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A starship captain.
A military officer.
A rogue AI.
It's been ten years since the end of the EXO war and Captain Abel Cain just wants to be done with it. In the dark places between systems, Abel and Zee - Abel's co-pilot - manage to eke out an existence free from military entanglements. When Echo Shade, the wily daughter of the Fleet Admiral, happens upon Abel's ship - The Kodiak - she brings him the news that forces him to reconsider his involvement.
The EXOs are free again and war is on the horizon. In a race against time, Abel, Zee, and Echo must fight their way free of the EXOs and their minions. The trio must make it back to the Exodus Fleet Naval base before the EXO prime - the leader of the organic machines - can capture Abel and force him to reveal his secrets.
A military officer.
A rogue AI.
It's been ten years since the end of the EXO war and Captain Abel Cain just wants to be done with it. In the dark places between systems, Abel and Zee - Abel's co-pilot - manage to eke out an existence free from military entanglements. When Echo Shade, the wily daughter of the Fleet Admiral, happens upon Abel's ship - The Kodiak - she brings him the news that forces him to reconsider his involvement.
The EXOs are free again and war is on the horizon. In a race against time, Abel, Zee, and Echo must fight their way free of the EXOs and their minions. The trio must make it back to the Exodus Fleet Naval base before the EXO prime - the leader of the organic machines - can capture Abel and force him to reveal his secrets.
307 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 11, 2015
1 person is currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
D.J. Morand
17 books12 followersAuthor also writes under David J. Moran
David J. Morand is a seasoned author of science fiction and fantasy, with over twenty years of experience in Table Top RPGs as both a player and Game Master. He has published several RPG adventures in magazines, showcasing his passion for storytelling and adventure design. His work has been praised for its engaging characters, immersive world-building, and creative mechanics.
In addition to his RPG adventures, David is the author of two science fiction novels, Kodiak and Atlas. He has also published a collection of fantasy short stories, showcasing his versatility and range as an author. David's love of RPGs and his experience as a Game Master have greatly informed his writing, and he continues to draw inspiration from the worlds and characters he has created in his gaming sessions. His dedication to crafting engaging and immersive adventures shines through in all of his work, and he is committed to sharing his passion for storytelling and gaming with others.
David J. Morand is a seasoned author of science fiction and fantasy, with over twenty years of experience in Table Top RPGs as both a player and Game Master. He has published several RPG adventures in magazines, showcasing his passion for storytelling and adventure design. His work has been praised for its engaging characters, immersive world-building, and creative mechanics.
In addition to his RPG adventures, David is the author of two science fiction novels, Kodiak and Atlas. He has also published a collection of fantasy short stories, showcasing his versatility and range as an author. David's love of RPGs and his experience as a Game Master have greatly informed his writing, and he continues to draw inspiration from the worlds and characters he has created in his gaming sessions. His dedication to crafting engaging and immersive adventures shines through in all of his work, and he is committed to sharing his passion for storytelling and gaming with others.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 7, 2015
An interesting book. I found the world intriguing, and the world building maybe a little thin at times and then a little too much making it equal out. I really liked the characters, Abel and Zee especially, and enjoyed they're interaction in the world. Decent read, would recommend.
I received a free copy from the author for my honest review.
I received a free copy from the author for my honest review.
March 10, 2016
(I received a free .pdf copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
I enjoyed a lot of things about this book. These are all things that, if I could break down my rating, I'd give 4 stars: the characters themselves were engaging. World-building was strong... especially technical details, though the sometimes-long descriptions took away from the action at times. The central conflict and idea of technology innovations intended for good wreaking havoc instead is a trope that's always worth exploring, and the way in which the author sets up the conflicts is interesting. Overall, plot, characterization, and world-building were solid. The friendship between Zee and Abel was my favorite element of the entire book. Zee actually ended up being my favorite character in the book--very captivating fellow.
Weaknesses of the book and why I could only give it 3 stars instead of 4: it's really in need of the guidance of a good editorial hand. There were redundancies that could be trimmed out, but more problematic for me was the sheer amount of flashbacks used to set up current situations. While they did provide background detail, they often tripped up the flow of the story enough that at times it became hard to follow the current actions. To my mind, taking a more linear approach to the entire story would make this much stronger. From the first pages onward, I had a sense that this book might have worked better as two or even three books that took the time to tell Abel Cain's story from its beginnings instead of including so many info dumps on his past. The glimpses backward *were* very fascinating, though. I simply found myself wishing there'd been entire books on those past events. I don't know if the author plans on writing prequels, but there's plenty of material for a slew of them.
There were minor grammar and punctuation issues, but nothing I didn't simply edit in my head as I read.
The author has a gift for storytelling and obviously put a lot of thought and imagination into the world he's created. Kudos for the start of an intriguing space adventure. Hopefully as he writes more, the writing itself will smooth out.
I enjoyed a lot of things about this book. These are all things that, if I could break down my rating, I'd give 4 stars: the characters themselves were engaging. World-building was strong... especially technical details, though the sometimes-long descriptions took away from the action at times. The central conflict and idea of technology innovations intended for good wreaking havoc instead is a trope that's always worth exploring, and the way in which the author sets up the conflicts is interesting. Overall, plot, characterization, and world-building were solid. The friendship between Zee and Abel was my favorite element of the entire book. Zee actually ended up being my favorite character in the book--very captivating fellow.
Weaknesses of the book and why I could only give it 3 stars instead of 4: it's really in need of the guidance of a good editorial hand. There were redundancies that could be trimmed out, but more problematic for me was the sheer amount of flashbacks used to set up current situations. While they did provide background detail, they often tripped up the flow of the story enough that at times it became hard to follow the current actions. To my mind, taking a more linear approach to the entire story would make this much stronger. From the first pages onward, I had a sense that this book might have worked better as two or even three books that took the time to tell Abel Cain's story from its beginnings instead of including so many info dumps on his past. The glimpses backward *were* very fascinating, though. I simply found myself wishing there'd been entire books on those past events. I don't know if the author plans on writing prequels, but there's plenty of material for a slew of them.
There were minor grammar and punctuation issues, but nothing I didn't simply edit in my head as I read.
The author has a gift for storytelling and obviously put a lot of thought and imagination into the world he's created. Kudos for the start of an intriguing space adventure. Hopefully as he writes more, the writing itself will smooth out.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews