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Caretaker Chronicles #2
Guardians
Sequel to the #1 bestseller Caretaker.
Trapped on a hostile planet.
Life on Minea isn’t all that the shiny brochures back on Earth promised the passengers of Ship 12-22. In order to survive, most of the population must slave away in the dark, unforgiving caverns of the Yyinum mines.
Ethan’s position as governor proves to be less effective than he hoped as he clashes with the power-hungry companies that control the planet. While on a surveying ship, Ethan and the crew crash-land into the cavernous depths beneath the Karst Mountains, where a maze of tunnels and slew of fatal dangers block their journey home.
Above ground, a deadly epidemic sweeps the planet, and Ethan’s wife, Aria, is torn between searching the mountains for him and finding a cure. When a mysterious craft appears in the sky, Kaia and her father, Admiral Phillip Reagan, must prepare for a battle with a species they know nothing about.
As their world descends into chaos, can these self-appointed guardians bring hope of survival to Minea?
Trapped on a hostile planet.
Life on Minea isn’t all that the shiny brochures back on Earth promised the passengers of Ship 12-22. In order to survive, most of the population must slave away in the dark, unforgiving caverns of the Yyinum mines.
Ethan’s position as governor proves to be less effective than he hoped as he clashes with the power-hungry companies that control the planet. While on a surveying ship, Ethan and the crew crash-land into the cavernous depths beneath the Karst Mountains, where a maze of tunnels and slew of fatal dangers block their journey home.
Above ground, a deadly epidemic sweeps the planet, and Ethan’s wife, Aria, is torn between searching the mountains for him and finding a cure. When a mysterious craft appears in the sky, Kaia and her father, Admiral Phillip Reagan, must prepare for a battle with a species they know nothing about.
As their world descends into chaos, can these self-appointed guardians bring hope of survival to Minea?
394 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 11, 2016
119 people are currently reading
368 people want to read
About the author
Josi Russell
14 books70 followersJosi Russell’s science fiction novels explore familiar human relationships in unfamiliar contexts. She currently teaches creative writing and fiction courses as an Associate Professor of English for Utah State University Eastern. She lives in the alien landscape of the high desert American Southwest with her family and a giant tortoise named Caesar. Josi is captivated by the fields of linguistics, mathematics, and medicine, by the vast unknown beyond our atmosphere, and by the whole adventure of being human.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
February 10, 2016
First things first: I received a copy of Guardians from Future House Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.
Ok, did anyone else kiiiind of get an Avatar vibe from this book? Like, people travelling to a new planet to set up a new life, only to be blindsided by the absolute greed of the company they work for? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
I liked this book, and like the first book in the series, Caretaker, I think it's a 3.5- to 4-star read. Seriously though, who is designing these covers?! I LOVE THEM. Ahem. This book again follows Ethan, his wife Aria and the engineer Kaia on the planet Minea. Ethan's had a bit of promotion from ship caretaker to govenor, and while I don't necessarily think you must read Caretaker before starting Guardians, I do think it's useful in setting up the story. I finished both books within days of each other so I remembered the history, various characters and overall plot relatively easy. I don't think this is necessarily explained all that well, so might result in someone starting with Guardians feeling a little lost. That said, the plots of both books were quite different, I found. As opposed to the static environment of the first ship, as in Caretaker, there was a lot more scenery to explore on the planet of Minea and opportunities to jump between character perspectives. As with the first book, Guardians started off a bit slow for me, but I feel like that might just be the writing style of the author, because by the time I reached the end of the book I was engrossed. The author really likes to save her action pieces until the last minute, and I have to say I really enjoyed how Guardians ended.
That said, the thing I have really liked about this series is its focus on relationships people have with each other, and communication... which is why I was so surprised at how SO MUCH of the drama in this novel was a result of bad communication. Seriously, guys. Anyone who's ever read a book ever knows that you need to be honest about important shit straight up, and not leave it until the last minute! Le sigh. At least you have an excuse when trying to communicate with the new species of aliens introduced.
I would definitely recommend this book if you are into a bit of light space colonisation mixed in with a lot of human interaction and a bit of Avatar-esque Big Bad Corporations. I found this to be a fun read that starts off slow but saves all its best punches until the end, and I would absolutely be interested in reading more about Ethan and his family.
Ok, did anyone else kiiiind of get an Avatar vibe from this book? Like, people travelling to a new planet to set up a new life, only to be blindsided by the absolute greed of the company they work for? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
I liked this book, and like the first book in the series, Caretaker, I think it's a 3.5- to 4-star read. Seriously though, who is designing these covers?! I LOVE THEM. Ahem. This book again follows Ethan, his wife Aria and the engineer Kaia on the planet Minea. Ethan's had a bit of promotion from ship caretaker to govenor, and while I don't necessarily think you must read Caretaker before starting Guardians, I do think it's useful in setting up the story. I finished both books within days of each other so I remembered the history, various characters and overall plot relatively easy. I don't think this is necessarily explained all that well, so might result in someone starting with Guardians feeling a little lost. That said, the plots of both books were quite different, I found. As opposed to the static environment of the first ship, as in Caretaker, there was a lot more scenery to explore on the planet of Minea and opportunities to jump between character perspectives. As with the first book, Guardians started off a bit slow for me, but I feel like that might just be the writing style of the author, because by the time I reached the end of the book I was engrossed. The author really likes to save her action pieces until the last minute, and I have to say I really enjoyed how Guardians ended.
That said, the thing I have really liked about this series is its focus on relationships people have with each other, and communication... which is why I was so surprised at how SO MUCH of the drama in this novel was a result of bad communication. Seriously, guys. Anyone who's ever read a book ever knows that you need to be honest about important shit straight up, and not leave it until the last minute! Le sigh. At least you have an excuse when trying to communicate with the new species of aliens introduced.
I would definitely recommend this book if you are into a bit of light space colonisation mixed in with a lot of human interaction and a bit of Avatar-esque Big Bad Corporations. I found this to be a fun read that starts off slow but saves all its best punches until the end, and I would absolutely be interested in reading more about Ethan and his family.
February 11, 2016
*I received a copy of Guardians from Future House Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review
When it comes to a second book, everyone hopes it going to be good or they don’t even want to read it because the first was fantastic. I mean, I always get super-duper nervous starting the second part because if it isn’t really good, it ruins the first. You come to an end and BAM, here is the second part—but this time it wasn’t like that.
I had a chance to read Guardians and it was really good (It’s the follow up of Caretaker). I totally didn’t expect to like it (I was hesitant about Guardians because of the ending of the first one—but I was wrong). It was a unique SCI-FI YA book. I would suggest reading the first edition though, because you will understand the concept of the second. This time around, you follow Ethan and his people adjust to life on this new planet; they are dealing with once again drama. So they make it to Minea and well—things don’t go the way they expected it to be (shocker). A couple of companies back on earth somehow own Minea, and they are pretty much using the people for their benefits (go figure), Like mining, and hard labor.
For a book that seems to have so much communication going on, it was ironic to have lack of communication as the issue. To me, it felt like everyone has something to say but doesn’t say it because that would be SMART THING TO DO, RIGHT! There are so many situations occurring from Ethan who goes missing, to Kaia (very important character) having issues with herself, to Ethan’s wife, Aria, who is trying to keep searching for him but people don’t want too—the list goes on. It’s literally an endless amount of problems. All the more reasons in wanting to read it. I like stories that has a lot of meat to the plot, which allows the readers to see how it all unfolds. The atmosphere was much different verses the first one. You read a lot more “adventure” so to speak. It was rich in the description of locations, more about the planet than instead of a ship. At the end, it left me satisfied and didn’t feel like I was missing anything. It felt strong; in better terms, it didn’t lack. I’d rate this a 3.5.
The talented Josi Russell outdid herself, once again. Pulling you in by making you fall and be attracted to the characters, the way she explains the atmosphere, and overall structure and dynamics of flow. Bravo!.
When it comes to a second book, everyone hopes it going to be good or they don’t even want to read it because the first was fantastic. I mean, I always get super-duper nervous starting the second part because if it isn’t really good, it ruins the first. You come to an end and BAM, here is the second part—but this time it wasn’t like that.
I had a chance to read Guardians and it was really good (It’s the follow up of Caretaker). I totally didn’t expect to like it (I was hesitant about Guardians because of the ending of the first one—but I was wrong). It was a unique SCI-FI YA book. I would suggest reading the first edition though, because you will understand the concept of the second. This time around, you follow Ethan and his people adjust to life on this new planet; they are dealing with once again drama. So they make it to Minea and well—things don’t go the way they expected it to be (shocker). A couple of companies back on earth somehow own Minea, and they are pretty much using the people for their benefits (go figure), Like mining, and hard labor.
For a book that seems to have so much communication going on, it was ironic to have lack of communication as the issue. To me, it felt like everyone has something to say but doesn’t say it because that would be SMART THING TO DO, RIGHT! There are so many situations occurring from Ethan who goes missing, to Kaia (very important character) having issues with herself, to Ethan’s wife, Aria, who is trying to keep searching for him but people don’t want too—the list goes on. It’s literally an endless amount of problems. All the more reasons in wanting to read it. I like stories that has a lot of meat to the plot, which allows the readers to see how it all unfolds. The atmosphere was much different verses the first one. You read a lot more “adventure” so to speak. It was rich in the description of locations, more about the planet than instead of a ship. At the end, it left me satisfied and didn’t feel like I was missing anything. It felt strong; in better terms, it didn’t lack. I’d rate this a 3.5.
The talented Josi Russell outdid herself, once again. Pulling you in by making you fall and be attracted to the characters, the way she explains the atmosphere, and overall structure and dynamics of flow. Bravo!.
February 8, 2016
As a reader of the first book - Caretaker, I got an advanced copy from the publisher to review the sequel - Guardians.
The new book starts with a faster pace and more action then the first book, but now we're not alone on a starship but on a colony on a whole new planet.
It's few years after Caretaker's colonist ship has landed and Minea doesn't look as pretty as advertised. Planet is run by corporations interested in profit, not research and discovery of the new world. Due to long travel distance from Earth and deteriorating equipment humans have to rely on manual labor a lot, specially in the mines, extracting unique mineral required for building advanced engines.
The latest colonist that weren't meant to reach the destination are struggling to find place and need for their professions.
As the story progresses we have a long venture through a cave system and fighting some new sickness with what the planet can provide. Humans encounter some new aliens and again have to understand them and make some moral decisions.
In later part of the book some plot lines jump a bit fast, some clues are faster understood by the reader then some characters. It's similar to the first book where a lot happened quickly at the end.
Overall it's a good continuation, maybe even doesn't require reading the first book, as apart from some characters and their history we have a completely new story, new place and a lot of new people and aliens.
The new book starts with a faster pace and more action then the first book, but now we're not alone on a starship but on a colony on a whole new planet.
It's few years after Caretaker's colonist ship has landed and Minea doesn't look as pretty as advertised. Planet is run by corporations interested in profit, not research and discovery of the new world. Due to long travel distance from Earth and deteriorating equipment humans have to rely on manual labor a lot, specially in the mines, extracting unique mineral required for building advanced engines.
The latest colonist that weren't meant to reach the destination are struggling to find place and need for their professions.
As the story progresses we have a long venture through a cave system and fighting some new sickness with what the planet can provide. Humans encounter some new aliens and again have to understand them and make some moral decisions.
In later part of the book some plot lines jump a bit fast, some clues are faster understood by the reader then some characters. It's similar to the first book where a lot happened quickly at the end.
Overall it's a good continuation, maybe even doesn't require reading the first book, as apart from some characters and their history we have a completely new story, new place and a lot of new people and aliens.
February 8, 2016
***I was given this ebook in exchange for an unbiased review***
This was a great second book in this series! I loved getting to see how Ethan and Aria and Kaia began their lives on Minea. The story had great continuations and very interesting plot lines to keep interest piqued. There were many crazy twists and different levels of complexity to the story. There were however a few too many abbreviations in the beginning of the story that were hard to follow and made it hard to read like SL and UEG until you got further into the story and could remember what they meant.
The story line where Ethan and the survey crew were trapped beneath the earth in a mind boggling cave was crazy and seemed like such a tangent from the original story but it ended up fitting in. It just seemed like we needed to flash back and forth to what else was going on at the same time a little more. However, you could really feel the desperation of the crew as they tried to get out of the underground tunnels. I really loved the idea of the E-medic. Loved the scenes with it and getting a look at how it worked. That kind of technology would be awesome! During their struggle underground, Aria would go out looking for Ethan everyday it seemed. A lot of the times she brought the kids with her and I thought that was insane! It was a dangerous place and she's bringing 2 young children with her! That's the mother in me coming out.
Introducing Galo was an abrupt change and there were a ton of alien words at that moment that were hard to muddle through but again, after awhile it didn't seem to matter.
I was surprised at the monetary system in Coriol....it was quite archaic with huge unwieldy pieces of money that was only good in their city that was being run by the Saras company. The large corporation ran the city/colony and owned everything making it hard for the people to live well. I would think given this futuristic setting, that the monetary system would be digital no matter who ran it.
While I really ended up liking this book, I felt like I was watching a bad movie with over the top acting in parts. The big bad head of the company who is money/power hungry and doesn't care about his workers and won't for one second concede I was so disgusted with the Saras family. They only cared about themselves, their wealth, and how to maintain and make it grow. And the fact that the main conflicts between characters were all because of gross miscommunication. I wanted to yell at them and tell them to listen to each other and ask the right questions! I was hoping that certain people wouldn't become bad guys....it was interesting to see who they were. ....now onto the third book right?
This was a great second book in this series! I loved getting to see how Ethan and Aria and Kaia began their lives on Minea. The story had great continuations and very interesting plot lines to keep interest piqued. There were many crazy twists and different levels of complexity to the story. There were however a few too many abbreviations in the beginning of the story that were hard to follow and made it hard to read like SL and UEG until you got further into the story and could remember what they meant.
The story line where Ethan and the survey crew were trapped beneath the earth in a mind boggling cave was crazy and seemed like such a tangent from the original story but it ended up fitting in. It just seemed like we needed to flash back and forth to what else was going on at the same time a little more. However, you could really feel the desperation of the crew as they tried to get out of the underground tunnels. I really loved the idea of the E-medic. Loved the scenes with it and getting a look at how it worked. That kind of technology would be awesome! During their struggle underground, Aria would go out looking for Ethan everyday it seemed. A lot of the times she brought the kids with her and I thought that was insane! It was a dangerous place and she's bringing 2 young children with her! That's the mother in me coming out.
Introducing Galo was an abrupt change and there were a ton of alien words at that moment that were hard to muddle through but again, after awhile it didn't seem to matter.
I was surprised at the monetary system in Coriol....it was quite archaic with huge unwieldy pieces of money that was only good in their city that was being run by the Saras company. The large corporation ran the city/colony and owned everything making it hard for the people to live well. I would think given this futuristic setting, that the monetary system would be digital no matter who ran it.
While I really ended up liking this book, I felt like I was watching a bad movie with over the top acting in parts. The big bad head of the company who is money/power hungry and doesn't care about his workers and won't for one second concede I was so disgusted with the Saras family. They only cared about themselves, their wealth, and how to maintain and make it grow. And the fact that the main conflicts between characters were all because of gross miscommunication. I wanted to yell at them and tell them to listen to each other and ask the right questions! I was hoping that certain people wouldn't become bad guys....it was interesting to see who they were. ....now onto the third book right?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2016
I really enjoyed this book! The author did a great job of introducing many new characters and story lines to this sequel. If you have read Caretaker you'll appreciate how much this book is, in many ways, completely different, and yet very similar. Caretaker takes place on a secluded ship with only two characters interacting throughout the majority of the book. As such, this book has a very different feel due the the pressing number of characters that make up this new civilization. The new characters are phenomenal! Our favorite two characters from Caretaker are here on the planet as well and were written very true to character. I loved getting to know Aria. She was a bit of a mystery in Caretaker and it was refreshing to see her in action. As a history major I particularly enjoyed the exploration of what it would take to create a new civilization. We take those sacrifices for granted. There was so much written on that subject in the book that made me take a moment and appreciate the infrastructure of the world I was born into. There were so many terrific story lines full of emotion, adventure, fear, love, and imagination throughout the book.
I loved how clean the book was! No need to worry about recommending it to my teenagers, which I can rarely say.
Once I got into the meat of the book I couldn't put it down. The author did a great job of playing on some pretty common fears to make you feel riveted to every word until the end.
Well done Josi Russell!
I loved how clean the book was! No need to worry about recommending it to my teenagers, which I can rarely say.
Once I got into the meat of the book I couldn't put it down. The author did a great job of playing on some pretty common fears to make you feel riveted to every word until the end.
Well done Josi Russell!
February 11, 2016
Sublime yet again
I received this book free for a unbiased opinion and here is what I think. The CARETAKER captured our attention in a complex world and conflicting emotions, now GUARDIANS takes us to a whole new level and spearheaded us straight beyond into a world of new imaginary.
Jodi Russell manages to capture our hearts yet again with her in-depth. focus on characters and complex world. She spins intricate details into the history and the making of the world. Every turn had you guessing what was to come next and what the characters reactions were going to be. All the who, what, and why's keep you interacted and thoroughly hooked until the very end. Josi Russell definitely defined Ethan and Kaia's relationship and emotions. She really put more into the characters this time around and gave you a sense of who they really are. I loved how some of the passengers came a part of the storyline and gave different view points. Ethan yet again evolved and was surprising how well different aspects transitioned throughout the book. I think some will probably find the beginning a bit slow but I kinda of enjoyed the ease of going into the story. If you are that type, just keep reading and soon you won't want to put it down. I do think this book is better than the first and I think others will too. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
I received this book free for a unbiased opinion and here is what I think. The CARETAKER captured our attention in a complex world and conflicting emotions, now GUARDIANS takes us to a whole new level and spearheaded us straight beyond into a world of new imaginary.
Jodi Russell manages to capture our hearts yet again with her in-depth. focus on characters and complex world. She spins intricate details into the history and the making of the world. Every turn had you guessing what was to come next and what the characters reactions were going to be. All the who, what, and why's keep you interacted and thoroughly hooked until the very end. Josi Russell definitely defined Ethan and Kaia's relationship and emotions. She really put more into the characters this time around and gave you a sense of who they really are. I loved how some of the passengers came a part of the storyline and gave different view points. Ethan yet again evolved and was surprising how well different aspects transitioned throughout the book. I think some will probably find the beginning a bit slow but I kinda of enjoyed the ease of going into the story. If you are that type, just keep reading and soon you won't want to put it down. I do think this book is better than the first and I think others will too. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
February 9, 2016
I really enjoyed the first book, and was excited to hear the author had written a second book.; and I jumped at the opportunity when offered a chance to read and provide an unbiased review. However, as the first book pretty much came to a final resolution, I was concerned that I his book would try too hard - I mean, no one wants to read about our hero doing his chores and worrying over the bills. I will admit, there were a couple of moments when I thought, "Oh, c'mon!" Some of it is predictable, some isn't.
This story brought back a couple of people that I really liked, introduced a couple of [insert bad word here] people, and a whole lot of new people to care about. Some good character development and personal interactions.
The story picks up a while after the last left off and shows that though the cloud had a silver lining, it still was a DARK cloud. Special powers were a plus, but an impediment, bad people were good, good people bad, and you don't have to be human to be humane.
It can be read as a standalone, but reading Caretaker first will help make some of the references make more sense. Both are worth the read.
This story brought back a couple of people that I really liked, introduced a couple of [insert bad word here] people, and a whole lot of new people to care about. Some good character development and personal interactions.
The story picks up a while after the last left off and shows that though the cloud had a silver lining, it still was a DARK cloud. Special powers were a plus, but an impediment, bad people were good, good people bad, and you don't have to be human to be humane.
It can be read as a standalone, but reading Caretaker first will help make some of the references make more sense. Both are worth the read.
February 11, 2016
Having been a huge fan of the first book, Caretaker, I dove into Guardians and found that like with the first book, had trouble putting it down.
This story had a different feel than the first book because of course, much time had passed and the main character was no longer in the Caretaker role on a ship. In comparison, where the first book had only a few main characters, this book had many unique characters. I found the story line rich in detail and the descriptions of each setting vivid, but not too over the top so as to be distracting. It was easy to imagine what a human colonized planet would be like.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and am looking forward to hopefully a third book in this series by Josi Russell.
This story had a different feel than the first book because of course, much time had passed and the main character was no longer in the Caretaker role on a ship. In comparison, where the first book had only a few main characters, this book had many unique characters. I found the story line rich in detail and the descriptions of each setting vivid, but not too over the top so as to be distracting. It was easy to imagine what a human colonized planet would be like.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and am looking forward to hopefully a third book in this series by Josi Russell.
February 10, 2016
★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
I did one of those wild and crazy things with this book -- throwing caution to the wind in a daredevil-like fashion -- I read the second book in a series without reading the first book. Gasp!
Recklessness, no? It's the kind of nutty thing I used to do all the time in my youth, but haven't really done lately, so I figured I'd give it a try. Yes, there's some history (between the characters, and actual history) that I didn't really understand and some jargon that I didn't get right off the bat because I hadn't read Caretaker but with context, I got the jargon (pretty much, anyway), could piece together the history just enough to get by, so I didn't feel like I was at a disadvantage for not having experience with the series. I can say with a degree of certainty now, though, that I'm going to get to it pretty soon.
The action takes place on the planet Minea, which on paper, is run by the United Earth Government, but really is run by four Corporations and most of the populace lives in their company towns -- which, not surprisingly, act like company towns pretty much always have. What do the people who live on Minea do? Well, mostly, they mine (get it? Minea? What do you want, they're miners, not cartographers), and then there are shopkeepers, mechanics, doctors, etc. that support the miners. What they mine is this ore called Yyinum, which is this universe's equivalent of a Dilithium crystal -- it's what enables their fastest ships to travel the galaxy -- unlike Dilithium, it seems to run out and the ships need to refuel. There's only one place it can be found -- Minea.
But things aren't going so well, for the residents of Minea. Yyinum is getting harder and harder to find; there's a blight on the crops they're growing; some sort of plant is growing everywhere (like a mutant Space Kudzu or something); and a new, fatal disease is cropping up. Oh, yeah, and an unidentified alien space ship is orbiting the planet and no one knows why or what it's intentions are.
That's the overview, but if we zoom in for a closeup, we have a great cast to look at. We've got Ethan (who must've had a wild time in the last book), a government official (which means almost nothing in the company towns) who's sent on a survey mission and goes missing in uncharted -- and very dangerous -- area, with a crew of surveyors that don't like him. This is the heart of the book -- but not the most important part. There's Marcos Saras, the on-planet head of his father's mining company, trying to win daddy's approval and make a profit at all costs (the two are probably the same thing). There's Kaia -- the biggest reason I want to read Caretaker is so I can better understand her -- a brilliant engineer in a losing battle with her body. Her father, the Admiral in charge of defending the planet -- which is typically easier than it is once the aliens show up (natch) -- we don't spend as much time with him as you'd expect. And then there's Aria -- Ethan's wife, who is spurred to action after his disappearance (and after Saras' company gives up the search quickly) -- she continues the search, studies the Taim (the Space Kudzu), and tries to do something about the blight and disease (and a whole bunch of other things. If any one person understands what's going on on Minea, it's her. I'd say pay attention to her, but it's impossible not to. Mix in a whole lot of secondary characters (some of which could carry more than they're given) that add color, flavor, and a dash of romance.
The ending -- especially the denouement -- felt a little rushed, like the author was up against a deadline and just needed to finish things -- but they got the job done, and didn't seem incomplete. To be fair, if she spent a little more time with both of them, I might be sitting her accusing her of stretching things out to make a word count.
The world-building was solid. The storylines? I'm in, because even the predictable bits are done in a way to keep them interesting. You've read most of these storylines before -- maybe even all of them. But there are two elements that make this one stand out from others. The first is the way that Russell combines these storylines, weaves them together, and her weaving various characters through multiple storylines.
The second reason is what really makes me want to read the other book -- and whatever Russell puts out next -- the characters. I like these people, and even the one's I'm not crazy about are one recognizable as people, not stock characters or anything (with an exception or two). About halfway through reading this my family and I finally got the chance to watch Ridley Scott's adaptation of The Martian, *THE MARTIAN NOVEL SPOILERS TO FOLLOW* now the junior high school science nerd in me is ashamed of this, but there's a lot of what Mark Watney said that I didn't completely understand in Weir's book. But it didn't matter, because for a few days there, Mark Watney was one of my best friends. If things had gone a certain way in the book, I can tell you, I'd have been a wreck. *THE MARTIAN NOVEL SPOILERS OVER* Now, I followed 97% of this novel better than Weir's book, but at the same time, it almost didn't matter what was going on, I was into this because of the characters. The humanity with which she imbues the people, the aliens, and...well...some other things. That's the difference between this book and any number of SF novels out there.
I knew I was hooked, not just enjoying the book but was hooked, when the thing that happened about halfway through Chapter 31 made me excited and got me smiling (even if it was a pretty obvious thing that the reader was waiting for Ethan and the rest of the humans to learn). Read the book and that'll make sense. Probably.
I'm not sure when I realized this, far later than I should've -- there was almost no violence (except when the aliens and human military got going -- and even then it was pretty PG), there was no sex or "adult" language to speak of. Thanks for that, Josi Russell, what a pleasant change. On the other hand, I'm sure I ever needed the image of Minean cockroaches -- the size of an adult hand, mind you -- at all, and especially not crawling over the bodies of those killed in an accident. Shudder
A good SF tale with a lot of heart, and some characters you'll care about. That's a great way to spend a few hours.
Disclaimer: I received my copy of Guardians from the friendly people over at Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
I did one of those wild and crazy things with this book -- throwing caution to the wind in a daredevil-like fashion -- I read the second book in a series without reading the first book. Gasp!
Recklessness, no? It's the kind of nutty thing I used to do all the time in my youth, but haven't really done lately, so I figured I'd give it a try. Yes, there's some history (between the characters, and actual history) that I didn't really understand and some jargon that I didn't get right off the bat because I hadn't read Caretaker but with context, I got the jargon (pretty much, anyway), could piece together the history just enough to get by, so I didn't feel like I was at a disadvantage for not having experience with the series. I can say with a degree of certainty now, though, that I'm going to get to it pretty soon.
The action takes place on the planet Minea, which on paper, is run by the United Earth Government, but really is run by four Corporations and most of the populace lives in their company towns -- which, not surprisingly, act like company towns pretty much always have. What do the people who live on Minea do? Well, mostly, they mine (get it? Minea? What do you want, they're miners, not cartographers), and then there are shopkeepers, mechanics, doctors, etc. that support the miners. What they mine is this ore called Yyinum, which is this universe's equivalent of a Dilithium crystal -- it's what enables their fastest ships to travel the galaxy -- unlike Dilithium, it seems to run out and the ships need to refuel. There's only one place it can be found -- Minea.
But things aren't going so well, for the residents of Minea. Yyinum is getting harder and harder to find; there's a blight on the crops they're growing; some sort of plant is growing everywhere (like a mutant Space Kudzu or something); and a new, fatal disease is cropping up. Oh, yeah, and an unidentified alien space ship is orbiting the planet and no one knows why or what it's intentions are.
That's the overview, but if we zoom in for a closeup, we have a great cast to look at. We've got Ethan (who must've had a wild time in the last book), a government official (which means almost nothing in the company towns) who's sent on a survey mission and goes missing in uncharted -- and very dangerous -- area, with a crew of surveyors that don't like him. This is the heart of the book -- but not the most important part. There's Marcos Saras, the on-planet head of his father's mining company, trying to win daddy's approval and make a profit at all costs (the two are probably the same thing). There's Kaia -- the biggest reason I want to read Caretaker is so I can better understand her -- a brilliant engineer in a losing battle with her body. Her father, the Admiral in charge of defending the planet -- which is typically easier than it is once the aliens show up (natch) -- we don't spend as much time with him as you'd expect. And then there's Aria -- Ethan's wife, who is spurred to action after his disappearance (and after Saras' company gives up the search quickly) -- she continues the search, studies the Taim (the Space Kudzu), and tries to do something about the blight and disease (and a whole bunch of other things. If any one person understands what's going on on Minea, it's her. I'd say pay attention to her, but it's impossible not to. Mix in a whole lot of secondary characters (some of which could carry more than they're given) that add color, flavor, and a dash of romance.
The ending -- especially the denouement -- felt a little rushed, like the author was up against a deadline and just needed to finish things -- but they got the job done, and didn't seem incomplete. To be fair, if she spent a little more time with both of them, I might be sitting her accusing her of stretching things out to make a word count.
The world-building was solid. The storylines? I'm in, because even the predictable bits are done in a way to keep them interesting. You've read most of these storylines before -- maybe even all of them. But there are two elements that make this one stand out from others. The first is the way that Russell combines these storylines, weaves them together, and her weaving various characters through multiple storylines.
The second reason is what really makes me want to read the other book -- and whatever Russell puts out next -- the characters. I like these people, and even the one's I'm not crazy about are one recognizable as people, not stock characters or anything (with an exception or two). About halfway through reading this my family and I finally got the chance to watch Ridley Scott's adaptation of The Martian, *THE MARTIAN NOVEL SPOILERS TO FOLLOW* now the junior high school science nerd in me is ashamed of this, but there's a lot of what Mark Watney said that I didn't completely understand in Weir's book. But it didn't matter, because for a few days there, Mark Watney was one of my best friends. If things had gone a certain way in the book, I can tell you, I'd have been a wreck. *THE MARTIAN NOVEL SPOILERS OVER* Now, I followed 97% of this novel better than Weir's book, but at the same time, it almost didn't matter what was going on, I was into this because of the characters. The humanity with which she imbues the people, the aliens, and...well...some other things. That's the difference between this book and any number of SF novels out there.
I knew I was hooked, not just enjoying the book but was hooked, when the thing that happened about halfway through Chapter 31 made me excited and got me smiling (even if it was a pretty obvious thing that the reader was waiting for Ethan and the rest of the humans to learn). Read the book and that'll make sense. Probably.
I'm not sure when I realized this, far later than I should've -- there was almost no violence (except when the aliens and human military got going -- and even then it was pretty PG), there was no sex or "adult" language to speak of. Thanks for that, Josi Russell, what a pleasant change. On the other hand, I'm sure I ever needed the image of Minean cockroaches -- the size of an adult hand, mind you -- at all, and especially not crawling over the bodies of those killed in an accident. Shudder
A good SF tale with a lot of heart, and some characters you'll care about. That's a great way to spend a few hours.
Disclaimer: I received my copy of Guardians from the friendly people over at Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2016
After the hero saves the day, he is supposed to go home and live happily ever after. But life is never that simple.
Ethan had just settled in to what was supposed to be his happily ever after with his wife and their new family. He was adjusting well to the side effects his adventure where he saved 4000 people in stasis, when the planet, home to his sunny meadow with the little blue cottage starts to show her ugly side. Natural dangers abound and Ethan once again finds himself in a position where he is responsible for a small group of people.
To further complicate things, the settlement of the planet was privately subsidized. Leaving just about everything owned by major corporations. However, corporations rarely care about much beyond their bottom line in their profit margins. Cutting corners and over promising available jobs has left the economy in a dire state where most citizens find themselves in an indentured servitude position.
In this book Josi Russell explores economic hardships and how they might look on another planet. She also pulls in themes of how do those with super abilities and fame assimilate as they strive for "normalcy"
The book is well written, and I really do like the characters. Josi has a way of creating a bevy of unique characters that you can't help but love (or love to hate in some instances).
Disclaimer: I have received this title at a discount in exchange for my opinions. I have not received any monetary compensation.
Ethan had just settled in to what was supposed to be his happily ever after with his wife and their new family. He was adjusting well to the side effects his adventure where he saved 4000 people in stasis, when the planet, home to his sunny meadow with the little blue cottage starts to show her ugly side. Natural dangers abound and Ethan once again finds himself in a position where he is responsible for a small group of people.
To further complicate things, the settlement of the planet was privately subsidized. Leaving just about everything owned by major corporations. However, corporations rarely care about much beyond their bottom line in their profit margins. Cutting corners and over promising available jobs has left the economy in a dire state where most citizens find themselves in an indentured servitude position.
In this book Josi Russell explores economic hardships and how they might look on another planet. She also pulls in themes of how do those with super abilities and fame assimilate as they strive for "normalcy"
The book is well written, and I really do like the characters. Josi has a way of creating a bevy of unique characters that you can't help but love (or love to hate in some instances).
Disclaimer: I have received this title at a discount in exchange for my opinions. I have not received any monetary compensation.
August 9, 2016
Good book, well written, but has too many pov, at the start you have to balance how the world, that was not explained in detail before, works. i dont like how Ethan get stagnant, i dont know if this is because the story was never planned to have more than one book, but at times it feels like the chapter was made to fill in the pages, of course at the end you get to know why you had to read so much stuff at the times irrelevant, it was hard to reach chapter 10, but once there it was easy and exiting to read, as i was saying, Ethan never tried to control his powers/ habilities, that rubs me wrong, the mc behaves like he has just gotten his skills, its been 5 freaking years, it feel like reading a one book saga, where the mc starts not knowing a thing, and at the end of the book is a pro, then in the next book he is useless again, the book has a good climax, you can enjoy and relate to the characters portrayed, the story start pretty weak, like building up the colony how the industries works, god i hate the wife(at times), thank god she is useful and well thought. i would write more, but why spoil the fun? read it, enjoy it, hate it then love it.
I received a copy of Guardians from Future House Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.
I received a copy of Guardians from Future House Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.
February 11, 2016
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
Do you know what I think is great about this book?? It can be read as a standalone.
That being said, I'm really happy I already read Caretaker, which provides history for some of our favorite characters!
This novel was certainly more fast-paced than its predecessor, and I think there was more character development here as well. I love the alien planet aspect of this novel, because it allows for some really interesting settings!
Another huge difference between Guardians and Caretaker is the sheer number of characters. In Caretaker, we really only have two; Guardians introduces us to a whole new delightful mess of characters.
The author does a great job again at raising some very interesting thought-provoking questions. Another fun read!
PS. The covers are obscenely gorgeous.
{I received this book for free from Future Publishing House in exchange for an honest review.}
Do you know what I think is great about this book?? It can be read as a standalone.
That being said, I'm really happy I already read Caretaker, which provides history for some of our favorite characters!
This novel was certainly more fast-paced than its predecessor, and I think there was more character development here as well. I love the alien planet aspect of this novel, because it allows for some really interesting settings!
Another huge difference between Guardians and Caretaker is the sheer number of characters. In Caretaker, we really only have two; Guardians introduces us to a whole new delightful mess of characters.
The author does a great job again at raising some very interesting thought-provoking questions. Another fun read!
PS. The covers are obscenely gorgeous.
{I received this book for free from Future Publishing House in exchange for an honest review.}
February 23, 2016
* I received this ebook in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*
Guardians is the second book in a series, the first being The Caretaker. This book is well written and keeps you wanting to read more. It takes place on the planet of Minea and Ethan and his wife Aria are lead characters in this adventure. There are surprises and twists and turns throughout with adventure building towards the end of the book. Although I usually don't read fantasy books often, this one grabbed my attention and the bond that grows stronger between Ethan and his wife is endearing. I am looking forward to reading more books from Josi Russell as she really has a gift for developing characters and scenarios that you can visualize and follow along with through the book. If you are looking for a great read, I'd recommend checking this book out today, you won't be disappointed!
Guardians is the second book in a series, the first being The Caretaker. This book is well written and keeps you wanting to read more. It takes place on the planet of Minea and Ethan and his wife Aria are lead characters in this adventure. There are surprises and twists and turns throughout with adventure building towards the end of the book. Although I usually don't read fantasy books often, this one grabbed my attention and the bond that grows stronger between Ethan and his wife is endearing. I am looking forward to reading more books from Josi Russell as she really has a gift for developing characters and scenarios that you can visualize and follow along with through the book. If you are looking for a great read, I'd recommend checking this book out today, you won't be disappointed!
February 11, 2016
A perfect sci-fi tale to keep you entertained.
This sequel exceeded my expectations 100%.
This story has no waste, there is so much going on that it is difficult to put down. It revolves around the feeling of family and the lengths we would go to save them. We find gripping and very tense situations that may become claustrophobic, in my case, the feeling of doom and loss, hope and survival.
Is full of action sequence and intergalactic battles. A lot of plot twists that would keep you wondering who is friend or foe.
Note: I received a copy of the book from Future House Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.
This sequel exceeded my expectations 100%.
This story has no waste, there is so much going on that it is difficult to put down. It revolves around the feeling of family and the lengths we would go to save them. We find gripping and very tense situations that may become claustrophobic, in my case, the feeling of doom and loss, hope and survival.
Is full of action sequence and intergalactic battles. A lot of plot twists that would keep you wondering who is friend or foe.
Note: I received a copy of the book from Future House Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.
February 10, 2016
Wow, wow, wow, wow, WOW! Even with the slow start, this was INCREDIBLE. So rich in detail and history. You can tell Russell poured her heart and soul into this story. It was absolutely fantastic!
January 20, 2023
Great sci fi adventure
The worldbuilding is interesting, and the non-humans are fascinating. There is a named character body count, which never makes me happy, but death seems to be present in most sci fi books. Minea is not the wonderful new beginning the passengers from Guardian expected, nor is it the paradise the companies portrayed. Some bad people get what they deserve, and some bad people turn out to not be so bad. Kaia's situation made me sad.
The worldbuilding is interesting, and the non-humans are fascinating. There is a named character body count, which never makes me happy, but death seems to be present in most sci fi books. Minea is not the wonderful new beginning the passengers from Guardian expected, nor is it the paradise the companies portrayed. Some bad people get what they deserve, and some bad people turn out to not be so bad. Kaia's situation made me sad.
July 4, 2017
Robert's Review
Very GoodRead. I enjoyed meeting the new races and the interesting capabilities they have. Also interesting reading the changes discovered living in the new world from the opening of the book to the ending. I am interested to see how Ethan and his family move on with the Vala in the next book.
Very GoodRead. I enjoyed meeting the new races and the interesting capabilities they have. Also interesting reading the changes discovered living in the new world from the opening of the book to the ending. I am interested to see how Ethan and his family move on with the Vala in the next book.
November 2, 2017
Wow! Great adventure!
What an exciting story. Definitely read book #1, The Caretaker, first. Book #2 builds on it and just continues to build the characters plus introducing some new players. Never a dull moment in the storyline either.
What an exciting story. Definitely read book #1, The Caretaker, first. Book #2 builds on it and just continues to build the characters plus introducing some new players. Never a dull moment in the storyline either.
March 7, 2019
I really did like this book but I was surprised by the ease of which the complex problems were solved. I am getting ready to start book 3 and still look forward to more adventures of the characters and hope that the story line continues to intrigue.
December 28, 2022
Great 2 nd
I fine this book by Miss Jodi Russell a great second addition to the series. Its starts out with many avenues of stories that form into one cohesive finished story. Will read 3rd book.
I fine this book by Miss Jodi Russell a great second addition to the series. Its starts out with many avenues of stories that form into one cohesive finished story. Will read 3rd book.
June 5, 2023
good
Book two in the caretaker chronicles finds Ethan and his family fighting against a mystery illness killing people, saving a race hiding from slavers and corrupt company officials. Read and enjoy
Book two in the caretaker chronicles finds Ethan and his family fighting against a mystery illness killing people, saving a race hiding from slavers and corrupt company officials. Read and enjoy
July 26, 2019
I couldn't put it down!
It was so great, that you got hooked and it held you to the very last page.
I didn't want to stop reading to eat or sleep.
It was so great, that you got hooked and it held you to the very last page.
I didn't want to stop reading to eat or sleep.
April 10, 2023
Incredibly bad
Did the same person who wrote the first book write the second? If it is then perhaps he had a stroke since then .
Did the same person who wrote the first book write the second? If it is then perhaps he had a stroke since then .
May 9, 2023
wonderful
Truly gripping. Can’t put them down. Humans once more battling for survival, but this time there are alien allies who come to the rescue.
Truly gripping. Can’t put them down. Humans once more battling for survival, but this time there are alien allies who come to the rescue.
March 8, 2017
I really like it. It was about humans on a plant. It is in the future. The main carter name is Ethan. He and some other people get stuck in a cave and they have to find a way out. When they find a way out but they can't get out they find some aliens that help them. At the same time in the town Ethan's wife finds out about a sickness. Latter she finds the cure. There is a big battle between the aliens that want the other aliens and the humans that are defending the aliens that helped them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2016
As with the first book Caretaker, I had a hard time putting this one down. The book picks up 4 years after the ship reaches Minea, and the passengers have found out that things aren't exactly as they'd been led to believe before they left Earth. The city has been carefully planned, and their ship was never supposed to arrive. Because of this, most of the passengers are finding it hard to fit in and find a place for themselves on their new planet.
Because of his part in saving the passengers from slavery as they slept through the stars, Ethan Bryant (Caretaker) has been given a government position, and he and his family do what they can to help their fellow passengers. More often than not, they feel helpless to do anything of real value.
Even those colonists who were supposed to be there have found that things aren't as rosy as they'd expected. They find themselves deeply in debt and barely able to feed their own families. And then people start getting sick and the food supply begins to dry up. What is going on, and will someone figure it out before more people die? And what do the aliens who have suddenly appeared above the planet want?
As noted on the About the Author page - "Josi Russell's science fiction novels explore familiar human relationships in unfamiliar contexts." She definitely does a good job of that in this book. The book explores themes of family, friendship, love, and redemption a midst the darker human traits of greed, selfishness, and betrayal. All while the colonists face new challenges and new setbacks on their adopted planet. This book will definitely keep you reading until the very end.
Disclosure: I received a copy of Guardians from Future House Publishing in exchange for review.
Because of his part in saving the passengers from slavery as they slept through the stars, Ethan Bryant (Caretaker) has been given a government position, and he and his family do what they can to help their fellow passengers. More often than not, they feel helpless to do anything of real value.
Even those colonists who were supposed to be there have found that things aren't as rosy as they'd expected. They find themselves deeply in debt and barely able to feed their own families. And then people start getting sick and the food supply begins to dry up. What is going on, and will someone figure it out before more people die? And what do the aliens who have suddenly appeared above the planet want?
As noted on the About the Author page - "Josi Russell's science fiction novels explore familiar human relationships in unfamiliar contexts." She definitely does a good job of that in this book. The book explores themes of family, friendship, love, and redemption a midst the darker human traits of greed, selfishness, and betrayal. All while the colonists face new challenges and new setbacks on their adopted planet. This book will definitely keep you reading until the very end.
Disclosure: I received a copy of Guardians from Future House Publishing in exchange for review.
February 13, 2016
Please note that I was provided a pre-publication copy of the Guardians to review.
In the first book in the Caretaker Chronicles, Ethan Bryant survived 5 years as Caretaker on spaceship 12-22, defended his fellow shipmates from a more advanced civilization on the planet Beta Alora and, in stasis, completed the 30-year trip from Earth to the planet Minea. On Minea, Ethan is reunited with his pregnant wife Aria and is elected to a governor position. For most of his shipmates, life in the company-owned town of Coriol on Minea is a nightmare. To survive, they must work under nearly feudal conditions to mine valuable Yynium for the Saras Company. Despite his best attempts, Ethan is unable to improve the lot of the miners. As a designated government representative, Ethan is sent on an expedition to the Karst Mountains. The airship crashes in the remote mountains and Ethan, the ship and the team are lost in a deep cavern. With the official search abandoned, Aria continues to search for Ethan and for the cause of a mysterious epidemic that threatens her children and the remainder of the population. To avoid being a spoiler, I leave the rest for the reader.
Despite some distracting verbiage in the first few pages, the story took off and easily kept my attention throughout the remainder of the book. The themes of good versus evil (company versus workers; alien slaveholders versus talented slaves; humans versus unimaginable hardship) and the principal characters are well developed. Guardians is truly a good read. However, it would be improved by adding a short recap of the events in The Caretaker at its beginning.
In the first book in the Caretaker Chronicles, Ethan Bryant survived 5 years as Caretaker on spaceship 12-22, defended his fellow shipmates from a more advanced civilization on the planet Beta Alora and, in stasis, completed the 30-year trip from Earth to the planet Minea. On Minea, Ethan is reunited with his pregnant wife Aria and is elected to a governor position. For most of his shipmates, life in the company-owned town of Coriol on Minea is a nightmare. To survive, they must work under nearly feudal conditions to mine valuable Yynium for the Saras Company. Despite his best attempts, Ethan is unable to improve the lot of the miners. As a designated government representative, Ethan is sent on an expedition to the Karst Mountains. The airship crashes in the remote mountains and Ethan, the ship and the team are lost in a deep cavern. With the official search abandoned, Aria continues to search for Ethan and for the cause of a mysterious epidemic that threatens her children and the remainder of the population. To avoid being a spoiler, I leave the rest for the reader.
Despite some distracting verbiage in the first few pages, the story took off and easily kept my attention throughout the remainder of the book. The themes of good versus evil (company versus workers; alien slaveholders versus talented slaves; humans versus unimaginable hardship) and the principal characters are well developed. Guardians is truly a good read. However, it would be improved by adding a short recap of the events in The Caretaker at its beginning.
March 9, 2016
Science fiction or science fantasy?
Right away, I want to say that I have no intention of demeaning the author for her story or her work. Whilst the second part of the caretaker chronicles is not as gripping as the first book, it is still a excellent read and the storyline is very solid.
For the majority of this novel, I was kept well entertained and the descriptions conveyed to me through the travels in the underground warrens and caves are so vividly scripted that sometimes I actually felt that I really was taking part in the journey.
The rift between fiction and fantasy starts in what is really part two of this novel (although there is no part two) wherein the human race on Minea are suddenly dying off with a strange disease that is killing all and sundry and the main heroes wife suddenly comes up with the answer to cure the world when her daughter comes down with it. Very reminiscent of my childhood days when my little sister and I would enact out our own adventures and fantasies because we didn't have a TV. After that, the storyline becomes very predictable and the ending is all hunky-dory with everyone living happily ever after.
As I stated already, not knocking the author, but towards the end of the story, things get just a bit too romantic for me. Would still recommend this book.
Right away, I want to say that I have no intention of demeaning the author for her story or her work. Whilst the second part of the caretaker chronicles is not as gripping as the first book, it is still a excellent read and the storyline is very solid.
For the majority of this novel, I was kept well entertained and the descriptions conveyed to me through the travels in the underground warrens and caves are so vividly scripted that sometimes I actually felt that I really was taking part in the journey.
The rift between fiction and fantasy starts in what is really part two of this novel (although there is no part two) wherein the human race on Minea are suddenly dying off with a strange disease that is killing all and sundry and the main heroes wife suddenly comes up with the answer to cure the world when her daughter comes down with it. Very reminiscent of my childhood days when my little sister and I would enact out our own adventures and fantasies because we didn't have a TV. After that, the storyline becomes very predictable and the ending is all hunky-dory with everyone living happily ever after.
As I stated already, not knocking the author, but towards the end of the story, things get just a bit too romantic for me. Would still recommend this book.
February 11, 2016
Please note, I received a copy of Guardians from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Fans of light literature will enjoy this new entry in The Caretaker Series. The new volume, “Guardians,” by Josi Russell is a description of the lives and struggles of human colonists on this alien planet.
The story is a bit hard to follow, introducing a lot of characters very quickly, giving the reader just a short span of time to know them before jumping to the next character.
While a the promise of the story is interesting and fascinating, the number of characters and story lines at the beginning are a bit confusing, which made it hard to keep reading. The writer goes in too much mundane and uninsteresting details, with overly long descriptions of routine, casual tasks that add little to the overall plot.
The overall themes of the book do touch on the several important issues like unemployment and income inequality, but the real action involving a mysterious alien space ship seems to get lost in the details. This makes the reader sometimes forget that he is reading a sci-fi novel.
In conclusion, this book is light, fun read as long as you can keep up with the enormous cast of characters.
Fans of light literature will enjoy this new entry in The Caretaker Series. The new volume, “Guardians,” by Josi Russell is a description of the lives and struggles of human colonists on this alien planet.
The story is a bit hard to follow, introducing a lot of characters very quickly, giving the reader just a short span of time to know them before jumping to the next character.
While a the promise of the story is interesting and fascinating, the number of characters and story lines at the beginning are a bit confusing, which made it hard to keep reading. The writer goes in too much mundane and uninsteresting details, with overly long descriptions of routine, casual tasks that add little to the overall plot.
The overall themes of the book do touch on the several important issues like unemployment and income inequality, but the real action involving a mysterious alien space ship seems to get lost in the details. This makes the reader sometimes forget that he is reading a sci-fi novel.
In conclusion, this book is light, fun read as long as you can keep up with the enormous cast of characters.
February 27, 2016
I didn't read the first book and would recommend that if you haven't read Caretaker first. I was able to follow along with the backdrop provided but it took me a little longer to piece it together and kept getting the feeling I missed some important action. The author has created a world filled with amazing life forms, abilities and locations. It definitely did not disappoint me with action, drama, betrayal, social issues and of course aliens. The characters are diverse and feel authentic. Aria's love and dedication for Ethan was admirable as she went out several times after the government and Saras stopped looking.
The pace starts a little slow but quickly picks up once Ethan and the crew become lost in the mountain cave. The story line is not predictable and was often surprised by how scenes played out. Definitely didn't see the twist that happened with one of the vice presidents of Saras. (Don't want to give out any spoilers!) My interest in this series has been captured. I certainly didn't want to put the book down and look forward to reading what happens next. Overall, great read for anyone who loves science fiction mixed with fantasy. I do have to warn it is a little long.
The pace starts a little slow but quickly picks up once Ethan and the crew become lost in the mountain cave. The story line is not predictable and was often surprised by how scenes played out. Definitely didn't see the twist that happened with one of the vice presidents of Saras. (Don't want to give out any spoilers!) My interest in this series has been captured. I certainly didn't want to put the book down and look forward to reading what happens next. Overall, great read for anyone who loves science fiction mixed with fantasy. I do have to warn it is a little long.
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