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New Earth #1
The Fall
“We’re Federation officers. We swore to uphold the laws of our Federation. If we want change, we have to do it the right way.”
Lt Cairo Wilson, a decorated military officer, never questioned her duty to the New Earth Federation she served. So when a Federation general sends her to investigate suspected terrorist activity in a colony on the other side of the Federation, she gladly accepts. It was simple — gather information and head back to the Capital.
But she finds way more than what she signed up for.
There’s a growing army of disgruntled colonists getting ready for a revolution. New City, an enemy of the Federation, has set up shop on Federation territory in secret. In the middle of it all is her best friend and fellow officer London Chandler, whose loyalty to the Federation remains unclear.
With colony after colony falling to the death and destruction of a murderous rebellion, Cairo must do what she was trained to do – protect those who cannot protect themselves. That includes her estranged family, an ex-lover, and a New City scientist seeking a new life. But with the betrayals and conspiracies, she learns along the way, was the Federation doomed to fall from the start?
Lt Cairo Wilson, a decorated military officer, never questioned her duty to the New Earth Federation she served. So when a Federation general sends her to investigate suspected terrorist activity in a colony on the other side of the Federation, she gladly accepts. It was simple — gather information and head back to the Capital.
But she finds way more than what she signed up for.
There’s a growing army of disgruntled colonists getting ready for a revolution. New City, an enemy of the Federation, has set up shop on Federation territory in secret. In the middle of it all is her best friend and fellow officer London Chandler, whose loyalty to the Federation remains unclear.
With colony after colony falling to the death and destruction of a murderous rebellion, Cairo must do what she was trained to do – protect those who cannot protect themselves. That includes her estranged family, an ex-lover, and a New City scientist seeking a new life. But with the betrayals and conspiracies, she learns along the way, was the Federation doomed to fall from the start?
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 23, 2017
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14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 14, 2018
Lieutenant Cairo Wilson is happy with her career; born into a backward settlement where the role of a female is to mind the kitchen and have children, the Federation's military training and education opportunities were a life-changing escape from a future of boredom. When she's assigned to one of the remote colony settlements to investigate rumours of terrorism, she accepts it as an opportunity to develop new skills. However, none of her training prepares her for a cataclysmic meeting with her erstwhile best friend from the Academy...or what that friend has been doing.
The Fall mixes classic adventure sci-fi with YA-style exploration of cultural restrictions and the younger generation's rebellion against them; Lt. Wilson's encounter with her parents, many years after she ran away from home to join the Federation military, is a set-piece of the type. I found that in places the youthful rebellion theme impacted the pacing of the main storyline; conversely, there were areas of the world-building where I felt some additional detail would have been beneficial, not to mention some shades of gray between the protagonist and antagonist. The story is very much 'youthful trauma turns against the government that trained her' versus 'perfectly programmed citizen'. However, the book overall was well-written and an enjoyable read - I would recommend it to sci-fi readers, especially those in the younger age brackets.
Reviewed for By Rite of Word.
The Fall mixes classic adventure sci-fi with YA-style exploration of cultural restrictions and the younger generation's rebellion against them; Lt. Wilson's encounter with her parents, many years after she ran away from home to join the Federation military, is a set-piece of the type. I found that in places the youthful rebellion theme impacted the pacing of the main storyline; conversely, there were areas of the world-building where I felt some additional detail would have been beneficial, not to mention some shades of gray between the protagonist and antagonist. The story is very much 'youthful trauma turns against the government that trained her' versus 'perfectly programmed citizen'. However, the book overall was well-written and an enjoyable read - I would recommend it to sci-fi readers, especially those in the younger age brackets.
Reviewed for By Rite of Word.
January 9, 2018
McGriff's science fiction novel is an action-packed ride set on a world colonized by the descendants of Old Earth. The ride is full of betrayals and revelations. And not everyone is who they appear to be.
But Cairo is. She's a Federation officer through and through--which is a refreshing change from so many rebel POV novels these days. Doing what's just and honourable is at the very core of this strong female character: "I was going to do my job—I was going to do what’s right.”
But what is "right," as McGriff deftly shows, is not the same to everyone.
McGriff makes you keep turning the pages as you follow Lt. Cairo Wilson on her journey to warn the capital of the impending rebellion, and her emotional journey as she makes peace with those who have hurt her in the past.
But some betrayals can't be forgiven. The climax of the story does NOT disappoint.
You'll have to read it to find out who Cairo can't forgive and why!
But Cairo is. She's a Federation officer through and through--which is a refreshing change from so many rebel POV novels these days. Doing what's just and honourable is at the very core of this strong female character: "I was going to do my job—I was going to do what’s right.”
But what is "right," as McGriff deftly shows, is not the same to everyone.
McGriff makes you keep turning the pages as you follow Lt. Cairo Wilson on her journey to warn the capital of the impending rebellion, and her emotional journey as she makes peace with those who have hurt her in the past.
But some betrayals can't be forgiven. The climax of the story does NOT disappoint.
You'll have to read it to find out who Cairo can't forgive and why!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews