivid descriptions. This was a fast-paced, interesting read, that I found I did not want to put down! Kept me glued to the pages from the first page to the last.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
October 4, 2024
He is on the run with no idea who he is or what he can do. It is not going to be very easy for him to find all the answers he needs to get what he needs to know. A wonderful tale with plenty of twists and turns. It will keep you guessing until you learn all the answers he will find
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and it kept me hooked all the way through
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and it kept me hooked all the way through
February 19, 2019
Vatic is an intriguing, fast-paced science-fiction novel that kept me captivated all the way through! The main character, Vatic, is wonderfully complex and his abilities are definitely cool. I look forward to reading more from this author!
September 25, 2020
I love science fiction and mostly prefer the older stuff. This one was really good for being a newer book. It was a hard to put down book and action packed. A real page turner.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 4, 2024
A very interesting story. Something new to hook you in with. The characters were well fleshed out and the protagonist looks to have the potential to become a favorite.
October 13, 2024
I don’t normally read sci-fi but the mystery element caught my attention. And I’m so glad that it did, I loved shattered helix. There were some unexpected plot twists and massive secrets revealed.
I really liked the main character ‘Vatic’, he was an unpredictable morally grey hero.
I can’t wait to read book 2.
I really liked the main character ‘Vatic’, he was an unpredictable morally grey hero.
I can’t wait to read book 2.
December 2, 2024
...am I the only one who didn't like this book?! I hate being the first person to write a negative review...
The plot and concept of Vatic very much intrigued me - Vatic is a genetically enhanced or 'Skilled' human who was woken up from hypersleep to solve the mystery of a scientist's supposed suicide. The catch? He has amnesia and 6 hours to live.
Unfortunately, I had a very hard time getting into the book. I felt completely disconnected from the characters and the story.
First of all, none of the characters were likable. This was done intentionally as they were all suspects and Vatic was slowly discovering himself (and realizing that he's not the most likable dude out there either).
I also felt that the dialogue was very flat and boring.
I was very close to giving up on this book and marking it as DNF. I somehow managed to push onwards and realized that the only saving grace was the unexpected ending (which I definitely did not see coming!). I felt the book really picked up it's pace near the end when everything finally came together and the mystery was solved.
eBook provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The plot and concept of Vatic very much intrigued me - Vatic is a genetically enhanced or 'Skilled' human who was woken up from hypersleep to solve the mystery of a scientist's supposed suicide. The catch? He has amnesia and 6 hours to live.
Unfortunately, I had a very hard time getting into the book. I felt completely disconnected from the characters and the story.
First of all, none of the characters were likable. This was done intentionally as they were all suspects and Vatic was slowly discovering himself (and realizing that he's not the most likable dude out there either).
I also felt that the dialogue was very flat and boring.
I was very close to giving up on this book and marking it as DNF. I somehow managed to push onwards and realized that the only saving grace was the unexpected ending (which I definitely did not see coming!). I felt the book really picked up it's pace near the end when everything finally came together and the mystery was solved.
eBook provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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