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The Wonderland Cycle #3
Gathering Ashes
THE REVOLUTION WON’T BE TELEVISED.
-- 2084 --
Four years have passed since Bobbi January learned about the existence of the Yathi race and its plans for humanity. Since then, she ‘s become more than a career data thief or anticorporate provacateur - she’s the leader of a force of humans and reformed Yathi hosts dedicated to fighting the aliens wherever they can be found.
Hers is a war fought in the dark, and like all wars, it has been costly. Friends have died, others have soured, and the rebellion that started out so strongly has broken into two embittered camps. When Bobbi is nearly killed by a surprise strike after a successful mission, it looks as though the Yathi may be the least of her problems.
Meanwhile, Thomas Walken, held prisoner by the Yathi since his capture six years previous, awakens. Escaping from an alien installation, he must grapple with a body - and perhaps a mind - that is not his own, and try to reclaim the humanity which the Yathi’s have so vigorously tried to scrub from his mind. Hunted by the Mother of Systems, he aims to reconnect with Bobbi, but will she accept him as a man, or denounce him as a creation of the enemy?
Packed with action, intrigue, and dark futuristic thrills, Gathering Ashes transports you to the very edge of a dangerously uncertain future.
-- 2084 --
Four years have passed since Bobbi January learned about the existence of the Yathi race and its plans for humanity. Since then, she ‘s become more than a career data thief or anticorporate provacateur - she’s the leader of a force of humans and reformed Yathi hosts dedicated to fighting the aliens wherever they can be found.
Hers is a war fought in the dark, and like all wars, it has been costly. Friends have died, others have soured, and the rebellion that started out so strongly has broken into two embittered camps. When Bobbi is nearly killed by a surprise strike after a successful mission, it looks as though the Yathi may be the least of her problems.
Meanwhile, Thomas Walken, held prisoner by the Yathi since his capture six years previous, awakens. Escaping from an alien installation, he must grapple with a body - and perhaps a mind - that is not his own, and try to reclaim the humanity which the Yathi’s have so vigorously tried to scrub from his mind. Hunted by the Mother of Systems, he aims to reconnect with Bobbi, but will she accept him as a man, or denounce him as a creation of the enemy?
Packed with action, intrigue, and dark futuristic thrills, Gathering Ashes transports you to the very edge of a dangerously uncertain future.
- GenresCyberpunk
485 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 17, 2016
2 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Michael Shean
5 books63 followersMichael Shean was born amongst the sleepy hills and coal mines of southern West Virginia in 1978. Taught to read by his parents at a very early age, he has had a great love of the written word since the very beginning of his life. Growing up, he was often plagued with feelings of isolation and loneliness; he began writing off and on to help deflect this, though these themes are often explored in his work as a consequence. At the age of 16, Michael began to experience a chain of vivid nightmares that has continued to this day; it is from these aberrant dreams that he draws inspiration.
In 2001, Michael left West Virginia to pursue a career in the tech industry. He settled in the Washington, DC area as a web designer and graphic artist. As a result, his writing was put aside and not revisited until five years later. In 2006 he met his wife who urged him to pick up his writing once more. Though the process was very frustrating at first, in time the process of polishing and experimentation yielded the core of what would become his first novel, Shadow of a Dead Star. In 2009 the first draft of book was finished although it would not be until 2011 he would be satisfied enough with the book to release it.
Michael’s work is extensively character-driven, but also focuses on building engaging worlds in which those characters interact. His influences include H.P. Lovecraft, William Gibson, Cormac McCarthy, Philip K. Dick, and Clark Ashton Smith.
In 2001, Michael left West Virginia to pursue a career in the tech industry. He settled in the Washington, DC area as a web designer and graphic artist. As a result, his writing was put aside and not revisited until five years later. In 2006 he met his wife who urged him to pick up his writing once more. Though the process was very frustrating at first, in time the process of polishing and experimentation yielded the core of what would become his first novel, Shadow of a Dead Star. In 2009 the first draft of book was finished although it would not be until 2011 he would be satisfied enough with the book to release it.
Michael’s work is extensively character-driven, but also focuses on building engaging worlds in which those characters interact. His influences include H.P. Lovecraft, William Gibson, Cormac McCarthy, Philip K. Dick, and Clark Ashton Smith.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 11, 2017
The dark cyberpunk series set in a bleak future continues with Gathering Ashes. Thomas Walken continues his quest to escape the Yathi, while Bobbi January seeks to destroy them. Only she's not the only one. This time, she has more fellow fighters to join the battle. The story feels fragmented at first, but soon builds to a thrilling pace which makes it difficult to put the book down. Jacinto stands out as my favourite character this time around, so I hope we get to see more of him in the next book.
The sprawling story does require a lot of memory of the previous books; given I read Shadow of a Dead Star some 5 years ago, I did sometimes struggle to remember certain events. But it's not wholly necessary to remember them in massive detail so I still followed the plot all the same.
It does get a little confusing in places. And there are plenty of formatting errors, like speech marks that appear around speech tags instead of actual dialogue. They're not quite enough to throw you completely out of the story, but they're annoying all the same. Still, that's not the author's fault, and it's something I hope the publisher will address.
My only gripe with the book is the fact that it doesn't really finish, it just stops. It's obviously being built up for the next book in the series, but I would have like at least some sort of conclusion for the events of the book, not just a massive cliffhanger. Still, I'll be looking forward to finding out what happens next.
The sprawling story does require a lot of memory of the previous books; given I read Shadow of a Dead Star some 5 years ago, I did sometimes struggle to remember certain events. But it's not wholly necessary to remember them in massive detail so I still followed the plot all the same.
It does get a little confusing in places. And there are plenty of formatting errors, like speech marks that appear around speech tags instead of actual dialogue. They're not quite enough to throw you completely out of the story, but they're annoying all the same. Still, that's not the author's fault, and it's something I hope the publisher will address.
My only gripe with the book is the fact that it doesn't really finish, it just stops. It's obviously being built up for the next book in the series, but I would have like at least some sort of conclusion for the events of the book, not just a massive cliffhanger. Still, I'll be looking forward to finding out what happens next.
November 17, 2016
This was a long one but still managed to leave me wanting more. This is the third book in the series and you definitely want to start from the beginning. There are some very compelling, complex characters. Bobbi is my favorite. We see a bit of her wit in this one, but mainly she is trying to keep her group together. She's a leader now and a good one. She wants to take out the Yathi, but she'll also do anything to keep her people safe. And now Tom Walken is back, which is great, but he's something else now, and he's having trouble coming to terms with it himself. Overall an exciting read with plenty of big, futuristic weapons, explosions, and deaths. I certainly hope to see the next book soon.
February 27, 2017
I need to start by saying I was given a free copy for review purposes.
I'm not sure where to start with this book. I really liked "shadow of a dying star", and was looking forward to reading the other books in the series. Shean has great world building skills, and is excellent at creating a dark and moody atmosphere. However, I can't deny this book has its problems.
Again, this book was full of spelling and punctuation errors. While i am willing to look past this in the works a self published author, the fact this was published Curiosity Quills makes me more critical.
In this Shean departs from his usual single narrator approach, and uses two alternating points of view. While one of these points of view is solid, the other comes off as less focused.
Lack of focus is an overall problem for this book. The first two books in this series had nice, simple, mysteries that slowly unfolded, this one felt more like a series of events that just kind of happened. The only goals the characters are working towards are vague and nebulous. This is not helped by the cliff hanger ending. Instead of being eager to read more, I'm left feeling frustrated nothing was resolved.
I can't give this book a lower rating though. For its problems, it does have its charm. If you're looking for some cheap cyber punk adventures, this will scratch that itch.
I'm not sure where to start with this book. I really liked "shadow of a dying star", and was looking forward to reading the other books in the series. Shean has great world building skills, and is excellent at creating a dark and moody atmosphere. However, I can't deny this book has its problems.
Again, this book was full of spelling and punctuation errors. While i am willing to look past this in the works a self published author, the fact this was published Curiosity Quills makes me more critical.
In this Shean departs from his usual single narrator approach, and uses two alternating points of view. While one of these points of view is solid, the other comes off as less focused.
Lack of focus is an overall problem for this book. The first two books in this series had nice, simple, mysteries that slowly unfolded, this one felt more like a series of events that just kind of happened. The only goals the characters are working towards are vague and nebulous. This is not helped by the cliff hanger ending. Instead of being eager to read more, I'm left feeling frustrated nothing was resolved.
I can't give this book a lower rating though. For its problems, it does have its charm. If you're looking for some cheap cyber punk adventures, this will scratch that itch.
January 13, 2017
‘Endless carefree consumption, total comfort, all you can eat, and only at the low, low cost of your human soul and who believed in that anymore.’
In book three of Michael Shean’s dark cyberpunk series, he explores the paths we can take as humanity: to stick with the militaristic war-like foible of the human race or to use the superior technology of the alien Yathi to humanity’s advantage and risk losing a small part of ourselves.
Thomas Walken’s worse fears are realised when he wakes up as one of the Yathi. He doesn’t know his true purpose or what the Mother of Systems has planned for him. Walken must evolve, from a policeman to a spy operative, listening to external intelligence to make considered choices in the greater scheme of things. His new body has the potential to put him on an even keel with his alien enemies, if only he knew how to unlock his capabilities. ‘The magnetic fields around his hands, his arms, the elements that would flash-heat the trapped air into white-hot plasma. His alloy-laced bones, his diamond heart. The poreless white skin beneath his sensory absorptive coating, Nemea invulnerability rendered from flesh impregnated with nanomachines.’
The author keeps the best parts of character Bobbi’s point of view from Redeye (book two) and combines it with Walken’s ego: ‘I’m hoping to kick ass and save the day no matter what you do to me’. Bobbi is much stronger and confident in Gathering Ashes, bringing together a group of hackers and using reclaimed Yathi as assassins. Though I was more excited with Walken’s ‘no shits given’ exchanges with enemies, it was Bobbi’s personality and character that felt more real. The way she thought, acted, and interacted bore uncanny resemblance to somebody who might have lived in the real world.
Criticism: I couldn’t easily fault Gathering Ashes. The quotations marks were presented inconsistently. Author should maybe cut out some similes, which stuck out in the text next to the already excellent pace and tone of the writing. Ch.12 was exceptionally long. When did Tom see Scalli, did I miss that part? There is a gap in my memory there. Regarding the ‘mysterious horseshit’ perpetrated by god-like AI Cagliostro, I wanted more answers than conjecture to explain who he is and whether he really can be trusted. It’s clear more will be answered in the next book, but some things could have been wrapped up better.
The author has adapted his writing, adding brief backstories, more considered settings, and even crossed into the spy genre with infiltration missions, all of which were well balanced, at the correct length and written with superb quality. The story contained some of the most exciting action I’ve read in science fiction with the right level of urgency, a firm grip of technology, and an understanding of cause and effect. I liked the fact that Gathering Ashes was not a rushed third book, and the author took his time to reacquaint the reader with the setting and characters. The flow was perfect. What else can I say except that Gathering Ashes is a well-crafted sequel that I hugely enjoyed? Each book continues to get better.
In book three of Michael Shean’s dark cyberpunk series, he explores the paths we can take as humanity: to stick with the militaristic war-like foible of the human race or to use the superior technology of the alien Yathi to humanity’s advantage and risk losing a small part of ourselves.
Thomas Walken’s worse fears are realised when he wakes up as one of the Yathi. He doesn’t know his true purpose or what the Mother of Systems has planned for him. Walken must evolve, from a policeman to a spy operative, listening to external intelligence to make considered choices in the greater scheme of things. His new body has the potential to put him on an even keel with his alien enemies, if only he knew how to unlock his capabilities. ‘The magnetic fields around his hands, his arms, the elements that would flash-heat the trapped air into white-hot plasma. His alloy-laced bones, his diamond heart. The poreless white skin beneath his sensory absorptive coating, Nemea invulnerability rendered from flesh impregnated with nanomachines.’
The author keeps the best parts of character Bobbi’s point of view from Redeye (book two) and combines it with Walken’s ego: ‘I’m hoping to kick ass and save the day no matter what you do to me’. Bobbi is much stronger and confident in Gathering Ashes, bringing together a group of hackers and using reclaimed Yathi as assassins. Though I was more excited with Walken’s ‘no shits given’ exchanges with enemies, it was Bobbi’s personality and character that felt more real. The way she thought, acted, and interacted bore uncanny resemblance to somebody who might have lived in the real world.
Criticism: I couldn’t easily fault Gathering Ashes. The quotations marks were presented inconsistently. Author should maybe cut out some similes, which stuck out in the text next to the already excellent pace and tone of the writing. Ch.12 was exceptionally long. When did Tom see Scalli, did I miss that part? There is a gap in my memory there. Regarding the ‘mysterious horseshit’ perpetrated by god-like AI Cagliostro, I wanted more answers than conjecture to explain who he is and whether he really can be trusted. It’s clear more will be answered in the next book, but some things could have been wrapped up better.
The author has adapted his writing, adding brief backstories, more considered settings, and even crossed into the spy genre with infiltration missions, all of which were well balanced, at the correct length and written with superb quality. The story contained some of the most exciting action I’ve read in science fiction with the right level of urgency, a firm grip of technology, and an understanding of cause and effect. I liked the fact that Gathering Ashes was not a rushed third book, and the author took his time to reacquaint the reader with the setting and characters. The flow was perfect. What else can I say except that Gathering Ashes is a well-crafted sequel that I hugely enjoyed? Each book continues to get better.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews