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Dark Universe #2
The First Covenant
Ramya Kiroff has run away from her illustrious father's shadow, right into the middle of a galactic war with the deadly Locustans. It's a war with monumental stakes--a loss would mean the end of life in the galaxy. It's a war that the Confederacy does not believe has begun. Guided by veteran Captain Milos, Ramya races across the galaxy to rally a ragtag band of troops to defend the front lines. They just might pull off a miracle, but first they have to outrun Trysten Kiroff, the Confederate forces, and ruthless bounty hunters. A grizzled old captain with a mysterious past, a misfit crew, and a runaway heiress with a secret--can this band of misfits save the galaxy from annihilation? The First Covenant is the second book of the Dark Universe Series, a science fiction trilogy featuring non-stop action, unexpected plot twists, and captivating characters. If you like fast-paced adventure, thrilling new worlds, and epic storylines, then you'll love this page-turning space opera series from debut author Alex Sheppard. Pick up The First Covenant to keep enjoying this exciting series today!
- GenresScience Fiction
247 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 18, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 24, 2017
Poor Writing and Disingenuous Plot Devices Sublimate Story
“The First Covenant (Dark Universe Series Book 2),” the second book of a series authored by Alex Sheppard, is beset by poor writing and disingenuous plot devices, that sublimate any potential merits of the underlying story.
Far in a future, in a galaxy also far away, the young heiress of a powerful, human corporate-feudal state, “Ramya,” continues her anger driven quest to remove herself from her overbearing, amoral, emotionally abusive father. Ramya continues bonding with an advanced, alien-human hybrid warship, that is linked to an alien pilot consciousness within its AI control system. She also bonds more fully with the crew of the space freighter that she escaped on in Book 1. The cast of characters continue their mission, with new allies, in combating the beginning stages of a new invasion by an old and dangerous alien race.
Nearly the entire first half of the book revolves around Ramya’s continued ingrained anger and “daddy” issues, while she takes point on rescuing the crew of the crashed freighter. The journey includes finding a plant-based sentient, alien race as allies, and battling an ancient sentient plant/god of her new friends. Second half of the book is basically bouncing around from one crisis to another. The writing is stilted, plodding, often repetitive, and banal. The author incessantly uses Ramya’s “clenched fists,” or “cold fingers” to denote descriptive emotions. It’s all very low brow. Additionally, the author jumps over plot lines gaps, and later returns with a self serving line or two, that badly wallpapers over the holes. It’s a disingenuous manner of writing a story.
“The First Covenant,” is marginally recommended as there is something of an entertaining beneath the heavy cover of poor writing.
This book was fully read via Kindle Unlimited.
“The First Covenant (Dark Universe Series Book 2),” the second book of a series authored by Alex Sheppard, is beset by poor writing and disingenuous plot devices, that sublimate any potential merits of the underlying story.
Far in a future, in a galaxy also far away, the young heiress of a powerful, human corporate-feudal state, “Ramya,” continues her anger driven quest to remove herself from her overbearing, amoral, emotionally abusive father. Ramya continues bonding with an advanced, alien-human hybrid warship, that is linked to an alien pilot consciousness within its AI control system. She also bonds more fully with the crew of the space freighter that she escaped on in Book 1. The cast of characters continue their mission, with new allies, in combating the beginning stages of a new invasion by an old and dangerous alien race.
Nearly the entire first half of the book revolves around Ramya’s continued ingrained anger and “daddy” issues, while she takes point on rescuing the crew of the crashed freighter. The journey includes finding a plant-based sentient, alien race as allies, and battling an ancient sentient plant/god of her new friends. Second half of the book is basically bouncing around from one crisis to another. The writing is stilted, plodding, often repetitive, and banal. The author incessantly uses Ramya’s “clenched fists,” or “cold fingers” to denote descriptive emotions. It’s all very low brow. Additionally, the author jumps over plot lines gaps, and later returns with a self serving line or two, that badly wallpapers over the holes. It’s a disingenuous manner of writing a story.
“The First Covenant,” is marginally recommended as there is something of an entertaining beneath the heavy cover of poor writing.
This book was fully read via Kindle Unlimited.
January 7, 2018
“A grizzled old captain with a mysterious past, a misfit crew, and a runaway heiress with a secret--can this band of misfits save the galaxy from annihilation?”
This is a really fun book. I picked it up as a freebie on a whim and I’m truly happy that I did. It’s full of action and had lots of twists and turns that are unexpected. It’s heroine, Ramya Kiroff (the heiress) is well crafted and just the sort if character I adore, and that’s igniting the utterly cool bind-with-an-alien-ship thing she has going. Other characters (especially Milos, the “grizzled old captain”) are equally enjoyable. It might indeed take a miracle to save the galaxy from annihilation, while avoiding the best efforts of Ramya’s father Trysten, dodging ruthless bounty hunters, and outrunning Confederate forces, but I wouldn’t bet against this gang.
Most definitely recommended.
This is a really fun book. I picked it up as a freebie on a whim and I’m truly happy that I did. It’s full of action and had lots of twists and turns that are unexpected. It’s heroine, Ramya Kiroff (the heiress) is well crafted and just the sort if character I adore, and that’s igniting the utterly cool bind-with-an-alien-ship thing she has going. Other characters (especially Milos, the “grizzled old captain”) are equally enjoyable. It might indeed take a miracle to save the galaxy from annihilation, while avoiding the best efforts of Ramya’s father Trysten, dodging ruthless bounty hunters, and outrunning Confederate forces, but I wouldn’t bet against this gang.
Most definitely recommended.
September 21, 2019
Ramya Kiroff, fleeing her powerful father and an arranged marriage, has joined the crew of the Endeavor. She’s the only one who can fly the alien spacecraft hidden in their cargo bay. After eluding the Confederate fleet in a fierce battle, the ship is damaged. Separated from the Endeavor, Ramya and Commander Ross land to make repairs on a xenophobic planet whose species have evolved from plants. Can the pair survive to warn the alliance that the dreaded Locustans are about to invade again? The action moves from crisis to crisis in this fun space opera adventure.
June 8, 2023
The First Covenant by Alex Sheppard is the second book in the Dark Universe series where we continue to follow Ramya Kiroff and the crew of the Endeavor as they try to figure out what is happening with the Locustans. Ramya’s father continues showing up in Ramya’s life in many different ways namely in the way of her partner in the arranged marriage her father is trying to force on her.
The First Covenant continues with its fun, fast-paced storyline, action, and delving a bit deeper into each of the characters.
4.5 stars
The First Covenant continues with its fun, fast-paced storyline, action, and delving a bit deeper into each of the characters.
4.5 stars
June 2, 2023
Not as clunky and coincidence-reliant as the first book. It’s not great literature by any stretch but I wasn’t actively going, “Oh come on!” every 20 pages like I was with book one. Again there’s no resolution, as this is clearly conceived as a series, but I’m stopping here. I only finished this because it came as a set. They can’t all be winners.
September 25, 2017
A good read
I enjoyed this . An easy read .Not very taxing . Could have embellished the alien cultures for maximum effect .
I enjoyed this . An easy read .Not very taxing . Could have embellished the alien cultures for maximum effect .
June 2, 2023
A strong sequel, even better than the first! Sets up some serious stakes, and the characters are very likeable and, importantly, very believable!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews