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Shield of Drani
One planet rich in fuel. Two psychic talents are required to mine it. Three species seeking control.
Taymar is telekinetic, violent and deadly. She is also the first of her kind to be telepathic as well, making her an intolerable threat to the ruling species of her home planet. They want to control her. To tame her. She just wants to be free.
A cruel twist of fate has Nevvis tasked with managing Taymar when he is supposed to be managing a planet on the verge of war. But, she is hard to ignore and impossible to forget.
When the Shreet invaders attack, Taymar jumps at the chance to escape. Nevvis would love nothing better than to let her go, but he can’t. If he is to save their home from the Shreet, he must twist her into a weapon and somehow convince her to help save a planet that has only ever tried to destroy her.
Taymar is telekinetic, violent and deadly. She is also the first of her kind to be telepathic as well, making her an intolerable threat to the ruling species of her home planet. They want to control her. To tame her. She just wants to be free.
A cruel twist of fate has Nevvis tasked with managing Taymar when he is supposed to be managing a planet on the verge of war. But, she is hard to ignore and impossible to forget.
When the Shreet invaders attack, Taymar jumps at the chance to escape. Nevvis would love nothing better than to let her go, but he can’t. If he is to save their home from the Shreet, he must twist her into a weapon and somehow convince her to help save a planet that has only ever tried to destroy her.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 4, 2016
30 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Melonie Purcell
5 books65 followers Melonie is a Las Vegas native—a rare species to be sure. She grew up riding horses in the desert, camping and fishing her way through the state of Utah and exploring ruins in Arizona.
As an adult, she still traipses around the desert and mountains, but now she does it in cooler shoes and usually carrying a camera.
As an adult, she still traipses around the desert and mountains, but now she does it in cooler shoes and usually carrying a camera.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 13, 2017
The rating is 4.5 only because the book continues. The writer Melonie Purcell draws us into the world in the distant future on the planet Drani where residents have two psychic talents, telekinesis, and telepathy. With the planet managed Minority most powerful telepath who manage to Arleles who have telekinetic powers. Taymar only Arleles on the globe that has the dual powers of telekinesis and telepathy. This ruling caste is not responsible and keeps it closed because it is a distinct threat. Nevvis, one of the main telepath keeps it under lock and key, so that is trained and practiced to cope with the increasing threat of approaching by Shreet race. While the rest of the ruling telepath wants to kill Taymar he does not want to do. Shree soon suddenly attacked the planet and kidnapped dozens of residents, among which there is a Taymar. But Taymar manages to escape and that her adventure begins. The world in which we placed a writer is raw and brutal and Taymar must find the right path through the events in which she was the leading actor. The author draws us into a story full of upheaval, lies, and espionage. What is true, who is the real enemy and who is a friend of this will have to Taymar itself going to discover on their sometimes brutal, and in her opinion the only way.
"Copy provided courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review."
"Copy provided courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review."
October 13, 2016
First off, let me just say how much I enjoyed the is read, or should I say, ride. The story centres around Taymar, an arlele with duel powers, both telepathic and telekinetic, whom everybody wants use in some way or another. Nevvis, a Dran (a telepathic race), and her handler, or Ki is always having to keep her in check by tagging her, sending pain through her body to force her to stop, as she loves to demonstrate her power on others for her own gains.
Taymer is a wonderful character, head strong and a fighter, both physically and in a survival aspect. I am a great believer in having a strong female lead, and she is most definitely that. The support cast are just as powerful in this piece, especially, the likes of Nevvis, Captain Sean McCauffer, Kellin, the list goes on. And then there is the war that is going on in the background, between the Shreet, the Alliance and the Drani, all centring around the acquisition of brakeal, a mineral use as a power source on Drani, that everybody seems to want. But it leaves me wondering who are the real bad guys of the piece.
This book got my attention from the very first page, The plot was extremely solid and enjoyable, the narrative, well written, and the characters believable. I found myself feeling for Taymer all the time, and understanding her plight.
I gave this book a well deserved 5 stars, and can't wait for the next one, for I will be reading it.
Taymer is a wonderful character, head strong and a fighter, both physically and in a survival aspect. I am a great believer in having a strong female lead, and she is most definitely that. The support cast are just as powerful in this piece, especially, the likes of Nevvis, Captain Sean McCauffer, Kellin, the list goes on. And then there is the war that is going on in the background, between the Shreet, the Alliance and the Drani, all centring around the acquisition of brakeal, a mineral use as a power source on Drani, that everybody seems to want. But it leaves me wondering who are the real bad guys of the piece.
This book got my attention from the very first page, The plot was extremely solid and enjoyable, the narrative, well written, and the characters believable. I found myself feeling for Taymer all the time, and understanding her plight.
I gave this book a well deserved 5 stars, and can't wait for the next one, for I will be reading it.
March 16, 2017
Forgive some mild exaggeration that I think is necessary to convey the feeling but the most prominent feature of this book is its heroine Taymar, not prominent so much as front and centre and bristling like a furnace of primal rage. Imagine a sister in her 20s who’s so full of adrenaline it’s dripping out of her ears, then add a touch of black backed gorilla defending the flange and cross that with an unstable nuclear reactor from Glasgow who’s just been quietly informed that their football team’s crap. At one end of the fictional scale there’s Barbie and at the faraway other end out steps Taymar of the species Arlele and you’ll never know what hit you because one minute it’s broken glass and the next it’s mind daggers. She just keeps going and isn’t just physical as she also has telekinetic powers, so can easily heave an operating table at you. They say there’s safety in numbers but it’s best to remember a safe number around this madam would be as many miles away as possible. That’s a distilled information burst but you’ll feel the same when you’ve slid through a few hundred pages.
The big question for me is, who could possibly play this role, this alien presence with an adrenal gland the size of a jacket potato? Certainly they’d have to be high on assorted powders because no human hits this state of euphoric combat keenness naturally. While Bruce Lee’s unwinding at home with a cup of tea after a hard day’s Jeet Kune-do-ing, this exquisite pain in the neck would still be kicking down walls in her bedroom and head-butting the cactus. She doesn’t have time to eat, she has an impressive sense of instant retaliation whether she’s wrong or right and, when you see past all that, her behaviour gets her nowhere. Still though, wow. A species with an overwhelming personal survival instinct that ironically reduces their species’ overall chance of survival. Game theory rolls inside out. Then again, generally predator species are self-serving individuals and prey animals work for the survival of the average member of the herd, so the Dran (social herbivore type) being dominant over the Arleles (independent predator type) is also an inversion of what we’d normally expect. Is capability wasted without organisation? For Taymar (and also in a global sense) that’s an interesting thought.
Taymar has a master, a Dran (ruling species) who can get inside her head and twist her around. She’s becoming stronger though and as soon as she sees a chink of light from her series of little containment cells, she’s through it and running down corridors with her hair on fire, metaphorically. Is training her and teaching control the right thing to do or have they got a tiger by the tail here, with a socialization strategy similar to pouring water a drip at a time into a volcano? That could work. Let’s try it (no that’s daft). Some of her character comes from being cornered and controlled and treated like an animal experiment for years but the rest is her species’ natural-born method, so she can’t change it, at least not yet. You will probably also get the feeling that with the captor/captive dynamic hate and love are two sides of the same coin (every stickleback has a sticklefront) and, from a nightmarish beginning, keeper and pet are drawing ever closer.
If you deliberately avoid the image on the cover, Taymar is only really female in the sense that an Apache helicopter or fighting ship is a ‘she’. I wonder how long do Arleles’ relationships last? Probably a matter of minutes. Do the Arleles have a home grown sport to vent their energies, or a brand of dance music to pogo to? How do they look after their young? Do they queue? How do they behave in shops or select between products?
The questions are endless but here’s the clincher: Does she never agonize about shoes?
Apart from Taymar, who you WILL remember as she bounces off the walls of holding cells, the other characters are fun too and I especially like the dependable Irish ship’s captain who laughs it all off in a friendly way and jollies his passengers along, including the exuberant death-vixen. That’s perhaps the best way to treat her, that and taking the first available opportunity to punch her out of an airlock to freeze in space. In brief then, everyone who deserves it gets a hush puppy in the nuts and an alien species invades at a perfectly opportune moment for the Dran species to say “Yes, that’s fine. You can take over responsibility for the Arleles and the planet Drani and we’ll just nip off and live safely in a moon crater somewhere, partying and laughing our heads off until the end of our days. Good luck and here’s the keys, suckers.”
Seriously though, if the Dran and Arleles did share a planet and the Dran discovered space flight, there wouldn’t be an empty seat.
I liked the book and it is a well framed science fiction adventure but I got tired of all the fighting and struggling about sixty pages before it petered out. It is a good read and there’s a useful betrayal thriller angle too, but it could have been even better if Taymar’s character had been more flexible in approach, had a few more vulnerabilities or at the very least had a deeper philosophical inner dialogue to surprise us with. Her understanding of the world she walks through must be unique and she likes it and purrs a bit when a tormentor strokes her neck pattern but the baseline is that she can’t help fighting everybody like GI Jane and if you shut her in a cupboard with a mirror, sooner or later she’d beat herself up. As the invading alien species has been introduced but not filled out in fine detail apart from their body form, it looks like they could be more prominent in the next book and we’ll then get an unravelling of their feelings, motivations and advanced technological culture, just before she flattens them. Then she’ll flatten anyone who gets in the way of her flattening anyone.
The buzzy sensation of vital energy and impulsive reaction transmits so well to the reader that even now, when I’m thinking back over this, it makes me want to go for a jog or race up a climbing wall and howl or something.
Go on, read it. It’s an experience. When you have, try to avoid caffeine and cheese before bedtime or you’ll wake up kicking pillows into the lights.
The big question for me is, who could possibly play this role, this alien presence with an adrenal gland the size of a jacket potato? Certainly they’d have to be high on assorted powders because no human hits this state of euphoric combat keenness naturally. While Bruce Lee’s unwinding at home with a cup of tea after a hard day’s Jeet Kune-do-ing, this exquisite pain in the neck would still be kicking down walls in her bedroom and head-butting the cactus. She doesn’t have time to eat, she has an impressive sense of instant retaliation whether she’s wrong or right and, when you see past all that, her behaviour gets her nowhere. Still though, wow. A species with an overwhelming personal survival instinct that ironically reduces their species’ overall chance of survival. Game theory rolls inside out. Then again, generally predator species are self-serving individuals and prey animals work for the survival of the average member of the herd, so the Dran (social herbivore type) being dominant over the Arleles (independent predator type) is also an inversion of what we’d normally expect. Is capability wasted without organisation? For Taymar (and also in a global sense) that’s an interesting thought.
Taymar has a master, a Dran (ruling species) who can get inside her head and twist her around. She’s becoming stronger though and as soon as she sees a chink of light from her series of little containment cells, she’s through it and running down corridors with her hair on fire, metaphorically. Is training her and teaching control the right thing to do or have they got a tiger by the tail here, with a socialization strategy similar to pouring water a drip at a time into a volcano? That could work. Let’s try it (no that’s daft). Some of her character comes from being cornered and controlled and treated like an animal experiment for years but the rest is her species’ natural-born method, so she can’t change it, at least not yet. You will probably also get the feeling that with the captor/captive dynamic hate and love are two sides of the same coin (every stickleback has a sticklefront) and, from a nightmarish beginning, keeper and pet are drawing ever closer.
If you deliberately avoid the image on the cover, Taymar is only really female in the sense that an Apache helicopter or fighting ship is a ‘she’. I wonder how long do Arleles’ relationships last? Probably a matter of minutes. Do the Arleles have a home grown sport to vent their energies, or a brand of dance music to pogo to? How do they look after their young? Do they queue? How do they behave in shops or select between products?
The questions are endless but here’s the clincher: Does she never agonize about shoes?
Apart from Taymar, who you WILL remember as she bounces off the walls of holding cells, the other characters are fun too and I especially like the dependable Irish ship’s captain who laughs it all off in a friendly way and jollies his passengers along, including the exuberant death-vixen. That’s perhaps the best way to treat her, that and taking the first available opportunity to punch her out of an airlock to freeze in space. In brief then, everyone who deserves it gets a hush puppy in the nuts and an alien species invades at a perfectly opportune moment for the Dran species to say “Yes, that’s fine. You can take over responsibility for the Arleles and the planet Drani and we’ll just nip off and live safely in a moon crater somewhere, partying and laughing our heads off until the end of our days. Good luck and here’s the keys, suckers.”
Seriously though, if the Dran and Arleles did share a planet and the Dran discovered space flight, there wouldn’t be an empty seat.
I liked the book and it is a well framed science fiction adventure but I got tired of all the fighting and struggling about sixty pages before it petered out. It is a good read and there’s a useful betrayal thriller angle too, but it could have been even better if Taymar’s character had been more flexible in approach, had a few more vulnerabilities or at the very least had a deeper philosophical inner dialogue to surprise us with. Her understanding of the world she walks through must be unique and she likes it and purrs a bit when a tormentor strokes her neck pattern but the baseline is that she can’t help fighting everybody like GI Jane and if you shut her in a cupboard with a mirror, sooner or later she’d beat herself up. As the invading alien species has been introduced but not filled out in fine detail apart from their body form, it looks like they could be more prominent in the next book and we’ll then get an unravelling of their feelings, motivations and advanced technological culture, just before she flattens them. Then she’ll flatten anyone who gets in the way of her flattening anyone.
The buzzy sensation of vital energy and impulsive reaction transmits so well to the reader that even now, when I’m thinking back over this, it makes me want to go for a jog or race up a climbing wall and howl or something.
Go on, read it. It’s an experience. When you have, try to avoid caffeine and cheese before bedtime or you’ll wake up kicking pillows into the lights.
March 23, 2017
On the planet Drani there are two main lifeforms, the Arlele and the Dran. They have a close to symbiotic relationship as the telekenetic Arlele have a genetic urge for violence and it is only the telepathic Dran who can control them by using their powers on the Arlele nerve centres to subdue them.
The planet exists in near isolation, ignoring the galactic powers that surround them until war approaches and Dran finds itself at the centre of a struggle for control of the planet’s natural resource brakeal between the ruthless, genocidal Shreet and the Alliance of worlds fighting them.
Into all this comes Taymar, a young female Arlele who is one of kind. The only Dran or Arlele to have both telepathic and telekenetic powers. But life isn’t easy for Taymar, she’s been subjected to experiments, imprisonment and forced rehabilitation. It’s enough to drive anyone close to the edge but Taymar’s already there because of her heritage, and she’s got nowhere to go. The story takes us on Taymar’s journey, she’s being controlled and used by her Dran master, Nevvis. He needs a weapon. Taymar fits the bill and he doesn’t care how he gets the job done.
The novel explores the relationship between Taymar and Nevvis as they are swept up the the events around them. She wants freedom and he wants her powers to use. The way his actions swing from friendship to brutal master leave Taymar as confused as the reader. Is he a good man in a bad situation or a bad man trying to do good? Taymar is also full of contradictions; one moment emotionally broken the next a near unstoppable murderous force. She is trying break free of her Arlele heritage but Nevvis needs it and nothing will stop him using it.
Melonie Purcell has created an intricate world where right and wrong blur. Every one of the characters wants something, whether its the starship driving brakeal, freedom, or power. There is friendship and betrayal, love and honour.
The first book in a series needs to lay foundations in both story, characters and intrigue to make the reader want to stay on for Book 2. Purcell succeeds with ease in that aim.
The planet exists in near isolation, ignoring the galactic powers that surround them until war approaches and Dran finds itself at the centre of a struggle for control of the planet’s natural resource brakeal between the ruthless, genocidal Shreet and the Alliance of worlds fighting them.
Into all this comes Taymar, a young female Arlele who is one of kind. The only Dran or Arlele to have both telepathic and telekenetic powers. But life isn’t easy for Taymar, she’s been subjected to experiments, imprisonment and forced rehabilitation. It’s enough to drive anyone close to the edge but Taymar’s already there because of her heritage, and she’s got nowhere to go. The story takes us on Taymar’s journey, she’s being controlled and used by her Dran master, Nevvis. He needs a weapon. Taymar fits the bill and he doesn’t care how he gets the job done.
The novel explores the relationship between Taymar and Nevvis as they are swept up the the events around them. She wants freedom and he wants her powers to use. The way his actions swing from friendship to brutal master leave Taymar as confused as the reader. Is he a good man in a bad situation or a bad man trying to do good? Taymar is also full of contradictions; one moment emotionally broken the next a near unstoppable murderous force. She is trying break free of her Arlele heritage but Nevvis needs it and nothing will stop him using it.
Melonie Purcell has created an intricate world where right and wrong blur. Every one of the characters wants something, whether its the starship driving brakeal, freedom, or power. There is friendship and betrayal, love and honour.
The first book in a series needs to lay foundations in both story, characters and intrigue to make the reader want to stay on for Book 2. Purcell succeeds with ease in that aim.
May 31, 2017
Shield of Drani is an action-packed science fiction story covering multiple alien species fighting a war on another planet, the planet Drani. There are telepaths and telekinetics on Drani. The story focuses on Taymar, an Arlele that has both powers, telepathic and telekinetic. Everyone wants to use Taymar and her powers. She “changes hands” many times and a whole bunch of exciting stuff happens which I am not going to recap here. Let’s just say it’s a rich plot. No spoilers. The most impressive thing about this novel, in my opinion, is the world (or worlds) created by the author. Constructing entire planets from scratch is no small feat. Purcell pulls it off well. I attribute this success not only to the descriptions and imagination of the author but also to the presentation. It’s all presented in the book as if it’s all routine. That is, as if it’s all real and has existed for as long as time. One side effect of this is that the alien terminology is not specifically defined. This could have been a disaster but Purcell does an excellent job of using the new words she’s made up in a way that leads the reader to figure out their definitions without disrupting the story to spell it all out. This, too, is not an easy task. I did still feel like I would have liked to have a glossary of alien terms though. Not because I felt like I really needed it but I would have liked confirmation that I understood everything the way the author intended. And also for a little extra entertainment value. But mostly I would have liked a guide to pronouncing at least some of the alien terms. Is it Ar-lay-lee or Ar-lee-lee or Ar-lay-lay etc? It would have help speed up my reading to know. But maybe I’m being too picky here.
One of my favorite things about Shield of Drani is the way the powers of the telepaths and telekinetics are described. It’s not easy to describe actions that a human can’t perform. To me, that’s where the book shined. There are fight scenes where aliens are moving things with their brains which is easy to do in a movie but in a book it has to be worded just right for the reader to understand and experience. It’s a challenge for an author that many readers might not appreciate. But this book is worth the read for that alone.
One of my favorite things about Shield of Drani is the way the powers of the telepaths and telekinetics are described. It’s not easy to describe actions that a human can’t perform. To me, that’s where the book shined. There are fight scenes where aliens are moving things with their brains which is easy to do in a movie but in a book it has to be worded just right for the reader to understand and experience. It’s a challenge for an author that many readers might not appreciate. But this book is worth the read for that alone.
February 6, 2017
The Shield of Drani is a fascinating novel that allows the reader to glimpse a galaxy where elements of telepathy and telekinesis are an everyday reality. Melonie Purcell has a true skill at creating individuals from other worlds that retain Earthly characteristics, while still being fascinatingly alien. I was continually surprised by the unpredictable actions of the lead character, Taymar, who has a different perspective on the universe based on her upbringing in captivity. She is an Arlele with unique talents that make her a powerful fighter with incredible abilities that could even save her race, but she is an unwilling hero, wanting only freedom, no matter how modest that existence might be. This is a wonderful book that both kept me eagerly returning to the pages each day and thinking over the concepts before I went to sleep at night.
April 25, 2017
Welcome to Drani, a planet of telekinetic and telepathic citizenry, with a twist! The skills reside with two distinct parts of the population. The Arleles are telekinetic, but have severe anger management issues, and the telepathic Dran act as their mostly benign managers, controlling the Arlele’s aggressive natures, and directing their telekinetic ability to the common good. Notably the processing of brakeal, the dilithium crystals of this tale, which power the ‘tunnelling’ drives that allow FTL travel. A rare commodity, brakeal is found in abundance on Drani, and only the Arlele’s can refine it to a level not achieved by any other race.
Add to this mix a genetic blip, Taymar, an Arlele female who is also a telepath. The subject of constant invasive and unpleasant medical procedures to explore this dual talent, Taymar’s one overriding drive is to escape the custody of her tormentors, and the often brutal control of her telepathic ‘manager’ Nevvis.
And the bigger picture? The Shreet are coming! Invaders from another dimension, they threaten the stability of the galactic community, and seem intent on expansion and absorption.
The writing is strong and engaging, there’s some wonderful world building and characterisation, and it’s a bumpy and exciting ride, but as I got close to the end I was looking for the book resolution, the satisfying final few pages that would close the current episode of the tale, and, if I was lucky, leave the door open for a strong sequel. I’ll admit to disappointment as those last pages flicked-by, and I knew the chance of reaching a satisfying conclusion (for me) was dwindling away. From my perspective, we were barely on the lower slopes of the climb towards the story’s climax when I turned the last page. There’s plenty of action ahead, that’s clear, but to finish this part of the journey, I would have wanted a few more story threads tied up. I know there are plenty of readers who are happy with this format, but I like a book to stand on its own.
Looking back over the tale, I felt there was a certain amount of wasted time, with scenes that repeated information, action and relationship dynamics. I also feel there was a systematic withholding of information whilst in a character point of view (POV), which added an unnatural limitation to what the character shared with the reader. I think you can ‘get away’ with this in the earliest visits to a character’s POV, but as the story progresses, and with hindsight, it becomes clear these more obvious and ‘plot critical’ thoughts had been censored.
Another slightly annoying aspect, was that of Taymar and Nevvis being stuck in a pretty toxic and unpleasant relationship – at least that’s what it came across as for me. Many times a simple tranquiliser or mind–numbing chemical administered to Taymar, would have eliminated significant damage to personnel, property and dignity, but with self-inflicted regularity, Nevvis almost colluded with Taymar, allowing her to play out her destructive tunnel-vision script of ‘escape at all costs’. If there was one ‘story-journey’ I would have wanted to experience during the novel, it was to see a shift in this relationship.
I will note a small and very forgivable niggle - the intrusion of an Irish character into an otherwise pan-galactic tale. Whether as a conscious nod to the earliest days of SF, or an echo of Star Trek and the Federation of Planets, it does protrude like a tender opposing digit.
These might seem negative comments, but I would not have been able to make them had I not become immersed in the world and its players. In summary, this otherwise enjoyable book left me feeling a little frustrated and cheated at the end.
Add to this mix a genetic blip, Taymar, an Arlele female who is also a telepath. The subject of constant invasive and unpleasant medical procedures to explore this dual talent, Taymar’s one overriding drive is to escape the custody of her tormentors, and the often brutal control of her telepathic ‘manager’ Nevvis.
And the bigger picture? The Shreet are coming! Invaders from another dimension, they threaten the stability of the galactic community, and seem intent on expansion and absorption.
The writing is strong and engaging, there’s some wonderful world building and characterisation, and it’s a bumpy and exciting ride, but as I got close to the end I was looking for the book resolution, the satisfying final few pages that would close the current episode of the tale, and, if I was lucky, leave the door open for a strong sequel. I’ll admit to disappointment as those last pages flicked-by, and I knew the chance of reaching a satisfying conclusion (for me) was dwindling away. From my perspective, we were barely on the lower slopes of the climb towards the story’s climax when I turned the last page. There’s plenty of action ahead, that’s clear, but to finish this part of the journey, I would have wanted a few more story threads tied up. I know there are plenty of readers who are happy with this format, but I like a book to stand on its own.
Looking back over the tale, I felt there was a certain amount of wasted time, with scenes that repeated information, action and relationship dynamics. I also feel there was a systematic withholding of information whilst in a character point of view (POV), which added an unnatural limitation to what the character shared with the reader. I think you can ‘get away’ with this in the earliest visits to a character’s POV, but as the story progresses, and with hindsight, it becomes clear these more obvious and ‘plot critical’ thoughts had been censored.
Another slightly annoying aspect, was that of Taymar and Nevvis being stuck in a pretty toxic and unpleasant relationship – at least that’s what it came across as for me. Many times a simple tranquiliser or mind–numbing chemical administered to Taymar, would have eliminated significant damage to personnel, property and dignity, but with self-inflicted regularity, Nevvis almost colluded with Taymar, allowing her to play out her destructive tunnel-vision script of ‘escape at all costs’. If there was one ‘story-journey’ I would have wanted to experience during the novel, it was to see a shift in this relationship.
I will note a small and very forgivable niggle - the intrusion of an Irish character into an otherwise pan-galactic tale. Whether as a conscious nod to the earliest days of SF, or an echo of Star Trek and the Federation of Planets, it does protrude like a tender opposing digit.
These might seem negative comments, but I would not have been able to make them had I not become immersed in the world and its players. In summary, this otherwise enjoyable book left me feeling a little frustrated and cheated at the end.
March 14, 2017
If this were the only book in the world, reading would be a contact sport.
The premise of Shield of Drani by Melonie Purcell is that there’s a planet with very little inhabitable land, occupied by two dominant species, the Dran and the Arleles. Their planet has become threatened by an alien race, perhaps with distant common ancestry, who intend to pillage the quadrant. The problem is that the native species can’t unite because of their society is only manageable when the Dran are dominant over the Arleles and can control their outbursts. To put it bluntly, the Arleles can only truly enjoy themselves when they’re kicking seven kinds of spots off each other. Arlele society and hierarchy is regulated by short-tempered biffing, unless the Dran intervene and ruthlessly control them with mind control. Strangely, the Arlele seem to accept that this dominance is necessary because they are just as aware as anyone else what happens if several Arleles are put in the same room together.
The novel asks whether these races can unite to face a common foe or whether the oppressed Arleles will side with the enemy against their masters. Heaven help the enemy if they do because they’ve no experience of managing even one Arlele. To complicate matters, the two native species have many practitioners of telekenisis or telepathy, never both skills in one person, with one notable exception; and she’s lethal.
The book is the story of that exception, a young woman called Taymar. It follows her insatiable need to kick out at authority and her understandable desire to be free from control. It also explores her inner understanding and acceptance that she is unnecessarily violent, uncommonly capable and is rarely able to quench that fire when it’s lit. Taymar represents an excitement and life force that the onlooker would like to have themselves, or tame, but knows they couldn’t live for more than a few hours like that or alongside that because it’s so self-destructive. The reader wants Taymar to win but also wants her to calm down, eventually understanding that the Dran have been very restrained by not doing something more drastic against their anti-social neighbours. In her mind, she never leaves the battle but subduing herself would be against her nature as we are applying human standards as we read, when she’s actually mentally alien in a human form. We don’t apply human moods and impulses to tigers or foxes, so we shouldn’t to these characters. She has no Tao, no calm path to follow, so as loose cannons go it rarely gets better than this.
The premise of Shield of Drani by Melonie Purcell is that there’s a planet with very little inhabitable land, occupied by two dominant species, the Dran and the Arleles. Their planet has become threatened by an alien race, perhaps with distant common ancestry, who intend to pillage the quadrant. The problem is that the native species can’t unite because of their society is only manageable when the Dran are dominant over the Arleles and can control their outbursts. To put it bluntly, the Arleles can only truly enjoy themselves when they’re kicking seven kinds of spots off each other. Arlele society and hierarchy is regulated by short-tempered biffing, unless the Dran intervene and ruthlessly control them with mind control. Strangely, the Arlele seem to accept that this dominance is necessary because they are just as aware as anyone else what happens if several Arleles are put in the same room together.
The novel asks whether these races can unite to face a common foe or whether the oppressed Arleles will side with the enemy against their masters. Heaven help the enemy if they do because they’ve no experience of managing even one Arlele. To complicate matters, the two native species have many practitioners of telekenisis or telepathy, never both skills in one person, with one notable exception; and she’s lethal.
The book is the story of that exception, a young woman called Taymar. It follows her insatiable need to kick out at authority and her understandable desire to be free from control. It also explores her inner understanding and acceptance that she is unnecessarily violent, uncommonly capable and is rarely able to quench that fire when it’s lit. Taymar represents an excitement and life force that the onlooker would like to have themselves, or tame, but knows they couldn’t live for more than a few hours like that or alongside that because it’s so self-destructive. The reader wants Taymar to win but also wants her to calm down, eventually understanding that the Dran have been very restrained by not doing something more drastic against their anti-social neighbours. In her mind, she never leaves the battle but subduing herself would be against her nature as we are applying human standards as we read, when she’s actually mentally alien in a human form. We don’t apply human moods and impulses to tigers or foxes, so we shouldn’t to these characters. She has no Tao, no calm path to follow, so as loose cannons go it rarely gets better than this.
June 4, 2017
Melonie has created a very easy to relate to in Taymar. She is everyone that has felt trapped by a controlling parent, controlling partner, or even a controlling boss. Her desire to be left alone and to control her own life is palpable.
By using several points of view we get to see many parts of this well thought out universe and the various peoples that inhabit it, while making you care about them.
As the title is Shield of Drani (World of Drani Book 1) it was apparent before opening it that there is more to come, and I can not wait to see what happens in book 2.
By using several points of view we get to see many parts of this well thought out universe and the various peoples that inhabit it, while making you care about them.
As the title is Shield of Drani (World of Drani Book 1) it was apparent before opening it that there is more to come, and I can not wait to see what happens in book 2.
October 30, 2016
I loved this book. It pulled me on from the first page and it only got better. The pace moved quickly but too quickly where I felt lost but rather smoothly.
The world in which the author created was truly amazing. Some of the characters I loved and some of them I did want to give a slap. I liked the way that this book captured my emotions to where I did want to slap Nevvis.
I loved every bit of this book and would defiantly recommend
The world in which the author created was truly amazing. Some of the characters I loved and some of them I did want to give a slap. I liked the way that this book captured my emotions to where I did want to slap Nevvis.
I loved every bit of this book and would defiantly recommend
June 13, 2017
On the planet of Drani, two humanoid species coexist. The Arleles are a violent people with telekinetic abilities. They would destroy themselves if not for the controlling influence of the Dran, a telepathic species.
Nevvus is the controller and Taymar the controlled. So this story is about bondage, where tension between them is constant as he seeks to restrain her and she struggles for freedom.
What saves Taymar from being put to death is her uniqueness, a dual talent. Both telekinetic and telepathic. She has potential as a weapon against the Shreet, a species intent on taking over the universe.
The first two chapters are too long. Taymar's struggles last throughout and try the reader's patience.
They take on the feel of gratuitous suffering and do nothing to advance the story. The reader is kept on edge, hoping the conflict doesn't devolve into sexual bondage. I am thankful that it doesn't. But I feel uncomfortable with the relationship between Nevvis and Taymar. It's creepy. It's overdone and appears more important than the characters, whom I can't care for. There is no lightness to give us respite. No pleasures. All are tension and fighting and intrigue.
By Chapter 3, my interest picks up because we take a step forward in the story.
Over all, it is well written, with an even pace and clarity. It is intelligently written, with great imagination. Different worlds are logically derived, as far as appropriate. We see the edges of what appear to be well developed civilizations. Logical explanations follow for the appearance of the various humanoid species. And we learn why Drans must control Alleles. Description does not overwhelmed us. The author gives us just enough to identify people or elements, so we can fill in the gaps with our own images.
While we are hit with many names and characters and multiple points of view, the author, for the most part, reminds us who are important. I like Jalkean, Sean, and Ranealla for their kindness. I find it hard to like Taymar, and I don't care for Nevvis.
The constant struggle between Taymar and Nevvis is way overdone. Pain and conflict exist without the contrast of lighter moods or pleasures. Her repeated attempts to escape and her relationship with Nevvis are painful. We get page after page of struggle between a controller and controllee in a bondage relationship. Eventually we delve into Taymar's background so we can understand her better. This is well explained. Nevertheless, I still find it hard to care for the two and therefore hard to stay engaged.
Action is plentiful but does little to advance the story. The main goal is not reached. By the book's end, a smaller goal is achieved, and it's nothing more than getting us out of the starting gate. What preceded is mostly padding, with little or no plot and no character arc. Nevvis and Taymar are the same at the end as they are at the beginning of the tale.
We are left with the question, who are the good guys; who are the bad?
If you have a taste for great imagination, for alien worlds, for the battle, and bondage, you may have a taste for the Drani series. This is book 1.
Nevvus is the controller and Taymar the controlled. So this story is about bondage, where tension between them is constant as he seeks to restrain her and she struggles for freedom.
What saves Taymar from being put to death is her uniqueness, a dual talent. Both telekinetic and telepathic. She has potential as a weapon against the Shreet, a species intent on taking over the universe.
The first two chapters are too long. Taymar's struggles last throughout and try the reader's patience.
They take on the feel of gratuitous suffering and do nothing to advance the story. The reader is kept on edge, hoping the conflict doesn't devolve into sexual bondage. I am thankful that it doesn't. But I feel uncomfortable with the relationship between Nevvis and Taymar. It's creepy. It's overdone and appears more important than the characters, whom I can't care for. There is no lightness to give us respite. No pleasures. All are tension and fighting and intrigue.
By Chapter 3, my interest picks up because we take a step forward in the story.
Over all, it is well written, with an even pace and clarity. It is intelligently written, with great imagination. Different worlds are logically derived, as far as appropriate. We see the edges of what appear to be well developed civilizations. Logical explanations follow for the appearance of the various humanoid species. And we learn why Drans must control Alleles. Description does not overwhelmed us. The author gives us just enough to identify people or elements, so we can fill in the gaps with our own images.
While we are hit with many names and characters and multiple points of view, the author, for the most part, reminds us who are important. I like Jalkean, Sean, and Ranealla for their kindness. I find it hard to like Taymar, and I don't care for Nevvis.
The constant struggle between Taymar and Nevvis is way overdone. Pain and conflict exist without the contrast of lighter moods or pleasures. Her repeated attempts to escape and her relationship with Nevvis are painful. We get page after page of struggle between a controller and controllee in a bondage relationship. Eventually we delve into Taymar's background so we can understand her better. This is well explained. Nevertheless, I still find it hard to care for the two and therefore hard to stay engaged.
Action is plentiful but does little to advance the story. The main goal is not reached. By the book's end, a smaller goal is achieved, and it's nothing more than getting us out of the starting gate. What preceded is mostly padding, with little or no plot and no character arc. Nevvis and Taymar are the same at the end as they are at the beginning of the tale.
We are left with the question, who are the good guys; who are the bad?
If you have a taste for great imagination, for alien worlds, for the battle, and bondage, you may have a taste for the Drani series. This is book 1.
March 18, 2017
The great cover artwork and book blurb drew me to this book and though it is not my normal type of read, I decided to give it a try and I am glad I did.
As other reviewers have pointed out, Melonie Purcell has written a well crafted story with interesting characters and an exciting plot.
The main character, Taymar, which the story revolves around, is not a normal girl even for the unusual world she lives in, she has telepathic and telekinetic powers that others want to take advantage of and something the feisty Taymar is not altogether keen on doing.
Purcell has woven together a believable world and plot for the reader to become quickly engaged in and stay with until the end, and most likely the following book/s in the series.
My only complaints are that the story and Taymar's actions was a bit repetitive at times and I would have liked to see more of the story from some of the other interesting characters standpoint to add a different perspective to Taymar's. These though did not spoil my enjoyment of the book.
I found the book an entertaining read and was quickly drawn into the story: I read it in three sittings. If you are not sure if this is a book you would enjoy, read the free Amazon sample and I'm sure you'll be hooked.
As other reviewers have pointed out, Melonie Purcell has written a well crafted story with interesting characters and an exciting plot.
The main character, Taymar, which the story revolves around, is not a normal girl even for the unusual world she lives in, she has telepathic and telekinetic powers that others want to take advantage of and something the feisty Taymar is not altogether keen on doing.
Purcell has woven together a believable world and plot for the reader to become quickly engaged in and stay with until the end, and most likely the following book/s in the series.
My only complaints are that the story and Taymar's actions was a bit repetitive at times and I would have liked to see more of the story from some of the other interesting characters standpoint to add a different perspective to Taymar's. These though did not spoil my enjoyment of the book.
I found the book an entertaining read and was quickly drawn into the story: I read it in three sittings. If you are not sure if this is a book you would enjoy, read the free Amazon sample and I'm sure you'll be hooked.
December 3, 2016
One planet rich in resources, particularly brakeal, which is used to fuel space-travel.
Two alien species want to dominate Dran,the Alliance and the Shreet, who have arrived from another dimension.
Taymar, an Arlele, is telekinetic, telepathic, angry and deadly. The Dran want to control her. Nevvis, a Dran and high-tech telepath, is supposed to be managing Taymar and a planet on the verge of war with the Shreet. The story was interesting, but slow to get into due to several alien cultures and their agenda being introduced - each with alien features and some particular language. The holiday chaos plus shifting points of view made the story easy to put aside. The plot eventually started to interest me when the Shreet captured Taymar. The Dran then worried that, "With well-placed questions, even an empath could learn too much about our technology, our society, our limitations, our weaknesses." Thus, Taymar had to be found.
The majority of the story is about getting Taymar back and understanding her abilities as well as why anger and hostility seem to be her 'go to' emotions. While I believe that a good cause is worth fighting for, her perpetual desire to fight wasn't something I generally look for in a heroine.
Nevvis also made a questionable hero - for me - because while he had many fine qualities, he seemed to be stuck in a pattern of thought/action when it came to Taymar. Thus, in many ways, he would treat her more like a disobedient animal than a thinking/feeling human.
Despite the plethora of confusing cultures and shifting settings, I look forward to seeing how this series progresses.
Two alien species want to dominate Dran,the Alliance and the Shreet, who have arrived from another dimension.
Taymar, an Arlele, is telekinetic, telepathic, angry and deadly. The Dran want to control her. Nevvis, a Dran and high-tech telepath, is supposed to be managing Taymar and a planet on the verge of war with the Shreet. The story was interesting, but slow to get into due to several alien cultures and their agenda being introduced - each with alien features and some particular language. The holiday chaos plus shifting points of view made the story easy to put aside. The plot eventually started to interest me when the Shreet captured Taymar. The Dran then worried that, "With well-placed questions, even an empath could learn too much about our technology, our society, our limitations, our weaknesses." Thus, Taymar had to be found.
The majority of the story is about getting Taymar back and understanding her abilities as well as why anger and hostility seem to be her 'go to' emotions. While I believe that a good cause is worth fighting for, her perpetual desire to fight wasn't something I generally look for in a heroine.
Nevvis also made a questionable hero - for me - because while he had many fine qualities, he seemed to be stuck in a pattern of thought/action when it came to Taymar. Thus, in many ways, he would treat her more like a disobedient animal than a thinking/feeling human.
Despite the plethora of confusing cultures and shifting settings, I look forward to seeing how this series progresses.
December 24, 2016
Torn like a piece of paper here
The thing is, this novel has a lot going for it. I think the first half outpaced the second, but it never really slowed down. The political intrigue was absolutely mesmerizing. The action was not visually grabbing, but it certainly excited me, and most of the characters were likable or at least, understandable.
This leads to my biggest problem with this book. Taymar. I honestly believe Taymar was originally meant to be this mean, hulking badass. And then someone talked our wonderful author into giving her a fragile streak where she had to justify whatever bad she did with finger-pointing. As it is, she straddles the line between selfish "Whatever I have to do for me" and "I am a poor misunderstood lass". This is not a great line to straddle. How many times can one character scutter away from doctors and then smack them?
The writing style is mostly to the point. I rarely felt lost, and this allowed me to appreciate the scifi aspects more. I wish we'd spent a little more time in planet number two, since it felt pleasant for our MC.
Lastly, I truly enjoyed the fact that the war seems muddled. We obviously think the shreet are wrong since they really seem to be tricking most of our characters (another issue, is Taymar stupid or not), but are the Drani right?
I received a copy for an honest review
The thing is, this novel has a lot going for it. I think the first half outpaced the second, but it never really slowed down. The political intrigue was absolutely mesmerizing. The action was not visually grabbing, but it certainly excited me, and most of the characters were likable or at least, understandable.
This leads to my biggest problem with this book. Taymar. I honestly believe Taymar was originally meant to be this mean, hulking badass. And then someone talked our wonderful author into giving her a fragile streak where she had to justify whatever bad she did with finger-pointing. As it is, she straddles the line between selfish "Whatever I have to do for me" and "I am a poor misunderstood lass". This is not a great line to straddle. How many times can one character scutter away from doctors and then smack them?
The writing style is mostly to the point. I rarely felt lost, and this allowed me to appreciate the scifi aspects more. I wish we'd spent a little more time in planet number two, since it felt pleasant for our MC.
Lastly, I truly enjoyed the fact that the war seems muddled. We obviously think the shreet are wrong since they really seem to be tricking most of our characters (another issue, is Taymar stupid or not), but are the Drani right?
I received a copy for an honest review
October 25, 2017
Again...
...the author caught my attention wouldn’t let go. I’ve noticed her heroes tend not to know everything and have flaws which both hurt and in a strange way hello them. It makes for not only entertaining but relatable stories. I look forward to the next books most definitely!
...the author caught my attention wouldn’t let go. I’ve noticed her heroes tend not to know everything and have flaws which both hurt and in a strange way hello them. It makes for not only entertaining but relatable stories. I look forward to the next books most definitely!
November 9, 2017
Good read.
Enjoyed the book immensely. Looking at the powers from a different prospective. Is her ki good or bad, is she good or bad. Finished in one setting. Enjoy.
Enjoyed the book immensely. Looking at the powers from a different prospective. Is her ki good or bad, is she good or bad. Finished in one setting. Enjoy.
June 22, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed Shield of Drani by Melonie Purcell - a fast paced, dramatic space opera with intriguing worlds, great characters, different alien species, political machinations and conflicts.
On Drani the telepathic Dran maintain strict control of the violent mainly telekinetic Arlele (think Klingons on steroids) who would otherwise destroy themselves in their need to fight each other. This creates a strictly controlled society. Taymar is a volatile and dangerous Arlele, the only one of her species with the dual talents of telepathy and telekinesis, and is under the guardianship/control of her ki, Nevvis and ka Jalkean. She is forced to endure constant medical tests which only alienates and inflames her. To complicate matters the alien and advanced Shreet are coming through the flux to takeover the quadrant. The Isolationist Drani must decide who, if anyone, they ally with -- the Shreet or the Alliance, and Taymar is the key to their survival.
The relationship between Taymar, on one hand, and Nevvis and Jalkean on the others is strained, like that between a strict old-fashioned parent and rebellious child, it teeters on abuse and yet is, as Nevvis would say, complicated. Taymar herself is single-minded in her desire to escape and, having once left Drani, never to return. Curious, intelligent, impulsive, she is as self-absorbed as a cliched teen and while she doesn't aim to harm others, woe betide you if you get in her way. She should be in some respects unlikable (Nevvis also), yet I found myself sympathetic to her plight, while Nevvis shows moments of tenderness or humour. Taymar is someone who has been driven to the edge by the impossibility of her situation. Nevvis wants to do the right thing by Taymar but are driven to maintain control partly because of the system and expectation of the culture he grew up in, but mostly because what happens to Taymar is pivotal to the survival of Drani. Only when Taymar and Nevvis find themselves outside of Drani does Nevvis begin to see how others perceive the long accepted social dichotomy in Drani.
The nuanced and fraught relationship between Taymar and Nevvi, between Arlele and Dran, forms the core of the wider dynamics of Drani politics, the war between the Alliance and the Shreet, and the network of spys, allies, and sides.
Shield of Drani ends on a cliffhanger, so I was glad book 2 Dagger of Drani/i> is available and look forward to seeing where Purcell will take the reader on this gripping space adventure.
On Drani the telepathic Dran maintain strict control of the violent mainly telekinetic Arlele (think Klingons on steroids) who would otherwise destroy themselves in their need to fight each other. This creates a strictly controlled society. Taymar is a volatile and dangerous Arlele, the only one of her species with the dual talents of telepathy and telekinesis, and is under the guardianship/control of her ki, Nevvis and ka Jalkean. She is forced to endure constant medical tests which only alienates and inflames her. To complicate matters the alien and advanced Shreet are coming through the flux to takeover the quadrant. The Isolationist Drani must decide who, if anyone, they ally with -- the Shreet or the Alliance, and Taymar is the key to their survival.
The relationship between Taymar, on one hand, and Nevvis and Jalkean on the others is strained, like that between a strict old-fashioned parent and rebellious child, it teeters on abuse and yet is, as Nevvis would say, complicated. Taymar herself is single-minded in her desire to escape and, having once left Drani, never to return. Curious, intelligent, impulsive, she is as self-absorbed as a cliched teen and while she doesn't aim to harm others, woe betide you if you get in her way. She should be in some respects unlikable (Nevvis also), yet I found myself sympathetic to her plight, while Nevvis shows moments of tenderness or humour. Taymar is someone who has been driven to the edge by the impossibility of her situation. Nevvis wants to do the right thing by Taymar but are driven to maintain control partly because of the system and expectation of the culture he grew up in, but mostly because what happens to Taymar is pivotal to the survival of Drani. Only when Taymar and Nevvis find themselves outside of Drani does Nevvis begin to see how others perceive the long accepted social dichotomy in Drani.
The nuanced and fraught relationship between Taymar and Nevvi, between Arlele and Dran, forms the core of the wider dynamics of Drani politics, the war between the Alliance and the Shreet, and the network of spys, allies, and sides.
Shield of Drani ends on a cliffhanger, so I was glad book 2 Dagger of Drani/i> is available and look forward to seeing where Purcell will take the reader on this gripping space adventure.
February 18, 2017
When I first started reading this novel, I thought for sure it would earn a solid five-star rating. The world of Drani enthralled me, the action scenes were intense, the characters were three-dimensional, and the moral ambiguity of the Dran/Arlele relationship was thought-provoking. Are the Dran oppressors, or are they simply doing what needs to be done to ensure both races survive?
However, as the story progressed, my enthusiasm waned. This had nothing to do with Purcell's writing, which is always sharp. She strikes a nice balance between bare-bones prose and dense narrative; the characters and settings were clear, and the concepts – mainly, telepathy and telekinesis – were explained adroitly.
The issue, to me, was the novel's repetitive plotting. Taymar, the protagonist, is constantly rebelling and then constantly being subdued. By the end of the novel, it's tiresome. Reading Nevvis, her ki, or guardian, exclaim, “Stop it, Tay!” or something similar for the hundredth time wasn't only irritating, it was unrealistic.
This isn't a criticism of Taymar herself, who's a great character: intelligent, tough, and extremely powerful, but also rash – like all Arleles – and haunted by her past. Rather, Purcell doesn't give her much to do besides lash out. There's a nice interlude, if you want to call it that, on the planet Daryus, but then it's back to the rebel/subdue cycle.
I think the other characters' viewpoints should have been developed more, so that we could've gotten a break from Taymar's standard scenes. Nevvis in particular is fascinating. One could easily label him a villain for his treatment of Taymar and his machinations, but there's more to him than that – or is there? Again, this isn't a simple “evil alien invaders must be stopped” story.
I'd still be willing to read any of Purcell's novels, because she truly is talented, and her work is brimming with fresh ideas and themes. With Taymar in an entirely different situation at the end of this novel, perhaps there will be more variation in the storytelling in book two.
However, as the story progressed, my enthusiasm waned. This had nothing to do with Purcell's writing, which is always sharp. She strikes a nice balance between bare-bones prose and dense narrative; the characters and settings were clear, and the concepts – mainly, telepathy and telekinesis – were explained adroitly.
The issue, to me, was the novel's repetitive plotting. Taymar, the protagonist, is constantly rebelling and then constantly being subdued. By the end of the novel, it's tiresome. Reading Nevvis, her ki, or guardian, exclaim, “Stop it, Tay!” or something similar for the hundredth time wasn't only irritating, it was unrealistic.
This isn't a criticism of Taymar herself, who's a great character: intelligent, tough, and extremely powerful, but also rash – like all Arleles – and haunted by her past. Rather, Purcell doesn't give her much to do besides lash out. There's a nice interlude, if you want to call it that, on the planet Daryus, but then it's back to the rebel/subdue cycle.
I think the other characters' viewpoints should have been developed more, so that we could've gotten a break from Taymar's standard scenes. Nevvis in particular is fascinating. One could easily label him a villain for his treatment of Taymar and his machinations, but there's more to him than that – or is there? Again, this isn't a simple “evil alien invaders must be stopped” story.
I'd still be willing to read any of Purcell's novels, because she truly is talented, and her work is brimming with fresh ideas and themes. With Taymar in an entirely different situation at the end of this novel, perhaps there will be more variation in the storytelling in book two.
November 11, 2018
Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of the book for an honest review
I just can't bring myself to finish this book
True, I decided not to continue reading the novel after Chapter 6, but I really think that this book has a lot of potential. Based on the reviews of other readers here on Goodreads, I believe some die hard scifi readers would jump on this book and be so engrossed in it. As a scifi lover, I did not enjoy this book.
Yes, it had a lot of interesting elements such as characters and settings but it has its deficiencies. I had to reread some paragraphs just to grasp what happened. Everything is apparently chaotic and I just can't keep up. I know that starting it in medias res works for action-packed scifi books from time to time, but in this case, it hadn't.
One of my concerns were that the jargon used in the story were not explained well, I kept thinking "Is this a place or a person or a position?" To resolve this, the author could have had a subtle approach in introducing the terms and the basic know-how of the universe. Another one was that the narration focused on the micro details of the scene but not the big picture. It was hard for me to imagine what was going on and what were the surroundings like. Then there was the feeling of detachment from the characters. It is important to note that for a reader to be hooked, she/he must connect with the character. Unfortunately, I did not. The constant change of view had me confused on who I was reading and what scene I was in.
At the end of chapter 6, I have decided to discontinue reading the novel further since I think I would be disappointed by it anyway. But, I did take note that the plot was interesting and I am intrigued on how Tay and Nevvis would meet again. I wish the author well and hope that his execution of a good plot would be better next time.
I just can't bring myself to finish this book
True, I decided not to continue reading the novel after Chapter 6, but I really think that this book has a lot of potential. Based on the reviews of other readers here on Goodreads, I believe some die hard scifi readers would jump on this book and be so engrossed in it. As a scifi lover, I did not enjoy this book.
Yes, it had a lot of interesting elements such as characters and settings but it has its deficiencies. I had to reread some paragraphs just to grasp what happened. Everything is apparently chaotic and I just can't keep up. I know that starting it in medias res works for action-packed scifi books from time to time, but in this case, it hadn't.
One of my concerns were that the jargon used in the story were not explained well, I kept thinking "Is this a place or a person or a position?" To resolve this, the author could have had a subtle approach in introducing the terms and the basic know-how of the universe. Another one was that the narration focused on the micro details of the scene but not the big picture. It was hard for me to imagine what was going on and what were the surroundings like. Then there was the feeling of detachment from the characters. It is important to note that for a reader to be hooked, she/he must connect with the character. Unfortunately, I did not. The constant change of view had me confused on who I was reading and what scene I was in.
At the end of chapter 6, I have decided to discontinue reading the novel further since I think I would be disappointed by it anyway. But, I did take note that the plot was interesting and I am intrigued on how Tay and Nevvis would meet again. I wish the author well and hope that his execution of a good plot would be better next time.
June 11, 2017
Shield of Drani is a very well-written story about a talented telepathic character's struggle to find freedom away from the enslavement that she lives in on her planet. The telepathy and telekinesis makes the story interesting, at the same time it was very difficult to stomach the oppressive way in which the Drani can control the Arleles using their telepathy. Needless to say, by the time you see what her life is like you really want Taymar to make it out and escape.
For me the first section where she was still on her home planet, Drani, was not as interesting as the parts out in space when it really got going. I also found the many titles and words a bit confusing at the start, because they were just used never explained, but it soon became clear what they meant and the inner workings of the Drani/Arlele society were slowly revealed.
Stick it out for the first few pages and things will become much more interesting. There was a period in the middle where I was getting tired of seeing Taymar suffer again and again, but the author soon came though with a solid ending for the story. I know there's going to be more and I almost wish the author had moved things a little faster so we could see the rest in this book, not wait for the next.
Overall, a great sci-fi read with some interesting ideas and some things to say about slavery. I'm not sure I like the way the Arleles were portrayed as violent for no reason, as if to justify their enslavement, but I suspect we will eventually learn there's more to it than what their Drani overlords would have us believe, so for now I'll trust that the author has a plan when it comes to that whole portrayal.
For me the first section where she was still on her home planet, Drani, was not as interesting as the parts out in space when it really got going. I also found the many titles and words a bit confusing at the start, because they were just used never explained, but it soon became clear what they meant and the inner workings of the Drani/Arlele society were slowly revealed.
Stick it out for the first few pages and things will become much more interesting. There was a period in the middle where I was getting tired of seeing Taymar suffer again and again, but the author soon came though with a solid ending for the story. I know there's going to be more and I almost wish the author had moved things a little faster so we could see the rest in this book, not wait for the next.
Overall, a great sci-fi read with some interesting ideas and some things to say about slavery. I'm not sure I like the way the Arleles were portrayed as violent for no reason, as if to justify their enslavement, but I suspect we will eventually learn there's more to it than what their Drani overlords would have us believe, so for now I'll trust that the author has a plan when it comes to that whole portrayal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2017
Shield of Drani is a well-crafted story of a woman seeking individual freedom against the backdrop of intergalactic conflict, a war that her singular ability as a dual-talented psion can greatly influence. That ability makes her an object to be controlled in the eyes of the warring factions.
The heroine Taymar acts impulsively and aggressively when her freedom is threatened, yet she's also smart and able to extract herself from sticky situations. The lifetime of enslavement to the Dran, and indeed countless generations of her people's enslavement, is evident in her visceral reactions. It's easy to identify with her anger. It will be interesting to see how she (perhaps) overcomes it as the series progresses.
The psionic talents of both races are well-drawn and interesting to observe in action. They follow rules and have inherent limitations, so feel plausibly self-consistent.
Minor editing issues detracted from an otherwise smooth flow. I would have liked to see the various factions portrayed in more detail. I only have a superficial feeling for some of them. Hopefully, we'll get a fuller picture in the following novel.
A promising start to the World of Drani!
The heroine Taymar acts impulsively and aggressively when her freedom is threatened, yet she's also smart and able to extract herself from sticky situations. The lifetime of enslavement to the Dran, and indeed countless generations of her people's enslavement, is evident in her visceral reactions. It's easy to identify with her anger. It will be interesting to see how she (perhaps) overcomes it as the series progresses.
The psionic talents of both races are well-drawn and interesting to observe in action. They follow rules and have inherent limitations, so feel plausibly self-consistent.
Minor editing issues detracted from an otherwise smooth flow. I would have liked to see the various factions portrayed in more detail. I only have a superficial feeling for some of them. Hopefully, we'll get a fuller picture in the following novel.
A promising start to the World of Drani!
July 15, 2017
This was a wonderful read! Very entertaining and I enjoyed it from beginning to end. I think the story was original and I enjoyed the different viewpoints in the writing.
Typically I find Sci-Fi to be slow building and kind of confusing. I didn’t feel that way when reading Shield of Drani. It was well written and engaging. The world building was not confusing at all and I feel like we got enough background to understand what was going on without getting lost in the details.
I would highly recommend this book!
Typically I find Sci-Fi to be slow building and kind of confusing. I didn’t feel that way when reading Shield of Drani. It was well written and engaging. The world building was not confusing at all and I feel like we got enough background to understand what was going on without getting lost in the details.
I would highly recommend this book!
May 15, 2017
If you like the genre, you will love this book.
Shield of Drani is a well crafted, space adventure. The characters are somewhat interesting but shallow. The science is flawed but entertaining. Perhaps as the story continues we will learn more of the characters motivation and the background of the many galactic societies and how they are so closely connected. It leaves the reader looking for the next installment to answer some of the questions.
Shield of Drani is a well crafted, space adventure. The characters are somewhat interesting but shallow. The science is flawed but entertaining. Perhaps as the story continues we will learn more of the characters motivation and the background of the many galactic societies and how they are so closely connected. It leaves the reader looking for the next installment to answer some of the questions.
February 8, 2019
Not really sure who I’m supposed to root for here. They’re all pretty unlikeable. Interesting ideas, though.
December 28, 2016
A multi-racial, mind-melding, intergalactic adventure
I enjoyed Shield of Drani and would recommend it to any fan of soft, anthropomorphic sci-fI.
The story revolves around Taymar, an Arlele warrioress endowed with the violently-aggressive, logic-defying rashness and unrelenting spirit of her race. More importantly, she is also endowed with both of the mutually-exclusive, extra-sensory traits of the Arleles - telepathy and telekinesis. When paired, these gifts make her somewhat unique in all the universe... and capable of single-handedly turning the tide of a battle. This talent makes her a prime acquisition target (voluntary or otherwise) for the multitude of factions currently embroiled in intergalactic war.
What I liked: The novel is well-written, the characters (especially the heroine) are compelling, the plot is twisting and layered, and the pacing is good (but for me, perhaps a tad too slow.)
What I thought could be improved: I found the first quarter of the book, with the introduction of so many divergent species, languages, worlds, etc. (the dreaded data dump, backstory blitz, whatever) a bit overwhelming, but certainly bearable. However, I also found the physical description lacking. Even now, after a complete read, I feel I have an intimate knowledge of Taymar's psyche, but I have no mental image of her. I strongly suspect she is humanoid, and I know she has long, bushy hair and dark spots running down her neck and arms, but I have no idea whether she is 5' 4" or 6' 8", heavily-muscled or aerobically-fit, curvaceous with human female features, or cat-eyed and slit-nosed with a more masculine body. (I don't even know if an earther would find her attractive.) This nebulousness extends to all the other characters, the environs, etc. (Of course, minimalist readers might considered this style exemplary.)
I enjoyed Shield of Drani and would recommend it to any fan of soft, anthropomorphic sci-fI.
The story revolves around Taymar, an Arlele warrioress endowed with the violently-aggressive, logic-defying rashness and unrelenting spirit of her race. More importantly, she is also endowed with both of the mutually-exclusive, extra-sensory traits of the Arleles - telepathy and telekinesis. When paired, these gifts make her somewhat unique in all the universe... and capable of single-handedly turning the tide of a battle. This talent makes her a prime acquisition target (voluntary or otherwise) for the multitude of factions currently embroiled in intergalactic war.
What I liked: The novel is well-written, the characters (especially the heroine) are compelling, the plot is twisting and layered, and the pacing is good (but for me, perhaps a tad too slow.)
What I thought could be improved: I found the first quarter of the book, with the introduction of so many divergent species, languages, worlds, etc. (the dreaded data dump, backstory blitz, whatever) a bit overwhelming, but certainly bearable. However, I also found the physical description lacking. Even now, after a complete read, I feel I have an intimate knowledge of Taymar's psyche, but I have no mental image of her. I strongly suspect she is humanoid, and I know she has long, bushy hair and dark spots running down her neck and arms, but I have no idea whether she is 5' 4" or 6' 8", heavily-muscled or aerobically-fit, curvaceous with human female features, or cat-eyed and slit-nosed with a more masculine body. (I don't even know if an earther would find her attractive.) This nebulousness extends to all the other characters, the environs, etc. (Of course, minimalist readers might considered this style exemplary.)
January 25, 2018
I really hope she writes a sequel. I need to find out what happens!
June 16, 2017
Second official review. Please notice I follow goodreads guidelines, so for me 3 stars is something I liked. Just not enough to suggest it to everyone I know. By comparison, I gave Leviathan Wakes a four stars because I really liked it.
Now back to business; I received a free copy of Shield of Drani in order to review it.
Shield of Drani is an interesting piece touching on toxic relations issues, but suffers from minor problems of repetitiveness and perhaps not enough insight on the world the characters inhabit (We don’t know much about both main factions by the book’s end).
The foundations for the characters were great. A caged lioness, a self-righteous captor, a supporting cast that avoids mustache twirling villains (Though it might be early to say, we don’t know enough about the Shreet to say for sure, but I had the impression there was more than just “We need to conquer the galaxy” going on).
There seems to be a trend for non-stop action in indie publishing, and at first, I was worried Shield of Drani would fall into the same category (I don’t like this trend at all for the record). However, after a frantic beginning, thigs settled into a much needed lull where things moved, but by developing instead of exploding.
I feel there was a missed opportunity though, as the only time Tay is really free is fast forwarded so we don’t really get to know who she might become were she left alone. Instead we get a succession of scenes which are almost carbon copies of earlier ones where a toxic dominant/dominated relationship is maintained and unfortunately, there isn’t enough variations between all of those to make me believe they’re significant to the story’s advancement and deserved to be played through again so many times. By the end only do third parties start to question and intervene in that relationship, a much needed change in tone.
Unfortunately, the development in relationship happens right when something else does, and just before the end of the novel, so we don’t get to see Tay evolve much.
Now, as a reader, I didn’t like Tay. She had me exasperated with perpertual aggression toward anyone around her, but then I’ve never been a slave all my life and I’m not a woman either. Was it believable? In part. Did Tay have personality? Definitely. The same goes for the main Dran character and even for some of the supporting cast which have distinct personalities.
So, for an entertaining ride, interesting characters and an interesting theme unfortunately dragged down by repetitive scenes and perhaps a lack of exposition on what is going on, I would rate Shield of Drani three (3) stars. It was a good read!
Now back to business; I received a free copy of Shield of Drani in order to review it.
Shield of Drani is an interesting piece touching on toxic relations issues, but suffers from minor problems of repetitiveness and perhaps not enough insight on the world the characters inhabit (We don’t know much about both main factions by the book’s end).
The foundations for the characters were great. A caged lioness, a self-righteous captor, a supporting cast that avoids mustache twirling villains (Though it might be early to say, we don’t know enough about the Shreet to say for sure, but I had the impression there was more than just “We need to conquer the galaxy” going on).
There seems to be a trend for non-stop action in indie publishing, and at first, I was worried Shield of Drani would fall into the same category (I don’t like this trend at all for the record). However, after a frantic beginning, thigs settled into a much needed lull where things moved, but by developing instead of exploding.
I feel there was a missed opportunity though, as the only time Tay is really free is fast forwarded so we don’t really get to know who she might become were she left alone. Instead we get a succession of scenes which are almost carbon copies of earlier ones where a toxic dominant/dominated relationship is maintained and unfortunately, there isn’t enough variations between all of those to make me believe they’re significant to the story’s advancement and deserved to be played through again so many times. By the end only do third parties start to question and intervene in that relationship, a much needed change in tone.
Unfortunately, the development in relationship happens right when something else does, and just before the end of the novel, so we don’t get to see Tay evolve much.
Now, as a reader, I didn’t like Tay. She had me exasperated with perpertual aggression toward anyone around her, but then I’ve never been a slave all my life and I’m not a woman either. Was it believable? In part. Did Tay have personality? Definitely. The same goes for the main Dran character and even for some of the supporting cast which have distinct personalities.
So, for an entertaining ride, interesting characters and an interesting theme unfortunately dragged down by repetitive scenes and perhaps a lack of exposition on what is going on, I would rate Shield of Drani three (3) stars. It was a good read!
November 4, 2017
The story kept me reading to the end. For me, too many characters were introduced and there were many misspellings, wrong words used, and omitted words. I will read the second book when it comes out because I want to know what happens to the main characters. I do hope, though, that the editing will be better on the second book.
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