Trust a Few

Haruspex Trilogy #1

by E.M. Swift-Hook

“You’ve been gone a long time Jaz, and word is you’ve come back – changed."

After five years of brutal convict military service, Jaz just wants to rebuild his shattered life. But the past is hard to escape. The 'City has always been a dangerous place to live: now it's lethal. Not only are the crime lords exploiting its lawless streets, it is also the unwitting test bed for a sinister corporate technology. As Jaz tries to find an old friend who needs him, can a new ally help? Can he even be trusted?

'Trust A Few' is the first book in 'Haruspex', a tense new, sci-fi trilogy from Fortune's Fools.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

383 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 22, 2017

About the author

E.M. Swift-Hook is the author of the Fortune's Fools dark space opera series and co-author of the alternate history whodunits the Dai and Julia Mysteries.
In the words that Robert Heinlein put into the mouth of Lazarus Long: 'Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards.'
Having tried a number of different careers, before settling in the North-East of England with family, three dogs, cats and a small flock of rescued chickens, she now spends a lot of time in private and has very clean hands.

Reviews

[Jane Jago · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haruspex brings us books four to six of the Fortunes Fools triple trilogy. And perhaps it brings us a step closer to understanding the lives of the protagonists as they struggle to survive in a place where brutality is the common coin and life is held very cheaply indeed.

To read these books is to be drawn into a world where the certainties that ground us in the here and now are shaken to their very foundations. We are asked to examine precisely what it is that makes us individuals, and to suspend our judgement within the framework of what constitutes 'good' and what 'evil'.

Take this journey if you dare. You might never look at the world through quite the same eyes.

E M Swift Hook has given us a five-star read that shines brightly in our one-star world. Hugely recommended

[Stjepan Cobets · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating is 4.2
This is a solid sci-fi novel follows a few characters and stories. The story from the book is located in far future and most of the story is linked to Avilon Revide. He was once a threat to the Coalition and after he was caught, his memory was erased and hi is transferred to the Special Legion as an ordinary soldier. It is the worst unit that exists in the Coalition and most of their soldiers are killed in action or they were killed in the camp of Legion. The worst examples of the human race and the waste of civilization run by the Coalition are sent to Legion and only the strongest survive five years of military service. After five years of service, Avilon is demanding to release him and Legion because he has the right to become an ordinary citizen. The only reason for his desire to release is friendship with his superior commander Jazzar Baldrik. With the new identity, he goes to find Jaz. But soon he will discover that this is not so easy, and what the real truth about him, he still needs to find out. Writer E.M. Swift-Hook's elegant writing introduces us into a world of the future in which everything goes hand in hand with intrigues and calculations. The Coalition's power is used with all possible means to conceal the truth and turn it into its interest. Only sometimes such calculations can be dangerous and unpredictable. I would recommend the book to Sci-Fi fans.
"I received a free copy from the author without an obligation to review."

[Bryan Pentelow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Trust a Few by E.M. Swift-Hook
If you have watched world class figure skating and held your breath as the contestants spin and leap through their performance, pushing the very boundaries of physics then you will know the tension this author can generate. The main characters, all together on the same wafer-thin ice perform their complex individual dances till Death, the ultimate judge, calls time.
True to the first three books of this series the twists and turns of the plot and the diverse aims and emotions of the protagonists refuse to give up the conclusion till the last sentence.
This is a new world, with new characters and a level of technology which would have seemed witchcraft in the previous setting but Avalon and Durban Chola are still the main thread pullers in this tapestry of intrigue and treachery.
Just enough background is common to the previous stories not to leave the reader floundering in the unknown but as before, just when you begin to think you know where the story is going solid ground turns to quicksand and only by keeping the pages turning will you reach the masked finale.
If you are a fan of Fortunes Fools then you are in for another treat. If you have not read the first trilogy then don’t delay in starting on them. This saga gets better with every twist of the plot and you are depriving yourself of entering one of the best science fantasy worlds available.

[L.N. Denison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Space Opera at its finest!

E.M. Swift-Hook does it again! Her story telling jumps out and hits you in the smacker, full force.

In this first book of 3 of the second 'Fortune's Fool's' trilogy 'Huruspex', we are confronted with some familiar faces, Avilon Ravid and Durban Chola. Then there are some 'not so' familiar faces, Jaz Baldrick and Charity Sweetling...and the enigma that is 'Shame Cullen', and it is Shame Cullen that brings them all together. Each character's story is intricately woven and each have their little quirks.

Avilon Ravid has been released from his service from the specials after 5 years forced service. He has no memory of his past life, only what he's been told be the coalition. Jaz Baldrick was like a brother to him, and had been discharged a little beforehand. Avilon makes it his mission to find Jaz, getting caught up in the trappings of Shame Cullen along the way.

Trust is always an issue as the story goes forward. Making you wonder, who can be trusted in the first place. It is gripping, and brutal in places... and has an ending that leaves you wanting more...I love the way the author ends her books... crafty =D.

If you like Space Opera's, add this book to your list. You'll regret it if you don't.

[William Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Trust the few is a complex and gritty sci-fi novel, well written with wit and precision.

Avilon, Jaz, Charis and Durban were all great and well-fleshed out characters and the author has a knack for great, punchy 1st lines in many of her chapters.

However, I found the novel a bit of a slow start, as there was a lot of names and world-building to process right from the first few pages and the info dumps continued well into the novel. I did get into the book once Star City was introduced, about halfway through. I also loved the way the Last Hope Bar was described, and the fact the name is probably a reference to Star Wars.

The only other problem was that Trust the Few ended a little abruptly in my opinion, but it does make you want to read the sequel.

Overall, it was a fairly good sci-fi novel. If you don’t mind multiple POV shifts, and you enjoy your sci-fi packed with action and inventive worlds, you’ll enjoy this book.

[Dale Rutter · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great read!
I was highly intrigued by the story and I was right to be intrigued, it hooked me right away! The plot was great which focused around four central characters with trust issues playing a big part and everybody all having different end games.
I love how it focuses on a former bad guy who loses his memories and he then questions himself and begs the question what is good and what is evil.
The book ended abruptly, leaving me wanting more which hopefully I will find in a sequel.
A very good read with great writing and I would highly recommend. I eagerly await the sequel.

[Laurette Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two friends, Jazatar Baldrick and Avilon Revid, trying to find one another after a year’s separation; a ghost from Avilon’s past, Durban Chola, also on an important quest to find his former friend, making up the third side of the triangle; and an innocent young woman, Charity Sweetling, whose destiny intersects, seemingly at random, with that of the other three.
Starting with these basic ingredients, author E.M. Swift-Hook creates a compelling human drama set in outer space. Her conception of this imaginary world is breath-taking in its imaginative scope and authenticity–the many and diverse characters who people it, the complex and dynamic plots and sub-plots that propel events and create dramatic suspense, the different settings and locales.
Having greatly enjoyed two of the author’s books in a different genre, I came to this one knowing nothing about it, nor any of the other books in the seven-book space opera series, ‘Fortune’s Fools’. I was instantly hooked by the first chapter, which is beautifully done and could stand as a short story in its own right. Written in a cogent, literary style that crackles with underlying tension, two men come face to face–Avilon Revid, member of the ‘Specials’, a Legion for violent criminals, requesting a return to civilian life, and Commodore Vane, who holds his future in his hands. It is in this opening scene that we learn the official version of Avilon’s back story: ‘the man behind the myth’, ‘bogeyman of ultimate evil’, a terrorist who has murdered his own family before losing his memory. In the subsequent years spent in the brutal environment of the Specials, the only ray of light in his limited and lonely existence has been the friendship and moral guidance of one man, his former lieutenant, Jaz Baldrick, discharged one year earlier. Revid’s desire to reconnect with Jaz is the reason behind his request to rejoin the dangerous, hostile world of Thuringen, and a bleak future.
Revid’s attempt to adjust to life in Starcity and track down his friend in this metropolis of 45 million inhabitants leads to a portentous encounter with Sarnai Altan, a successful crime boss and alluring temptress with soulless, pitch-black eyes. Meanwhile, Jaz has disappeared and is hiding out on Hell’s Breath, ‘a lump of rock twirling through space,’ about to experience his own portentous encounter, this one with a weird-looking stranger who turns out to be the third man, Durban Chola, on a mission to save the soul of Avilon Revid. Charity, last of the four main protagonists and honest citizen of the rich, privileged world of Central, finds herself a prisoner in a detention centre after her life turns into a Kafkaesque nightmare. The encounter that will change the course of her destiny is with fellow detainee, Foss Fingal.
Paralleling these external events and adding to our emotional engagement with the protagonists is the story of each character’s steps on a path to self-discovery, with all the questions, doubts, and changes of mind that such a human journey entails. Their advances and retreats are influenced by their interactions with each other, as well as with other important characters who help precipitate plot twists. Each has his own motivations, which may not be all they appear. How much of what happens is a consequence of their individual choices? How much is due to chance? How much is pre-destined? With the introduction of 250-year-old Kahina Sahava and her secret project, Future Data, which uses patterns of probability to predict and control future events, yet another intriguing layer is added to the plot.
It’s difficult for an author to write about such a complex world with such a large cast of characters without either having the reader nod off due to an over-abundance of detail or, alternatively, become confused due to insufficient explanation. The narrative style of ‘Trust A Few’ combines clarity and momentum with literary richness, occasionally giving rise to weighty, carefully hewn passages setting out explanations and lines of reasoning which hold the reader’s attention while underpinning the story’s solidity. I was torn between galloping through the pages to find out what happened next and lingering to savour the details of such admirable writing. The descriptions, too, of this futuristic, dystopian universe were really well done.
In short, I shall be downloading another book in the series asap. The only dilemma is which way to go, backwards of forwards?? I unreservedly recommend this first novel in ‘The Haruspex Trilogy’ not just to sci fi fans but to anyone interested in a beautifully written story about human relationships and the search for personal identity.

[Alex Avrio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trust a Few was a really enjoyable book, one that as soon as I put it down, I looked forward to the next opportunity I’d get to pick it up and get immersed back into the world again. I found the world to be well-constructed and reminiscent of a Bladerunner-type dystopian future.

The plot was hung on an intriguing premise: a former terrorist/freedom-fighter leader who has lost his memories/had them removed, and no longer believes that he was fighting on the wrong side. Two of his former associates, and friends, from his previous life want to restore his memories and restore him to his former role - for his benefit or for their own ends??

The real delight for me, though, was the complex interplay of the four central characters. Each have their own goals and motivations, and at times their goals intersect, but not necessarily with the same underlying reason. They are often opaque to each other, not wanting to reveal what they want, or why, so each character remains unsure as to who is an ally and why they may be working with them. A strength of the book was that it concentrated primarily on the points of view of these four characters, allowing us to gain a good insight into their personalities.

For me this book is a solid 4.5 stars and, being a generous sort, I prefer to round up rather than down. Why does it lose half a star? Two things. In the first chapter, I was unconvinced that a hardened military parole officer would act so unprofessionally merely because a pretty lady flattered her eyelashes at him. OK, so this was required to set up the whole story, but I was left incredulous that he did no checks before releasing a potentially dangerous man back into the world. I was also really hoping that at the end of the book there would be a revelation that would clear the mist a little, and give me a glimpse as to why some of the characters made some of the unexpected decisions that they made. While there was a relatively major event at the end, no loose ends were tied up. I'm left assuming that they will be resolved in the rest of the trilogy, but I would have preferred to have been given a few more crumbs so I would feel like I was being drawn into the next book with a little more understanding of what was going on behind the characters' actions.

Not having read the earlier trilogy that is set in this world and appears to involve some of the same characters, I wonder whether some of the motivations may have been clearer if I had read the earlier books. However, I didn't feel out of my depth not having read the earlier books, and thought that this was a perfectly good place to get started.

In summary, I would thoroughly recommend this book if you enjoy a good dystopian sci-fi with substance, intrigue, and a plot driven by complex character interactions.

[Dan Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This scifi masterpiece combines the best of Azimov's Foundation series multi-scale epic and Dostoevsky's dark enigmatic character-driven twisting of the heart. Trust A Few will take you through a ten round heavyweight bout with your conscience on a gripping journey with characters you will try to hate, but can't. Each will endear you, repulse you and somehow win you over, from the mind-wiped ex-revolutionary Vitos Ketzel (Avilon Revid), his gritty former "Specials Unit" comrade Jazatar "Jaz" Baldrik, and ace pilot Charity "Charis" Sweetling, to the big players: crime syndicate bosses, the CSF galactic security forces, future-shaping military-industrial egoists, and desperate revolutionaries. Each player is the hero of a story in which everyone else sees them either as a villain or a pawn--or doesn't see their heist coming at all!
Based on this first book in the Haruspex trilogy, I'm hooked. I have to see where it is all going. Having not read any previous Fortune's Fools, books, I can say that you don't have to have read them to enjoy this. (You probably will want to after finishing this.)
More than military scifi, this book has what we all crave in science fiction--a deep exploration of what it means to be human, in a galaxy where honor and brute survival meet at a deadly razor's edge. There are nuggets to be discovered for everyone from military enthusiasts to physicists, and the splash of love in the face of hate and apathy provides a refreshing chill against a burning backdrop of intrigue and absolute ambition. Trust a Few is like classic literature in quality, but comes with all the page-turning scifi suspense we want. Expect an adventure that will carry through at least the next two books in the trilogy and hopefully beyond.

[Theodore Koukouvitis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trust me, it’s good

A fascinating and thought-provoking sci-fi thriller.

I consider myself very good at anticipating plots, yet E.M. Swift-Hook’s Trust A Few surprised me pleasantly more than once. The pacing was brisk, and I found myself losing a few hours in the intricate story. There’s a lot of dialogue, but it flows naturally and often serves as a breather between action scenes.

The core theme here is trust, as hinted by the title. Trust and betrayal drive the story forward in a dystopian future where a single misstep means you’ll be “dropped” in an instant.

The protagonists are complex and their struggles real. The author cleverly moves away from simplistic good/bad labels and instead immerses us in a world of difficult (sometimes impossible) choices and morally grey conundrums.

The world itself if dystopian and meticulously detailed. The level of detail shows that this story is part of a series, but it’s self-contained and can stand alone as it is. Nonetheless, by the end of the book, several plots still remain open leaving ample room for sequels.

Overall, this was an excellent book. Thoughtfully plotted and masterfully written.

[S.E. Sasaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling read with well-developed characters caught in a dystopian universe.

The first book in the Haruspex trilogy by E.M. Swift-Hook focuses on the plight of a soldier with no memory of his past, trying to survive and find meaning in a harsh, dangerous world. He is a ruthless killer. He has no one in his life except one friend whom he met in the Specials, a prison military unit. Once freed, there are people who are out to use him, help him, exploit him or kill him. The problem is he cannot tell one from the other. Relationships are complicated, situations are tangled, loyalties are strained and no one can be trusted. It seems in this world, one can never know who is friend and who is foe until the very last second.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

From a startling starting point: a man who has no recollection of his past other than what the authorities have told him about his crimes, we are taken on a journey across a universe that is anything but shallow. The character development and the world(s) that we discover through them are colorful and well thought out. Each of the characters motives and there consequences are clear and relatable over time.

Only real problem is that I now need to wait to find out what happens to them in the next book.

Well worth the read.

[S.K. Wee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Beginning of the Haruspex Series
Some great characters from the previous series, The Transgressor Trilogy, along with plenty of new faces make for an engaging storyline. Avilon Revid has been serving a sentence in the Specials. A dangerous punishment where few survive, but the rules state, after a five year stint he is eligible for parole and through some outside manipulation his parole is approved. He sets out trying to locate the man he served under, Jazatar Baldrik. Jaz is his only person who he remembers having helped him at all because he remembers nothing of his life prior to imprisonment. Though he doesn’t find Jaz, he receives a clue to his whereabouts – Shame Cullen. Here’s a name that was slightly familiar from the previous trilogy and I must admit to being drawn into the mystique of this crime syndicate boss(es). There is also another group that is manipulating events from afar and we learn bits and pieces throughout the book. The surprising part of it all was that it didn’t seem to involve Durban Chola at all. In fact, Durban seems to be taking the high road through the ‘City, helping people and promoting justice.
To Trust a Few, is downright dangerous in Swift-Hook’s world where trust will more than likely lead to betrayal, thus it is at a premium. There really isn’t too much trust found anywhere especially between our three leading men, Avilon, Jaz, and Durban. It seems more likely they’ll end up killing each other. Another strong character is Charity Sweetling, Charis. I’ve a feeling there is much more to learn about her back story but she is thrown into the ring amongst the men. A couple of brutal thugs, Foss and Faust Fingal are also introduced. Faust is totally creepy in a deeply psychotic sort of way but Foss is still somewhat of an unknown. I really hope we get more of their backstory along the way. I have also learned a new favorite word, ‘yarp,’ Joss uses the term often and it seems to pop into my head now and then.
This whole fantastic world that E.M. Swift-Hook has created is so amazing, rich is history and detail. Even the backstories could go on forever. Awesome characters that won’t leave you alone even after you put the book down. The story remains with you long after the reading is finished. Highly Recommended.

[Brhi Stokes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid read for fans of sci-fi action.

This may be a continuation from another series, but it is defintiely a fine place to start. While I sometimes felt I lacked a little of the understanding behind the actions of some characters (and their reactions seemed a bit too intense at times, without the context of the previous series) the book wasted no time drawing me into a complex and very interesting storyline.

The delivery of the plot itself is definitely assisted by the different characters through which it is told. The story itself is my favourite thing about the book. While I did have some trouble relating to Avilon, I found many of the other point-of-view characters immersive and interesting (and more than a few glimpses of scenes with side-character narration, just to set the tone right). The plot threads come together in rather clever ways that I did not see coming and the level of tension is high and well-maintained throughout the entire book. There's never a dull moment for the characters or the reader.

I definitely found myself wanting to know more about the world and the setting, but I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing. It simply meant that I was curious about every aspect of the technology and the world Swift-Hook has established. Trust A Few has all the trappings of a space opera without the confusing plot and slightly-too-large array of characters that many in the genre contain.

[David Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read and a fantastic, gritty look at the universe created by E.M. It had everything I enjoy in a Space Opera but still more ... I loved the way the characters had such dire decisions to make and deal with and their backstory really pinned up a realistic quality to why and how they interacted.

The world had a living breathing feel to it and the technology had me captivated. I loved how the criminal element saturated the universe as it tends to do in the real world.

This was a great read and I cant wait to read the other books from E.M.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Complex Plot Done Well

This is a well-done tale of politics, criminal activity, and machinations throughout the known universe. The plot is intriguing and just convoluted enough to keep interest.
Two things I found less than perfect: the syntax is sometimes jarring, though it is still clear, and the ending is quite abrupt - I wasn't ready for it to end!
Looking forward to the next book.

[Emma Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trust A Few is a thriller of a science fiction novel that explores the meaning of duties and friendships. It’s a no-nonsense book and all the characters are really developed and have interesting backstories. I enjoyed one of the main characters, Avilon Revid, who was pretty much the world most notorious bad guy. He has had his memory wiped and the beginning of the story is about him getting released from a military like prison task force. We follow other characters throughout the story as well but I enjoyed his perspective the most. If you like thriller novels or science fiction you will like this book!

[D.C. Ballard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Fantastic!!!! (With 4 Exclamation Points)

5 out of 5 because they don't allow 6.

Trust A Few by E.M. Swift-Hook is a Science Fiction tour-de-force that will leave you breathless and begging for more. I finished this in two sittings, and would have done so in one, had life not pulled me, under protest, away to other responsibilities.

Perfect world building that will make you look around to be sure you have not accidentally walked though a portal to 'the City.' as it transports you there in every possible way. Characters that are as real as anyone you would meet on the street, but with just that perfect hint of alien-ness you would expect. They are flawed, engaging, and mildly infuriating as you want to reach into the text and shake some sense into them, often.

A must read for anyone who likes unrepentant and unashamed science fiction. Rife with intrigue, gritty realism, and just a fully formed, addiction inducing, good time.

Now I must feed my new addiction and purchase everything else by E.M. Swift-Hook. I am, if you'll forgive the deliberate pun, Hooked!!

[Shari Branning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who, exactly, is Avilon Revid?

Confession: I kind of hated this book at first. I mean, it's well written. There was nothing really wrong with it- but I've never been a fan of hard core sci-fi too much, and interstellar, planet-jumping stories even less. It's not them, it's me. I'm a fantasy girl. And this is definitely a hard-edged interstellar tale that embodies the cold, invasively technological, synthetic heart of futuristic science fiction. It's intelligent, edgy, and complex. If you are sci-fi fan, then this is a must-read.

There are a lot of viewpoint changes as new players are brought in, and it isn't until around halfway through the book that their stories begin to converge. There really isn't a way around that, but it's always been something that kind of annoys me, even when reading bestselling thriller authors, like Michael Crichton. Here, thankfully, it's handled well, and in keeping with the flavor of the rest of the story, and, like those best selling thrillers, once you get some momentum, the different character threads make for a complex and intriguing plot. Which leads back to the question, Who is Avilon Revid?

Avilon's character intrigued me the most-- not as the walking, talking, functioning person that carries out his portion of the plot, but as a persona that's also a bit of a mystery. The bland, amnesiac killing machine that he is now, vs. the legend that he was. The dogged loyalty toward him that drives certain other characters, not because of who he is, but because of who he was, and who he might yet become. He's a walking contradiction to himself, and the way the other characters interact and deal with that is what finally caught and held my interest. The insanely complex relationships that are woven around him, often without his full knowledge, drew me into the book and made me want to know what happens in the sequels. Will they be able to keep walking those fine lines between trust and intrigue? Will old loyalties really be enough to carry them through the ruthless politics of both corrupt government and backstabbing crime syndicates? Is Avilon Revid really THAT important? And what happens if he actually does get his memory back?

The one thing I didn't like, beyond the slow start, was the lack of heart. I didn't really LIKE any of the characters. They were interesting, intriguing, complex-- but not people I could laugh with or cry for. I didn't get truly interested or invested in them till most of the way through the book. Intellectually, it's a great read, but there seemed to be somewhat of an emotional void. I appreciate intelligent books, more than I can say. I've read books on the opposite side of the scale, that were all heart and no logic, and believe me, it's painful (looking at you, Christian romance genre). But a book that has both brain and heart is where its at for me. Having likeable, relatable characters isn't going to fit every story, and this is probably one of those stories. However, lacking humane characters, a dose of humor probably would have done the trick. I have a feeling that the following books probably build on the characters and their sympathy with readers, but in the mean time-- it makes for a thought-provoking but rather bleak read. For that reason, I knocked down what would otherwise have been a five star rating.

Seriously, though. This is a really amazingly well plotted, well written book, and if you love sci-fi, take the leap and buy it. You won't be disappointed!

[Ellie Maloney · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Trust a Few’ exceeded my expectations! It’s classics in the making. Now I have a new sci-fi writer and a new series!

Avilon has mysterious criminal past, for which he was punished to serve in the Specials, the military unit of the outcasts, where lots of recruits don’t survive the mandatory 5-year term of service. Having no memory of the committed crimes, Avilon survived the 5 years, and became eligible for release. As a civilian, without a memory of what it’s like to be free, of what hatchets he buried in the past, who he crossed, he is seeking his only friend Jaz, while Jaz is seeking Avilon. Both ex-criminals and ex-Specials have serious reasons to find each other.

It’s a true sci-fi tale with lots of wicked gadgets, various futuristic cultures, enormous universe, and plenty of mysteries.

Specifically, I loved the universe E.M. Swift-Hook created. The story is very unpredictable, fresh, but within the genre boundaries. I love that! It will make for a fantastic cyberpunk film, something like Ghost in a Shell. The structure and the narrative is very effective. The third person POV narrative from multiple characters keeps propelling the story forward. All the characters are well-developed, and the entire story comes together like a puzzle.

Avilon, one of the main characters, is so well-written. He has been through some perils that forced him to be essentially multiple personalities, and from the literary perspective it was well accomplished. Avilon has a fantastic character arch.

The storyline of Charis made me sympathize deeply. She had some immigration troubles. As a person who travels a lot and deals with many visas, the deportation fear rang so authentic. Very gripping.

The whole FTL science - and the science premises in general - were fantastic, not heavy-handed, well-integrated in the story.

Some reviewers pointed that at times the characters’ narrative was a bit wordy, a bit too introspective. I see what they mean by that, but I just want to point out that in my opinion, that was done sparingly and did not kill my interest to the story. Please don’t be turned off by those comments.

In conclusion, reading ‘Trust a Few’ was a privilege and a rare luck. I have a premonition this author will go very far.

[William Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

E.M. Swift-Hook’s Trust a Few, book one of her Haruspex Trilogy, centers on two of the toughest, most deadly ex-soldiers in the known universe, men who have a history of close friendship and a future that seems likely to put them at each other’s throats. They fought together as members of the Special Legion, a force composed of lethal psychopaths and capital offense cases who serve The Coalition, an “association of free, democratic peoples” so far flung that FTL (faster than light) starships are required to travel its reaches. Of the two warriors, Avilon Revid, a former rebel outcast of the Coalition and killer of thousands, seems to be the protagonist, while Jazatar Baldrik, no less fearsome but less steeped in sin than his buddy, provides a coequal killer whose interests sometimes coalesce with those of Avilon and sometimes conflict. Both have left the Specials behind and serve the major power figures of their world, usually as bodyguards.

The author is adept at creating characters who are convincingly threatening, and there are many bad guys beyond the two leads. Life in the Coaltion is cheap because of complex machinations among the power figures that play out over the course of the book. Good “guys” are few and they are mostly women: Baldrik’s wife, who owns a restaurant, Charity Sweetling, a lovely starship pilot, and the young daughter of Revid’s niece, a child who brings out the humanity usually well concealed in the slayer of thousands.

I read a lot of science fiction when I was young, and the author successfully returned me to that kind of lit buff, one appreciative of other worlds far in the future. I liked her focus on human psychology rather than futuristic technology, though her tech is believable to me. Her psychological approach reminded me of Asimov in his Foundation Trilogy, a favorite of mine. Swift-Hook is quite skilled as a storyteller, but her text needed a better edit and clearer identification of what character is speaking when. Overall, I enjoyed my time in her well-imagined and very scary world—which I hope never to visit again except with the author as my guide and protector.

[Leland Lydecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trust A Few is a gripping tale of friendship and loyalty set against a backdrop of gritty violence and interstellar intrigue. Although it starts off a little slowly, I found myself really getting into the story as more of the main characters were introduced and their individual stories began to unfold. There’s danger, action, and suspense aplenty as the separate narratives converge to reveal a conspiracy that promises grim consequences, both for the protagonists and for the subjects of the galactic empire in which they reside.

The author excels at creating memorable characters; Avilon Revid, the amnesiac-former-freedom-fighter-turned-Special-Forces-conscript, was probably my favorite. I could have happily experienced more of the story through his eyes. Jazatar “Jaz” Baldrik, Revid’s criminal friend and Special Forces mentor, is a relatable and surprisingly complex character, a cunningly brutal enforcer nevertheless capable of astounding loyalty to those he cares about.

Rounding out the cast are good guys Charity “Charis” Sweetling and Durban Chola. Charis is a young freighter pilot who finds herself unexpectedly stripped of her Coalition citizenship and ejected from the tame Central world she calls home. Durban is a mysterious, smooth-talking freedom fighter and devoted ally of pre-amnesia Avilon.

The politics and realities of life in Coalition space, from the crushing poverty to the bloated bureaucracy to the political intrigue, all feel thoroughly believable. I really enjoyed the subtle way the characters’ separate stories came together, and the corporate-criminal conspiracy angle was especially well-executed.

My only complaint is that in some places I would have liked more description of the characters’ surroundings. There were scenes where I felt a bit like I had my head in a bag; I couldn’t get a good sense of what it looked and felt like to be where they were. It’s a small quibble though, and overall the writing is evocative, compact, and well-paced. I found Trust A Few an enjoyable read, and I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next installment in the series.

[Camille Marino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trust a Few is the first book in the Haruspex Trilogy, but follows the evolution of characters developed in the original trilogy, Fortune's Fool. Admittedly, I chose to read this book out of sequence because I was intrigued by the added element of organized crime woven into this series' fabric. However, with or without any background in this "trilogy's trilogy," Trust a Few easily stands alone as a compelling dystopian novel.

Set in a future world permeated by the most primitive and brutal of motivations, E.M. Swift-Hook has a penchant for strong female characters that are every bit as powerful, ruthless, intelligent, and deliberate as any male protagonist. In this case, Shame Cullen is the natural leader of the most feared syndicate in a violent universe. And while clearly adept at word building, world building, and character development, every personality is complex and deeply engaging.

Trust a Few opens with our protagonist, Avilon Revid, a former fighter who at one time posed the greatest threat to the Coalition, navigating the world with no memory of his former life. Labeled a terrorist and mass murderer by some, Revid is released from his 5 years of service in a camp that confines the most vicious criminals and hopeless dregs of society. No one survives without cunning ruthlessness and a willingness to shed blood. Having to find work and learn to live outside of the structured and regimented life of a soldier, Avilon's extraordinary warrior skills are a marketable commodity in Cullen's organization.

Durben Chola, another dark character to re-emerge in this book, once again finds Revid and, together, are determined to find Jaz, Avilon's brother-in-arms from their days warring on the frontlines. The twists and turns in this saga keeps the reader turning pages until the final sentence... and then leaves one wanting more. For me, the true genius in this story lies is the exploration of human character and the moral dilemmas and challenges that continue to take shape. Those who may have seemed dubious and unscrupulous might turn out to be those whose principles are simply foreign amidst endemic corruption.

While I'm not necessarily a science-fiction fan, the sheer dystopian ethos and relatable, engaging characters make it impossible to not be drawn into the story and deeply invested in their journeys. This is an action-driven narrative that fundamentally revolves around a depth of depravity as well as compassion of which people are all capable. And the plot is seamlessly tied together through the talent and skill of a highly-accomplished author that leaves her audience anxiously waiting for more.

[M.T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deeply moving and thought-provoking sci fi in the vein of Louis McMaster Bujold and C.J. Cherryh. I absolutely loved this book, and was at times in awe of the depth of the character writing. It was a complicated plotline, but skilfully vowen from several points-of-view, distinctly different perspectives. I especially watched how Charis’s fate danced with the mutual fate of these complex, intriguing characters. Several times along the way, my perception of the characters changed acutely with the surprising plot twists, yet all these made sense in the overall picture, giving new explanations to priorly hinted-at things, and Swift-Hook kept me on the edge of my seat to see what happened next! Most especially I loved the concept of predicting the future with calculated simulations—and how this came into play near the end. Finally, everything was tied together into a satisfying ending, which left me craving to find out what happens then. Incredible book which I would absolutely recommend to all lovers of dystopian, intellectually stimulating sci fi. I definitely look forward to reading books 2 and 3!

[Yemisi Otasanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haruspex Trilogy Book One: Trust a few by E.M Swift Hook is a truly captivating interesting read. It was like reading one of the books that open a new world to you. Reading about mercenaries in the way that they were described in this book brought out emotions of empathy rather than suspicion and fear. I practically fell in love with one of the main characters Avilon. A cold killer with no memory of his past, who was turned puppet by some sinister minded group. To sculpture out such an intriguing story and embed it within the field of science fiction was truly a masterpiece. From the very first chapter, I knew I had a puzzle to solve. So, I followed it to completion. I got so immersed that I became totally lost in the story. I practically became one of the characters. Avilon himself. So much stealth and skill. Yet so innocent while remaining an advocate of death. It was so intense that I could almost feel the singe of fire from so much destruction.

This is a must read to indulge in when looking for something exciting to read. It has horror, suspense, romance and loads of imperfect characters that you can easily relate to. It’s a series I’ll love to see in the movies.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a slick, engaging and nicely-presented Sci-Fi novel. This gritty, dystopian world is complex and consistent and the characters are complex and conscientiously-rendered. There's lots of shady-dealings and moral ambiguity (right up my alley). The plot is well-paced and multi-layered, and its threads are skillfully woven together.
Despite the strength and depth of the settings and characters, I kept wishing for a somewhat idiosyncratic, personal, stylised elements, as I also found them (slightly) flat and generic. The world is rich and detailed and feels very organic, but I couldn't shake the the feeling that the landscape had already been pretty thoroughly mapped-out by numerous Dystopian Sci-Fi novels and movies before it. In all technical aspects this is an excellent genre novel - I admired it slightly more than I enjoyed it, but there's a great deal here for fans of the genre.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trust a Few is a hard sci-fi novel that takes place in an intergalactic world where the Coalition (read Central Government) controls the populace through harsh imprisonment systems, rigid citizenship restrictions, and a futuristic internet system that is directly wired into everyone’s brains. Add to this a nefarious underground mafia known as Shame Cullen, a corporation developing probability technology to help the government control rebellions and manipulate the masses, and you have a very rich world.

The writing is crisp and the dialogue succinct, with some great descriptions and well paced action sequences. I was very fascinated by the idea of a former freedom fighter, Avilon, who has lost his soul and been brainwashed by the government in prison, having to grapple with the belief that he is a mass murderer. Friends from his past try to build him back to what he was, but for their own various reasons can’t fully do so.

Being new to this series I felt I might have benefited from reading the previous books, to get a sense of how all the storylines tied together. There is a lot of page space that takes place inside people’s heads, which I found slowed the pace, but otherwise fans of hard sci-fi will likely find a fascinating world populated with rounded characters.

Overall, an imaginative read with good writing.

[Barry Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fasten Your Seat Belts

The description of this book contains a good synopsis of the plot, so I’ll skip presenting that and begin my evaluation:

Settings – Wow. (I don’t mean that in a bad way, either.) The author weaves the tapestry of a believable setting that immerses the reader completely in the story. Well done.

Characters – Again, wow. These characters are very realistic (even the supporting ones), and it makes you enjoy spending time with them.

Pacing / Structure – The reader is easily drawn into the story, and this is one of the main objectives of an author.

Research / Technical – In my opinion, there are no problems with technical areas of the story.

Grammar / Punctuation – I found some tiny things here and there, but the errors aren’t very noticeable because of the high quality of everything else.

Theme(s) – Trust and ethics. The author handled the trust theme in an excellent fashion. However, Chola’s ideologies were almost too good to be believable, especially since he risked his life several times for it with very little conscious thought. I say almost too good because the author does pull it off successfully.

Dialog – While the dialog is pretty good, some of it goes on too long. In fact, on numerous occasions, the same conversation points are mentioned several times in a slightly different way, which isn’t necessary.

Plot / Story –
This story would deserve five stars if it weren’t for the following issues:

The beginning of the book is too long. While important to the story, Avilon’s release from the military special branch didn’t merit the lengthy conversation that fills the entire first chapter. I believe the story would have better impact if this scene became a prologue and was much shorter.

Every story should have a beginning, a middle and an end. In this particular work, there was no resolution. The story kept going. And going. The pace was fast, but level – there was no build-up to a climax at the end. This would be like experiencing a musical concert with no crescendo. Several story arcs were started (which is fine), but none of them were resolved. At least one arc needs to have a successful resolution by the end of the novel to satisfy the reader.

Also, because the point of view kept skipping around, it became confusing to identify the main protagonist. I’m assuming it was Avilon, but if that’s the case, the story spends too much time in Jaz’s POV, and while there, it seems Jaz has a more dynamic character.

Avilon’s total amnesia robs him of essential development. He should remember bits and pieces of his past so the audience joins in his struggle to regain the essence of his former personality. This is a great dramatic tool used effectively in such stories as Ludlum’s Jason Bourne novels and movies like Total Recall.

All in all, Trust A Few is an excellent book, so I’d advise you to RUN, not walk to get it.

[Rob Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trust a Few by E M Swift-Hook is the first book in the middle trilogy of a trilogy of trilogies. That may seem like a strange place to start, but I watched the original Star Wars in the cinema when it came out: so, let’s do this!
Avilon Revid was a rebel and a hero, a terrorist and a pariah, but events led to amnesia and capture by the Coalition. Now he is trying to build a new life and a new identity after finishing his sentence serving with the brutal Special Legion. He goes in search of the one man he considered a friend in the Specials, Jazatar Baldrik. They had arranged to meet in Starcity, but Jaz is missing and Avilon finds himself alone in the underworld of the ‘city, with only a few years’ memories and a still developing sense of morality to guide him.
The adventure follows four main points of view: Avilon, Jazatar, Charis, a pilot fallen on hard times, and Durban a free-agent seeking Avilon for his own reasons. They must deal with each other and the web of criminality holding the ‘city together. The plot interleaves their stories nicely, juggling plot threads and cliff-hangers in switching POV. Expect action, intrigue and double-crosses.
The world feels real and lived in, the tech, for me, explained enough without bogging down details, and the worldbuilding is deft. I particularly enjoy the idea of the ‘city selling itself as a tourist spot because of the levels of organised crime there.
Did I ever feel out of my depth, starting in the middle of the story of this universe? Actually, no. Trust a Few is a great jumping on point for new readers, with plenty of interesting characters being victims of events clearly established in the book. One character does take a turn at about the two-thirds point of the book which felt a little out of nowhere, but I gather he was a character in the previous trilogy and events here are in keeping with that. So that’s not so much a problem, as a reason for me to seek out earlier books in the series.
To sum up, if you want an intriguing sci-fi set in a grimy lived-in universe with interesting characters doing interesting things, then Trust a Few is well worth your time.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Dark Sci-Fi Adventure

E.M. Swift-Hook’s Trust a Few is a gritty sci-fi adventure. I’m a big fan of science fiction novels, favoring those that are more character-driven rather than action-driven. While there are a few fight scenes and a story line that involves a shady military populated with hardened convicts, the heart of the story revolves around complex characters. The heroes are wonderfully flawed, and I found myself invested in their well-being. Jaz is a mercenary. Avilon is a terrorist who’s lost his memory. Both men are more than their pasts and fighting to do what is right. I enjoyed watching their journey unfold. My favorite character was Durban, though. He was sweet. And lethal. I’d love to learn more about his mysterious genetics and about life on his home world.

I’m not a huge fan of dystopian novels, and this book definitely fits into that category. That being said, the author did not weigh the story down with dirty, gray worlds and hopeless oppression. In fact, the author did an excellent job of world-building, showing the grittiness of City life with fantastic realism. Yes, the universe in this novel is dark, much like our own. The weak are exploited and those in power only seek to acquire more, not matter who gets crushed in the process. But there is hope in Trust a Few. There is hope and light in the characters who are fighting to right the wrongs in the City. The plot is smartly written, twisting and evolving with merging story lines, that I couldn’t help but be caught up in the suspense and in the plight of the characters.

Okay, one flaw I’ve got to mention. I’m really not a fan of cliffhangers and Trust a Few ends in one. HOWEVER, E.M. Swift-Hook has two more novels in the works to finish out the Trilogy. I suppose the author can be forgiven, as I really want to know what will happen to Avilon and Jaz. And Durban and Charis. And the fate of the City!