Into the Void

by E.B. Dawson

The overpopulated earth has launched its first colony space station under an unusually gifted commander. But the nations of the world have been living in isolation for decades. The road to political unity will be prove a rocky one, hindered by pride, old wounds, and malicious intent from an unknown enemy. But the residents of the station will face their biggest threat when an unexpected leap in the advance of technology begins altering human brain chemistry.

Genres: Science Fiction

ebook

Published January 1, 2017

About the author

I grew up in Southeast Asia. My first experience with America was when I was six years old. Sometimes I amuse my friends by telling them stories of my first impressions of this country (clean bathrooms, Toy Story, Taco Bell, getting lost in department stores).

My family moved to California when I was eleven and completely changed the course of my life. On the outside I'm a well-adjusted American adult, but in all honesty some days I still wake up to the sound of the grass being cut by machetes.

I have traveled a fair amount and lived in four separate countries. I see the world very differently from most people that I know. And because I am an analytical introvert I try to understand everything in my life. I pour this into my writing.

Everything I write is deeply personal to me. People who know me well recognize the shadows of people I've met, experiences I've had, and emotions I've walked through in my writing. My goal is not just to entertain and explore imaginary worlds, but to take the reader on a journey that explores difficult questions and instills some sort of hope.

Reviews

[K.L. + Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had to describe this book in one sentence it would be: “full of action, and full of feels.”

Into the Void begins about 18 months after Out of Darkness. The first wave of immigration to the new space station is underway, and Logan is quickly immersed in a web of politics, conspiracy, and the ghosts of her past in more ways than one.

Character development is once again outstanding. Logan, while better off than she was at the end of Out of Darkness, is still suffering from the emotional trauma that she went through during training. I think this was a very smart play, and very realistic. Even if you come to terms with your past, it can still haunt you, and Dawson portrays this very well. Not just with Logan, but with all of the characters. The important thing is how you respond. Either you drown in the past, or you continue on in spite of it.

The intricacies of the plot shine just as well, if not more, than Dawson’s character development. While I able to get the main points in the first read through, every time I look back I find subtleties that I hadn’t noticed before. They reveal insights into the plot as a whole, character’s pasts and motivations, while hinting at more mysteries that will hopefully be revealed in future books. Into the Void is definitely a book where re-reading brings a whole new depth to the story.

I would highly, highly recommend this book. As I said, this book is full of action, and full of feels, so prepare yourself accordingly. As for me, I am very much looking forward to the next book in this series!

[J.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Into the Void took all the charm and impact of the first book and stepped it up in a realistic, fitting way. While there were a few things that were hard for me to follow overall the story was compelling, filled with deep emotions, powerful narrative, and great action. There were so many reveals that my head was spinning. I loved seeing some of my favorite characters step up into bigger roles. As always, Dawson is brilliant with her characters.
I am really looking forward to the next installment, especially after the ending we were left with. (Not a cliff hanger, but she still has added a big hook!)

[Janelle Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the first book in this series, I was super excited to begin #2 in the Creation of Jack. There were times I literally wanted to throw the book (or my kindle, in this case) across the room, and other times I couldn't put it down. That's what the best stories do. They make you FEEL something. And Dawson is a master at it.

I'll start with the positive things in this book. There are too many to list, but I'll get the main three points. First, Logan/Jack is probably one of the most multi-layered, interesting characters I've read in indie fiction. And I read A LOT, so I don't say that lightly. There were times she felt like a real person, and I was super sad when I put down the book only to face the fact that she doesn't actually exist. Second, once I could understand what was going on (I'll mention this later), I suddenly realized that I hadn't read a book in a long time that had so many plot twists. Super engaging. It bordered on TOO many plot twists, if such a thing is possible. Third, you can see the advantage to Dawson's experience among varied cultures. It shines through in the way she seems to grasp world politics and weaves it into the story. And I have to say, I love politics in books.

There were a few things that kept me from making this five stars. Like the first book, the dialogue doesn't have many tags or beats, making it incredibly difficult at times to understand what it going on, and who is saying it. It drove me crazy at points in the story, because it detracted from character development. I prefer stories to be so engaging that I don't even know I'm reading, but when there aren't things such as facial expressions or tone of voice conveyed, this doesn't happen because you have to fill it on yourself. And then, you realize "I'm reading a story" and it takes you out of the moment. However, once I reached the half-way point in the book, I was sucked in enough to not notice it as much. The other big thing for me was that the Station wasn't really described that well. How big was it? How did they get around so fast? How were so many nations represented yet still remaining separate from everyone else? Questions like these were bugging me and detracted a bit from the story. Lastly, Logan's trip through the void was barely explained. Since that was the title of the book, I expected a bit more.

I look forward to reading the next book. Dawson certainly has me hooked.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

*This book was give to me for free by the author in exchange for an honest review*

Well, Dawson has done it once again! Time and time again she continues to amaze me with her complex characters, brilliant plot points and realistic approach on mental illness.

This story takes place roughly 18 months after the first one. The immigration station is about to launch and Jack is surrounded by with lots of questions. Can I capably do this? How do I know I can trust theses people? But those fears end up being the least of her problems when a scientific breakthrough is uncovered.

Dawson has created something not only creative, but with a very meaningful message. we get to see the corrupt side of politics, all the crucial decisions that go on behind the scenes and what can happen when the wrong person is left in charge. This does nothing but add to the story.

Another thing that really impressed me was how well the story is crafted. And considering there was never meant to be a sequel, well, that just makes it nothing short of genius.

This book has no shortage of twists or turns either. I don't think even MR Darcy would find much to critique.

I think The best thing about Dawson's writing though, is how she writes all emotions realistically. She doesn't just have someone suffering from trauma in one book and then in the next have them be all cured and better. No, she does the smart thing and stretches it out, makes those emotions feel real and give us something to connect to. It's very clear that the subject of ptsd is very personal to the author, and that she definitely has a special place in her heart for them. So thumbs up to her!

I would talk about what I didn't like about this story, except as hard as I looked, I could not find a single thing I would have done differently. Their were a few typos but that's hardly worth taking any points off for.

Do I recommend this? YES! If you want something that will make you laugh, cry, and cheer all at the same time, you want to pick this up. Just a little warning: Don't read the end at night, it has so many raw emotions in it that you will be left up all night thinking about it.

And P.S. get stress food immediately after you've read page 200. You're going to need it

[Erin Dydek · Rating 5 out of 5]

A splendid sequel

Life is never simple for Jack Simon. Years of training for her specific role have prepared her for the complexities of the job, but that doesn’t mean that she’s accepted by all. Once again she’ll face extreme opposition, some of which will put strain on the few friendships she has left.

I continue to enjoy the character growth and relationship developments in this series. In book one, Jack had finally established trust with the members of her team but now each has a new role to play, leaving Jack with a new set of people to work with. Many of these characters resist and resent her, causing unexpected challenges throughout the story. Yet, as the story progresses, we get to witness the backstories and come to understand many of these people in a new light. As the team dynamic changes, Jack has to dig deeper than ever before to save the people she cares about while putting a stop to the sinister forces at work beneath the surface of the miscellaneous crimes throughout the station.

I also loved the big reveals in this installment and look forward to seeing what new complications arise in book three!

[Faye Fite · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4.5 out of 5 stars*** Full review can be found on Constant Collectible: https://constantcollectible.com/2017/...

The events of this novel take place 18 months after Out of Darkness. Everything has changed.

Rather than employing the non-linearing narrative of book one, Into the Void relies on a chronological plot. This would make one assume that the plot is more simple than the first, which would be an absolutely incorrect assumption.

And, yet, the plot and world-building take a backseat to the characters.

If you’ve read my book review of Out of Darkness, you probably picked up on the fact that I have a deep love for Logan Bailey. She a strong, holding-herself-together-out-of-sheer-will type of character that is both heart-breaking and inspiring. Her character arc deepens even further in this novel. We watch her come to terms with the idea that she can’t do everything on her own and cheer her on as she learns what it means to care about and rely on others.

Logan’s journey is made even more inspiring by the characters that surround her. They are all in some way shattered, broken people. But they are all fighting to take circumstances that are utterly against them and twist them into something better. Druce, Gregson, Victoria, Cameron, Jesse…and a few others I want to mention but can’t because of spoilers. They each have similarities to Logan, but each have strengths and flaws that play to the plot and strengthen Logan’s character. It’s a masterpiece of a character quilt.

And it made the novel terrifying. By the time I was halfway through with the book, all I wanted was for Logan and the surrounding characters to make it out with their broken pieces healed up.

Because this novel is so full of action, that hope of mine often felt a bit far-fetched. The conflict builds throughout the story, never letting up, always driving the plot forward, revealing new twists, exposing hidden world-building. It’s one heck of a ride.

My only complaint was that some parts near the end of the book felt a bit rushed. It led to some paragraphs feeling a bit jarring, but these scenes were few and far between.

Beneath the fast-moving plot, the amazing characters, and the excellent world-building lies an even more impressive thread. The message in this book was one that makes the entire series one that is very special. The recurring theme is that of choosing to rise above the circumstances that are shoved onto you. Be the warrior, not the victim.

In a world where unfortunate situations are always cropping up and trying to swallow good people whole, I found this message to be a very important one. I could tell that Dawson put a lot of thought into writing a series that would encourage and empower people to fight for their souls and the souls of those around them no matter how many times they are knocked to the ground. This message was conveyed with a power and passion that made this story stay in my memory long after I finished reading it.

Dawson’s Into the Void is an amazing read on many different levels. Dawson not only possesses a unique talent for crafting characters, worlds, and plots, but she also has something else that sets her writing apart from other authors: Her books possess a meaning and heart to them that will take your breath away. The Creation of Jack is a unique series that you will never find the likes of again. It is an absolute favorite of mine and I know it will quickly become a favorite of yours.

[Beth Wangler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. Every time I read it, it gets better.

In Into the Void, characters we fell in love with in Out of Darkness get tested in unfamiliar circumstances. Relationships break or are forged stronger than before. The sci-fi elements are awesome--space stations, animal-like robots, epic game simulator scenes, explosions, and more.

There is a certain point in the last quarter of the book that, when I reach that part, it is simply physically impossible for me to put down the rest of the book.

The highlight, as always, is the relationship between the ensemble cast. Logan and Druce's relationship is my particular favorite, but Kolbe, Gregson, Crafton, and Veronica are also amazing, and I love Stevens's arc.

I highly recommend this series. It is beautiful and bold and wrestles with our pasts and our choices. Few books have been as empowering to me as this series is.

[Deborah Kelty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blog Review:
https://deborahkeltywriter.blogspot.com/2019/06/indie-book-review-into-void-by-eb.html

[Julia Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading is a strange kind of torture. You pay for a book then sit there with a box of tissues and cry for hours.
So what kind of book is this? It's the heart-stopping, cry-all-your-tears, stay-up-all-hours, wonderfully fantastic kind of book. I was mad when it ended and very thankful I had the next one, which I'm beginning right now.

[Beth Wangler · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIRD READING:
This went by way too quickly.

Things I appreciated more this readthrough:
- Logan learning how to live with autonomy, making mistakes along the way, but gradually growing into her freedom.
- Kolbe's arc. I haven't paid attention to him much before, but this time through the series, it strikes me how much he's gone through, how different he is from Logan, and how hard it was for him to pull himself out and end up as a hero.
- ALL the twists with a certain Evans character. You'd think I'd remember what was what by my third time through, but nope, it still surprised me at all steps.
- The simulations are SO COOL and peak scifi SIM game material.
- WOLF
- The relationship between Logan and Druce. Some absolutely incredible moments for these two, and they grow so much in this book. True OTP material.

SECOND READING:
Like a horrible person, I didn't write a review the first time I read this. Still, I know for a fact that I loved this the first time through--and it only improves on rereading! This book continues the story of Logan/Jack and the characters I fell in love or in hate with in "Out of Darkness." It is full of struggle, friendship, uncertainty, cool tech, and growth.

Despite the large cast of characters, Dawson makes sure that everyone has their own character arc. She did a beautiful job with the space station setting and developing the tensions and roles that would be inherent in such a situation. There is a beautiful mix of heartwarming moments and heightening tension--often, these come at the same time, creating a powerful and moving story.

I can't wait to read "Under the Skin!"

[Hallie Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all: HOW DARE YOU MAKE POOR LOGAN BLIND, SHE’S BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH?!!! Second of all: I love that she has the skills so being blind will not affect her too much. Third: I love that she changed her name back to Jack, but that better not be foreshadowing something horrible.

The only problem I had with this book was, as with the last one, there were a few long dialogue scene without tags that were a little confusing. But, that could have been confusing to me because I was reading so fast, not necessarily the author’s fault.