What do you think?
Rate this book
Scion #1
Scion of Conquered Earth
An alien force has descended upon Earth. Fighters bombard the ruins. Monsters hunt the wastes – some humans serving the Welorin in order to indulge their petty cruelties. The last free survivors struggle against starvation and capture. It’s a world where friendship costs too dearly and heroics verge on suicide.
One young man simply can’t resist either. Welorin torture machines ravage his world, filling it with literal nightmares. Cannibalistic aerobics instructors hunt him and snatcher teams dog his every step. Alaric attempts one rescue after another, hoping someone might possess keys to unlock memories stolen by the initial assault.
An aborted rescue lands him in a three way fight between Welorin forces and interstellar raiders. He takes cover in the pirates’ ship, coercing its AI, Cassii, into helping him. Success comes with unexpected consequence as Cassii abandons her crew, his friends and Earth’s solar system.
Cassii refuses to return to Earth, decrying her former captain’s despoiling of the ship’s weapons and armor. Alaric leverages goods stolen from Earth by Cassii’s former crew into a bid at privateering. Surrounded by tech he barely understands and exotic life forms, he’s easy prey for the Protectorate’s mercenary population.
Escort Captain Manc Shepherd and the sultry pirate Tyne Ren – Manc’s onetime partner – manipulate, exploit and seduce him across the stars. Alaric’s perilous heroics complicate their tug-of-war, endangering both and Alaric’s ship – their intended prize.
Alaric must decide who he is, what he holds dear and how far he’ll go to protect both. He must choose who to his mentor, his temptress or his smitten ship’s AI. The right choice could save worlds. The wrong one could throw him into a desperate battle to save thousands from his betrayer at the cost of his truest friend.
One young man simply can’t resist either. Welorin torture machines ravage his world, filling it with literal nightmares. Cannibalistic aerobics instructors hunt him and snatcher teams dog his every step. Alaric attempts one rescue after another, hoping someone might possess keys to unlock memories stolen by the initial assault.
An aborted rescue lands him in a three way fight between Welorin forces and interstellar raiders. He takes cover in the pirates’ ship, coercing its AI, Cassii, into helping him. Success comes with unexpected consequence as Cassii abandons her crew, his friends and Earth’s solar system.
Cassii refuses to return to Earth, decrying her former captain’s despoiling of the ship’s weapons and armor. Alaric leverages goods stolen from Earth by Cassii’s former crew into a bid at privateering. Surrounded by tech he barely understands and exotic life forms, he’s easy prey for the Protectorate’s mercenary population.
Escort Captain Manc Shepherd and the sultry pirate Tyne Ren – Manc’s onetime partner – manipulate, exploit and seduce him across the stars. Alaric’s perilous heroics complicate their tug-of-war, endangering both and Alaric’s ship – their intended prize.
Alaric must decide who he is, what he holds dear and how far he’ll go to protect both. He must choose who to his mentor, his temptress or his smitten ship’s AI. The right choice could save worlds. The wrong one could throw him into a desperate battle to save thousands from his betrayer at the cost of his truest friend.
482 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 7, 2016
80 people are currently reading
288 people want to read
About the author
Michael J. Allen
33 books208 followersMichael J. Allen is a USA Today bestselling author of multi-layer science fiction and fantasy novels. Born in Oregon and an avid storm fan, he lives in far too hot & humid rural Georgia with his two black Labradors: Myth and Magesty. On those rare occasions he tears himself away from reading, writing and conventions he can be found enjoying bad scifi movies, playing D&D or the occasional video game, getting hit with sticks in the SCA or hanging out with the crew of Starfleet International’s U.S.S. DaVinci.
To learn more about Michael, check out his website at www.deliriousscribbles.com
To learn more about Michael, check out his website at www.deliriousscribbles.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
April 23, 2021
Scion of Conquered Earth by Michael J. Allen is a young adult science fiction novel, the first book in the Scion series. I absolutely love science fiction, and after reading the description, I thought I would love this book. Sadly this one wasn't for me, being too odd and kind of claustrophobic for my tastes.
We view a dystopian near-future after an apocalyptic alien invasion through the eyes of The Teen -- aka Maggot, later aka Alaric -- a reluctant hero type with amnesia. When we first meet The Teen, he is running, through rotting corpses and decimated buildings, from cannibalistic lawyers and aerobics instructors. (Yes, you read that correctly.)
Then it gets odd. (Okay, let's say the oddness amplifies) Scion of Conquered Earth is confusing in many places. The post-apocalyptic world-building left a lot to be desired. A better foundation of what has happened and how it has become what it has would have been helpful to frame the activities. I often felt lost, like I'd missed the preface that gave us an overview of where we are and why. Additionally the book jumps ahead a lot, and doesn't explain the transitions at all, so as the reader you have to stop often and try to orient yourself. He's in some building, then The Teen is a prisoner in a parking lot next to (the same?) building, then he's running through rubble, then at a train and then *boom* we're in Colorado. After a while I stopped stopping, and just let myself be confused, hoping it would all make sense later. And it did, to a small degree, and I get where the author was going with our unconsciously unreliable narrator, but could it have been handled more stylistically and methodically? I vote yes.
Also oddly, there was a lot of gore that seemed unnecessary and, in my otherwise horror- and gore-loving mind, did not enhance the effectiveness of the story. It may seem like a powerful example of the unspeakable to force a starving captive to eat his own vomit, which came up when he found out the food was actually another prisoner, but honestly, it was too much and just came across as gimmicky. And gross. Very, very gross.
The narrator of the audio version, A. W. Dickson, did well with the content, though his attempts at distinguishing between characters and minor accents left a lot to be desired. He made a good effort with the female voices, something that is no easy feat for most male narrators. I want to recognize that it must have been difficult for Dickson to resist glossing over grammatical errors, but it seems he read true to the written word, mistakes and all.
The ending leaves us with a cliffhanger, which I am never happy with. Each novel should always wrap its own plots, even if it leaves an opening for a sequel. In my opinion, leaving most everything open is a cheap attempt to manipulate readers into going for the next book. If an author wants people to continue the series, then give them quality writing and great characters they can't help but follow.
I received this audiobook from Audiobook Empire in exchange for an honest review. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
We view a dystopian near-future after an apocalyptic alien invasion through the eyes of The Teen -- aka Maggot, later aka Alaric -- a reluctant hero type with amnesia. When we first meet The Teen, he is running, through rotting corpses and decimated buildings, from cannibalistic lawyers and aerobics instructors. (Yes, you read that correctly.)
Then it gets odd. (Okay, let's say the oddness amplifies) Scion of Conquered Earth is confusing in many places. The post-apocalyptic world-building left a lot to be desired. A better foundation of what has happened and how it has become what it has would have been helpful to frame the activities. I often felt lost, like I'd missed the preface that gave us an overview of where we are and why. Additionally the book jumps ahead a lot, and doesn't explain the transitions at all, so as the reader you have to stop often and try to orient yourself. He's in some building, then The Teen is a prisoner in a parking lot next to (the same?) building, then he's running through rubble, then at a train and then *boom* we're in Colorado. After a while I stopped stopping, and just let myself be confused, hoping it would all make sense later. And it did, to a small degree, and I get where the author was going with our unconsciously unreliable narrator, but could it have been handled more stylistically and methodically? I vote yes.
Also oddly, there was a lot of gore that seemed unnecessary and, in my otherwise horror- and gore-loving mind, did not enhance the effectiveness of the story. It may seem like a powerful example of the unspeakable to force a starving captive to eat his own vomit, which came up when he found out the food was actually another prisoner, but honestly, it was too much and just came across as gimmicky. And gross. Very, very gross.
The narrator of the audio version, A. W. Dickson, did well with the content, though his attempts at distinguishing between characters and minor accents left a lot to be desired. He made a good effort with the female voices, something that is no easy feat for most male narrators. I want to recognize that it must have been difficult for Dickson to resist glossing over grammatical errors, but it seems he read true to the written word, mistakes and all.
The ending leaves us with a cliffhanger, which I am never happy with. Each novel should always wrap its own plots, even if it leaves an opening for a sequel. In my opinion, leaving most everything open is a cheap attempt to manipulate readers into going for the next book. If an author wants people to continue the series, then give them quality writing and great characters they can't help but follow.
I received this audiobook from Audiobook Empire in exchange for an honest review. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
May 6, 2017
I have read a few of the books by author Michael J. Allen and have found his writing and style to be engaging and entertaining. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all of his works so far, but they have all been in the fantasy genre. I wanted to see if his sci-fi books were as well written as his fantasy works, so started this series.
And I found that though I enjoy sci-fi works and he wrote a great sci-fi book, I definitely enjoyed this work, too. I was engaged from the start, drawn in to the story by the wriitng style and word choice. I found myself unable to put the book down once I started, reading it from beginning to end in one day and accomplishing nothing else in the process because I was so caught up in the world. The characters came to life before my eyes, my mind creating the scenes easily thanks to the words of the author, which is a true testament to his talent in writing. The characters were all well developed, mostly believable and people you could relate to. Overall, the storyline was good, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I dove headfist in to the plot and read and read and read to see what would happen next.
The writing was well done, too. It was free of errors in mechanics, spelling, and grammar. The story flowed smoothly from page to page, and I had no trouble keeping up, no problems understanding what was going on, no questions left unanswered or things that seemed farfetched or unbelievable. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute spent reading and look forward to the next book!
And I found that though I enjoy sci-fi works and he wrote a great sci-fi book, I definitely enjoyed this work, too. I was engaged from the start, drawn in to the story by the wriitng style and word choice. I found myself unable to put the book down once I started, reading it from beginning to end in one day and accomplishing nothing else in the process because I was so caught up in the world. The characters came to life before my eyes, my mind creating the scenes easily thanks to the words of the author, which is a true testament to his talent in writing. The characters were all well developed, mostly believable and people you could relate to. Overall, the storyline was good, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I dove headfist in to the plot and read and read and read to see what would happen next.
The writing was well done, too. It was free of errors in mechanics, spelling, and grammar. The story flowed smoothly from page to page, and I had no trouble keeping up, no problems understanding what was going on, no questions left unanswered or things that seemed farfetched or unbelievable. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute spent reading and look forward to the next book!
July 23, 2016
The premise was interesting, the style gripping, the humor reminiscent of the sort of thing you'd see in monster chase scenes during Percy Jackson. Overall an engaging read. But it's not for the faint of heart and I hesitate to classify this as young adult though if does feature a teenaged protagonist. I've seen a lot of books that just so happen to feature teenaged characters classified as YA lately (the best example of this is Mistborn), but like Mistborn reads more Fantasy than Fantasy YA, this reads more sci-fi than sci-fi YA. Not saying young adults can't handle mature themes, but there's Game of Thrones level detail of graphic violence and torture only with a lot more rotting parts. It's pretty intense.
Overall a good read. Just maybe not during meals.
Overall a good read. Just maybe not during meals.
December 27, 2018
I was gifted the audiobook. My review contains my own thoughts, and I'm not getting paid to say anything nice.
Another reviewer couldn't make it passed the beginning, which admittedly is a little different. It's both comical as well as disturbing. What attracted me to the story is why I kept listening. That and I was the one to request to listen to this book, so I was obliged to give it a chance. And I'm really glad I did.
The synopsis had me at 'sarcastic AI starship.' That's what I was waiting for. And boy did the AI deliver! The conversations between the ship and the main character were the best bits of the story.
Another of my favorite bits was when the ship was trying to analyse the MC's actions and emotions. Shoot, humans can't understand each other. Imagine an artificial intelligence giving it a go. Yeah, the book is worth it on those merits alone.
And speaking of analysing the main character, the disturbing beginning puts later events into the proper perspective. Another reviewer mentioned that the main character whined too much. While I can see why that bothered them, the MC's internal monologues were understandable in my opinion. Without them I might have questioned his sanity just as the ship did... On more than one occasion.
Small word of warming about the ending: major cliffhanger. If you can stomach a somewhat rough beginning, the rest of the story is gold, and the cliffhanger is perfectly placed to launch you out of your chair as you demand more, while you curse the author for an ending you should have seen coming.
Another reviewer couldn't make it passed the beginning, which admittedly is a little different. It's both comical as well as disturbing. What attracted me to the story is why I kept listening. That and I was the one to request to listen to this book, so I was obliged to give it a chance. And I'm really glad I did.
The synopsis had me at 'sarcastic AI starship.' That's what I was waiting for. And boy did the AI deliver! The conversations between the ship and the main character were the best bits of the story.
Another of my favorite bits was when the ship was trying to analyse the MC's actions and emotions. Shoot, humans can't understand each other. Imagine an artificial intelligence giving it a go. Yeah, the book is worth it on those merits alone.
And speaking of analysing the main character, the disturbing beginning puts later events into the proper perspective. Another reviewer mentioned that the main character whined too much. While I can see why that bothered them, the MC's internal monologues were understandable in my opinion. Without them I might have questioned his sanity just as the ship did... On more than one occasion.
Small word of warming about the ending: major cliffhanger. If you can stomach a somewhat rough beginning, the rest of the story is gold, and the cliffhanger is perfectly placed to launch you out of your chair as you demand more, while you curse the author for an ending you should have seen coming.
May 31, 2017
I have had the privileged to read the book, Scion of Conquered Earth by Michael J. Allen. It is a sci-fi adventure which I love reading. I was so impressed with how the author pulls you into the world of Alaric, and the rest of the crew.
Once I started reading this book, I didn't want to put it down. The writing is wonderful and fast paced. I enjoyed this book so much that I am almost done with the second book already. It is a really good book series.
Full disclosure I received this book for free however I am under no obligation to leave a good review or any review on any of my social media outlets. All opinions are 100% mine, and mine alone.
Once I started reading this book, I didn't want to put it down. The writing is wonderful and fast paced. I enjoyed this book so much that I am almost done with the second book already. It is a really good book series.
Full disclosure I received this book for free however I am under no obligation to leave a good review or any review on any of my social media outlets. All opinions are 100% mine, and mine alone.
May 19, 2017
Hooked from the beginning! Wonderful story, plot is excellent. It keeps you on your toes at all times. One second you are screaming at the lead character to not be so stupid and the next you are praising him. One chapter you are gripping your chair in fear, the next you are standing up cheering. I love when a book gets to yo
u this way where the world falls away and you are living along with the characters. This book has that and I can't wait for the next installment.
Dark enough to engage even us horror fans but not so much that scifi people will be turned away.
I have never read Michael J. Allen before and I am going to check out his other works now. His writing is intense yet capturing. Definitely this series is going on my Wishlist!
u this way where the world falls away and you are living along with the characters. This book has that and I can't wait for the next installment.Dark enough to engage even us horror fans but not so much that scifi people will be turned away.
I have never read Michael J. Allen before and I am going to check out his other works now. His writing is intense yet capturing. Definitely this series is going on my Wishlist!
June 15, 2016
I received my copy via Goodreads First-Reads giveaway.
Firefly mixed with Ender's Game, throw in zombies, add a hint of Stargate and Star Trek, and you get Scion. Overall a good book, entertaining with minor flaws (plot jumps that could use fleshing out, and some glaring grammar errors that should have been caught), I recommend this book for a Sci-Fi fan who wants a good twist on some favorites that will keep you entertained, and I wish the author the best and look forward to his next novel.
Firefly mixed with Ender's Game, throw in zombies, add a hint of Stargate and Star Trek, and you get Scion. Overall a good book, entertaining with minor flaws (plot jumps that could use fleshing out, and some glaring grammar errors that should have been caught), I recommend this book for a Sci-Fi fan who wants a good twist on some favorites that will keep you entertained, and I wish the author the best and look forward to his next novel.
May 1, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. Im usually not a huge fan of science fiction but this book kept me interested from the moment I started reading. I can not wait to read the second one!
May 12, 2017
From The Musings of a Starving Author:
Good morning, my literary foodies! Today, I have another fresh review served up piping hot from the pantry, this time a dystopian YA space opera, Scion of Conquered Earth by Michael J. Allen. Such a mix of ingredients should lead to a tasty genre fusions as long as everything is baked properly, but it could just as easily turn sour. Does Mr. Allen succeed in the kitchen?
Before we find out, let’s renew our pledge to the Starving Review principles:
1. I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
2. I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible
Well, to figure this mystery out, let’s start with the genre fusion elements themselves. Scion combines a post-alien invasion dystopian Earth that eventually launches (no SPOILERS) into a space opera adventure in the second half of the narrative. The chef whips up each of these two elements with deft skill but I feel there’s a little bit of flavor whiplash when the story transitions between the two. The dystopian front end is unrelentingly hard, nasty, and gritty … which works fantastically for that section … but it makes the shift to high-flying space combat and intergalactic trading feel wrenching. It’s not a deal-breaker but I almost feel as if it would have felt better to have each story be their own books in a series to soften the disconnect.
But let’s focus on positives! The main ingredient of any good literary meal are the characters and the chef does a great job with his small, focused cast. He takes the time to really get into the head of the main protagonists and does a solid job making the alien invaders seem sufficiently alien and several of the other antagonists seem to have believable motivations. Especially in this kind of sci-fi environment, having touchstone characters with understandable motivations helps the reader swallow the more fantastic elements.
The plot and pacing are solid. The story moves continually forward and especially performs a fantastic job weaving exposition naturally into the narrative, something that isn’t always easy to do in genre cooking. The action is sprightly and fast-paced with space battles feeling properly three-dimensional. That last bit especially is appreciated; far too many science-fiction tales involving space combat forget that critical fact. All in all, well done here!
If I have any foible to point out, it’s that the conclusion feels a little unsatisfying. I can’t quite say that there isn’t a fulfilled story arc but at the same time, there are quite a few convenient coincidences for the protagonists that are hinted to be linked somehow and an amazing slew of mysteries behind our amnesiac hero and his history, none of which feel like they’ve had any light shed on them. Scion feels like an introductory chapter, which is likely intentional, but the reader in me wants some small reveal or some bone to be thrown my way at the end and that really isn’t done.
Still, despite the minor flaws, Scion of Conquered Earth is a tasty, multifaceted start of a dystopian space opera that suffers only a little from fusion shock! If you enjoy space opera, alien invasion tales, and series that look to have a long life to them, you should definitely pick this one up! If you’re put off by dark subject matter (slavery, cannibalism, and worldwide disaster are not shied away from at all!) or might be put off by the shock of the genre switch, you might want to give this one a pass.
FINAL VERDICT: **** (A tasty, multifaceted start of a dystopian space opera that is a little off on the genre mix!)
Good morning, my literary foodies! Today, I have another fresh review served up piping hot from the pantry, this time a dystopian YA space opera, Scion of Conquered Earth by Michael J. Allen. Such a mix of ingredients should lead to a tasty genre fusions as long as everything is baked properly, but it could just as easily turn sour. Does Mr. Allen succeed in the kitchen?
Before we find out, let’s renew our pledge to the Starving Review principles:
1. I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
2. I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible
Well, to figure this mystery out, let’s start with the genre fusion elements themselves. Scion combines a post-alien invasion dystopian Earth that eventually launches (no SPOILERS) into a space opera adventure in the second half of the narrative. The chef whips up each of these two elements with deft skill but I feel there’s a little bit of flavor whiplash when the story transitions between the two. The dystopian front end is unrelentingly hard, nasty, and gritty … which works fantastically for that section … but it makes the shift to high-flying space combat and intergalactic trading feel wrenching. It’s not a deal-breaker but I almost feel as if it would have felt better to have each story be their own books in a series to soften the disconnect.
But let’s focus on positives! The main ingredient of any good literary meal are the characters and the chef does a great job with his small, focused cast. He takes the time to really get into the head of the main protagonists and does a solid job making the alien invaders seem sufficiently alien and several of the other antagonists seem to have believable motivations. Especially in this kind of sci-fi environment, having touchstone characters with understandable motivations helps the reader swallow the more fantastic elements.
The plot and pacing are solid. The story moves continually forward and especially performs a fantastic job weaving exposition naturally into the narrative, something that isn’t always easy to do in genre cooking. The action is sprightly and fast-paced with space battles feeling properly three-dimensional. That last bit especially is appreciated; far too many science-fiction tales involving space combat forget that critical fact. All in all, well done here!
If I have any foible to point out, it’s that the conclusion feels a little unsatisfying. I can’t quite say that there isn’t a fulfilled story arc but at the same time, there are quite a few convenient coincidences for the protagonists that are hinted to be linked somehow and an amazing slew of mysteries behind our amnesiac hero and his history, none of which feel like they’ve had any light shed on them. Scion feels like an introductory chapter, which is likely intentional, but the reader in me wants some small reveal or some bone to be thrown my way at the end and that really isn’t done.
Still, despite the minor flaws, Scion of Conquered Earth is a tasty, multifaceted start of a dystopian space opera that suffers only a little from fusion shock! If you enjoy space opera, alien invasion tales, and series that look to have a long life to them, you should definitely pick this one up! If you’re put off by dark subject matter (slavery, cannibalism, and worldwide disaster are not shied away from at all!) or might be put off by the shock of the genre switch, you might want to give this one a pass.
FINAL VERDICT: **** (A tasty, multifaceted start of a dystopian space opera that is a little off on the genre mix!)
December 26, 2018
I don't like spoilers, so I will do my best to keep from spoiling any of the plot points of this book.
I have to say that this book started off a bit rough for me. The first few pages actually made me stop reading for a few days to read something else before I picked it back up again. This was not only because of the voice of the author, but of the content of the first few pages. I was provided a reading copy of this book at no cost to me in exchange for an honest review, so I had to continue with it.
When I picked it up again and started reading, I was able to get into the flow of the book. I'm a very critical reader, and found that there were the occasional spelling mistakes, something that I felt should have been caught by a reviewer, but like I said - I'm a very critical reader. For me, that slowed down the read a bit because while I'm normally a very fast reader, spelling or grammatical errors make me 'stumble'. The flow of most of the book seemed a bit choppy. Choppy is about the only word I can use to describe it. It seems to jump around a bit in places without much transition. I guess that can be used as a tool to force the reader to dig in deep into the book so that they can follow the changes, but for me, I stumble.
There are a few scenes/characters that made me scratch my head, but taken with the whole of the book, I can overlook them. Read the book and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about. The main characters, and even quite a few of the side characters are very well-defined, thought out, and performed well on the page. The main character, while he complains a lot, fills the protagonist role quite well. He's definitely a hesitant/resistant hero - to the point that I was like, 'Get off your butt and do it!'. The humor in the book, in some cases, seemed a bit misplaced, but since I've never read this author before, it might just be his style.
The descriptions of the locations was quite well done. I like the author's use of multiple senses in describing some of the locations. That really helps to get a sense of place. That was done quite well. An area that was overdone was some of the action sequences. There are times when I thought the blood and gore was a bit overdone, as I didn't feel it fit into what I thought was the target audience of the book. I assumed from the outset that this was a YA/Teen book, as the main character is a teenager, and felt that the violence could have been better served being assumed, rather than spelled out in gory detail. My thoughts only.
Now, the biggest item for me is the overall story. I like the story. I like the story quite a bit, overall. This is the first in the Scion series, which I plan on reading - at least the next book, anyway. We'll see how I feel after that one. The idea of a post-invasion earth with a resistance fighting back is cool, and is the foundation for a lot of books. This book puts forth a good, fairly compelling storyline. I hope the main character does a better job of embracing his role in the next book.
I have to say that this book started off a bit rough for me. The first few pages actually made me stop reading for a few days to read something else before I picked it back up again. This was not only because of the voice of the author, but of the content of the first few pages. I was provided a reading copy of this book at no cost to me in exchange for an honest review, so I had to continue with it.
When I picked it up again and started reading, I was able to get into the flow of the book. I'm a very critical reader, and found that there were the occasional spelling mistakes, something that I felt should have been caught by a reviewer, but like I said - I'm a very critical reader. For me, that slowed down the read a bit because while I'm normally a very fast reader, spelling or grammatical errors make me 'stumble'. The flow of most of the book seemed a bit choppy. Choppy is about the only word I can use to describe it. It seems to jump around a bit in places without much transition. I guess that can be used as a tool to force the reader to dig in deep into the book so that they can follow the changes, but for me, I stumble.
There are a few scenes/characters that made me scratch my head, but taken with the whole of the book, I can overlook them. Read the book and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about. The main characters, and even quite a few of the side characters are very well-defined, thought out, and performed well on the page. The main character, while he complains a lot, fills the protagonist role quite well. He's definitely a hesitant/resistant hero - to the point that I was like, 'Get off your butt and do it!'. The humor in the book, in some cases, seemed a bit misplaced, but since I've never read this author before, it might just be his style.
The descriptions of the locations was quite well done. I like the author's use of multiple senses in describing some of the locations. That really helps to get a sense of place. That was done quite well. An area that was overdone was some of the action sequences. There are times when I thought the blood and gore was a bit overdone, as I didn't feel it fit into what I thought was the target audience of the book. I assumed from the outset that this was a YA/Teen book, as the main character is a teenager, and felt that the violence could have been better served being assumed, rather than spelled out in gory detail. My thoughts only.
Now, the biggest item for me is the overall story. I like the story. I like the story quite a bit, overall. This is the first in the Scion series, which I plan on reading - at least the next book, anyway. We'll see how I feel after that one. The idea of a post-invasion earth with a resistance fighting back is cool, and is the foundation for a lot of books. This book puts forth a good, fairly compelling storyline. I hope the main character does a better job of embracing his role in the next book.
July 16, 2019
It was an interesting journey. It felt like two different stories mashed together. For the first 3rd or more of the book, a nameless young man (who later is called Alaric) is trying to evade all sorts of bad people. Earth has been hit hard by an invading alien force. But the lines are blurred by the humans who help hunt down the remaining free humans as well as another type of alien in the area that is at odd with the Welorin but perhaps also want to conquer Earth.
Then there’s this lawyers weirdness thing. It looks like anyone who used to be a lawyer or even assisted lawyers are now rehabilitated somehow into zombie monsters? Ugh, I’m still not sure. Anyways, Alaric and other free humans have to avoid them too. And I think aerobics instructors were lumped in with the lawyers…. Sounds a little like some personal dislike seeping into the storyline, doesn’t it?
So eventually Alaric is captured and there’s a little insta-luve scenario that was sappy sweet. But then there’s an escape and Alaric ends up on a spaceship. It’s actually a merchant ship manned by the AI Cassi and Manc Shepherd. At this point, the story is a big space opera and there’s no more mention of that weird lawyer thing, so I never did figure that out.
The space opera part was a lot more fun than the first part of the book, but it did feel like a non-sequitur. There’s lots of action and a few small space battles and alien! Very exciting stuff. And Alaric gets a pet dog to keep him company.
Then there’s the ladies, which all seem to be fascinated with Alaric and are usually sex symbols (looking at you Tyne!) or romantic interests. The ladies left something to be desired. I also have to say there’s little to no character development. Alaric is pretty the same guy at the end of the book as he was at the beginning of the book.
The story left me with lots of unanswered questions and also feeling like I was a little dumb for not figuring out some things. However, the space opera part was a lot of fun and I hope the series sticks with that. 3.5/5 stars.
The Narration: A. W. Dickson did a good job with this story. He had a great voice for Alaric, capturing his various emotions throughout the story. His female voices were believable. And his various regional accents were well done. The pacing was perfect and there were no technical issues with the recording. 5/5 stars.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Audiobookworm Promotions on behalf of various authors, narrators, and publishers. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Then there’s this lawyers weirdness thing. It looks like anyone who used to be a lawyer or even assisted lawyers are now rehabilitated somehow into zombie monsters? Ugh, I’m still not sure. Anyways, Alaric and other free humans have to avoid them too. And I think aerobics instructors were lumped in with the lawyers…. Sounds a little like some personal dislike seeping into the storyline, doesn’t it?
So eventually Alaric is captured and there’s a little insta-luve scenario that was sappy sweet. But then there’s an escape and Alaric ends up on a spaceship. It’s actually a merchant ship manned by the AI Cassi and Manc Shepherd. At this point, the story is a big space opera and there’s no more mention of that weird lawyer thing, so I never did figure that out.
The space opera part was a lot more fun than the first part of the book, but it did feel like a non-sequitur. There’s lots of action and a few small space battles and alien! Very exciting stuff. And Alaric gets a pet dog to keep him company.
Then there’s the ladies, which all seem to be fascinated with Alaric and are usually sex symbols (looking at you Tyne!) or romantic interests. The ladies left something to be desired. I also have to say there’s little to no character development. Alaric is pretty the same guy at the end of the book as he was at the beginning of the book.
The story left me with lots of unanswered questions and also feeling like I was a little dumb for not figuring out some things. However, the space opera part was a lot of fun and I hope the series sticks with that. 3.5/5 stars.
The Narration: A. W. Dickson did a good job with this story. He had a great voice for Alaric, capturing his various emotions throughout the story. His female voices were believable. And his various regional accents were well done. The pacing was perfect and there were no technical issues with the recording. 5/5 stars.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Audiobookworm Promotions on behalf of various authors, narrators, and publishers. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
May 4, 2020
The book follows an unnamed teen trying to survive the wastelands of North America after Earth has been invaded by aliens. In the beginning, he is all alone with no memory of who he is or his past. He struggles to survive and has one very bad day. He is captured by slavers and to make it all worse he is forced to digest the meat of one of his own. He eventually escapes, meets two other escapees; El and Jessie. Jessie sacrifices himself so that the other two can have a chance of survival. One thing leads to another and the teen now called Alaric ends up in space with a fun AI as his host.
Things I Liked
I liked the characters of this book, once Alaric is no longer alone, Allen makes the characters interesting and lifelike. Even the AI has a good character and a backstory that I cannot wait to dive into.
The setting, yes it is your typical end of the world but the conflicts it creates are interesting and it always feels like Alaric will die at any minute. You are introduced to other planets the same way Alaric is which isn't jarring. The character has lost his memory rather than been in Cyro freezing which makes a nice change.
Allen doesn't clumsily add world-building or tech jargon unless it is necessary for the plot to move on, which is hard to do especially when you want the readers to understand what is going on. Allen does this in a delightful way and you are always guessing what new technology will be next.
Things I Did Not Like
It takes a while to get going, and to begin with it can be quite confusing on what is going on especially when Alaric doesn't have a name. It didn't feel like the story was going anywhere at the start which can be both a blessing and a bad thing, blessing because well that is how real life works and bad for a novel. Once it does get going, however, it pays off in big ways and the book digs its claws into you.
Final Thoughts
Yesterday I could not put this book down, it has been a long while since I've had a book draw me in so much. I keep wanting to find out what happens on the next page and the next. Before you know it it is past my bedtime and I have to begrudgingly go to sleep. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Sci-Fi, and anyone who wants to take the plunge into Space Opera. The rest of the series is already out so I would recommend picking it up as soon as you can.
This book gets a healthy 4/5, a great space opera that introduces you to a new universe.
Things I Liked
I liked the characters of this book, once Alaric is no longer alone, Allen makes the characters interesting and lifelike. Even the AI has a good character and a backstory that I cannot wait to dive into.
The setting, yes it is your typical end of the world but the conflicts it creates are interesting and it always feels like Alaric will die at any minute. You are introduced to other planets the same way Alaric is which isn't jarring. The character has lost his memory rather than been in Cyro freezing which makes a nice change.
Allen doesn't clumsily add world-building or tech jargon unless it is necessary for the plot to move on, which is hard to do especially when you want the readers to understand what is going on. Allen does this in a delightful way and you are always guessing what new technology will be next.
Things I Did Not Like
It takes a while to get going, and to begin with it can be quite confusing on what is going on especially when Alaric doesn't have a name. It didn't feel like the story was going anywhere at the start which can be both a blessing and a bad thing, blessing because well that is how real life works and bad for a novel. Once it does get going, however, it pays off in big ways and the book digs its claws into you.
Final Thoughts
Yesterday I could not put this book down, it has been a long while since I've had a book draw me in so much. I keep wanting to find out what happens on the next page and the next. Before you know it it is past my bedtime and I have to begrudgingly go to sleep. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Sci-Fi, and anyone who wants to take the plunge into Space Opera. The rest of the series is already out so I would recommend picking it up as soon as you can.
This book gets a healthy 4/5, a great space opera that introduces you to a new universe.
March 12, 2019
( Format : Audiobook )
"Fight now. Whine later."
For some reason, Scion of Conquered Earth languished unnoticed in this reader's T.B.R. pile, synopsis forgotten, so, when started, the content was an unknown quantity. And a surprise. It was almost two separate books, the first quarter being set on a post apocalyptic Eadth, the later part a space saga.
The opening scene is both comic and distressing: a teenager boy being pursued by deranged Lycra clad aerobics instructors calling out such inanities as, 'Carbs are the enemy,' as they chase their dinner, and are soon joined by a further group of suited homicidal lawyers. But the comedy quickly turns into some of the most graphic and visceral scenes of horror and attempted survival on a planet devastated by alien invasion as experienced by the boy, who can remember nothing of what went before, not even his own name.
And then we are in space with the no-name youth, and a dog, in a stolen ship run by a one-of-a-kind AI, battling aliens and pirates, voices in his head, growing sexuality and a total belief in his own rightness as he muddles his way from danger to danger, ostensibly in a quest to save the girl he left behind. There are some great characters and fight scenes, action aplenty and credits to be made and lost, with dollops of do-goodery laced with guilt and self pity along the way. All good, fast paced fun, if sometimes a little disjointed.
Narration by A.W.Dickson is excellent. He captures the excitements and terrors of the the fights, the inner conflicts of the main protagonist, and gives individual and appropriate voice to each of the characters. A good performance which definitely enhances the story.
Scion was, overall, very enjoyable despite not really seeming to go anywhere, and there were times when I just wanted to shake the boy, later called Alavic, and tell him not to be so ... (whatever it was at the time) and listen instead to his AI. Would I recommend it? Yes, probably, if only for the intense graphic descriptions of the author which put the reader right there in the midst of what was happening. But for this same reason, I would be selective: the earlier part is pretty gruesome and wouldn't be to everyone's taste.
The book ends with a cliff hanger and I look forward to reading volume two - when it comes out on Audio.
"Fight now. Whine later."
For some reason, Scion of Conquered Earth languished unnoticed in this reader's T.B.R. pile, synopsis forgotten, so, when started, the content was an unknown quantity. And a surprise. It was almost two separate books, the first quarter being set on a post apocalyptic Eadth, the later part a space saga.
The opening scene is both comic and distressing: a teenager boy being pursued by deranged Lycra clad aerobics instructors calling out such inanities as, 'Carbs are the enemy,' as they chase their dinner, and are soon joined by a further group of suited homicidal lawyers. But the comedy quickly turns into some of the most graphic and visceral scenes of horror and attempted survival on a planet devastated by alien invasion as experienced by the boy, who can remember nothing of what went before, not even his own name.
And then we are in space with the no-name youth, and a dog, in a stolen ship run by a one-of-a-kind AI, battling aliens and pirates, voices in his head, growing sexuality and a total belief in his own rightness as he muddles his way from danger to danger, ostensibly in a quest to save the girl he left behind. There are some great characters and fight scenes, action aplenty and credits to be made and lost, with dollops of do-goodery laced with guilt and self pity along the way. All good, fast paced fun, if sometimes a little disjointed.
Narration by A.W.Dickson is excellent. He captures the excitements and terrors of the the fights, the inner conflicts of the main protagonist, and gives individual and appropriate voice to each of the characters. A good performance which definitely enhances the story.
Scion was, overall, very enjoyable despite not really seeming to go anywhere, and there were times when I just wanted to shake the boy, later called Alavic, and tell him not to be so ... (whatever it was at the time) and listen instead to his AI. Would I recommend it? Yes, probably, if only for the intense graphic descriptions of the author which put the reader right there in the midst of what was happening. But for this same reason, I would be selective: the earlier part is pretty gruesome and wouldn't be to everyone's taste.
The book ends with a cliff hanger and I look forward to reading volume two - when it comes out on Audio.
January 21, 2018
Full disclosure, I traditional a clear copy of this book for an honest evaluation.
Alright, agree to's acquire the length of to it. Scion of Conquered Earth is by Indy Author Michael J Allen. You know this because you'in version to already looking it occurring. The folder centers in this area a appendix-attack Earth where aliens are manipulating humans into rounding taking place toting going on humans to put them into slavery. The protagonist of the act is a youngster man furthermore than than amnesia. He doesn't recall who he is or where he came from, but he understands what it takes to survive the assertiveness.
One of the excellent things not quite this author is his take bureau to flesh out the ancillary characters. Too many writers toss a environment in in view of that to touch the plot along otherwise of taking the period to round them out. Even the characters that don't talk atmosphere as even though they have severity.
The boy is approximately the run and bothersome to survive. He meets others along the way. Some are comfortable and some are not-for that footnote-comfortable. There is a moving scene that occurs following he is captured towards the beginning of the novel that makes me cringe all time I think more or less it. And even though I'm cringing, I'm impressed by the style of writing that brings that memory guidance to me.
There are a few period as soon as it felt following we jumped from scene to scene without too much produce taking place. He's supervision! He's in a museum? On a spaceship? What is happening? Once you agree a make available the operate believe you where it wants you to go, you'on the subject of in for an fascinating ride. There are a couple of instances in which the author overuses a word or phrase in a curt span, but nothing consequently conspicuous that it would distract.
So why four stars on the other hand of 3 once this much critique? Honestly, I don't much care for the alien genre. I guess you would classify this as sci-fi, but taking into account I don't care for the genre but I liked the autograph album itself? I gave it an pro star for keeping me eager.
(less)
Alright, agree to's acquire the length of to it. Scion of Conquered Earth is by Indy Author Michael J Allen. You know this because you'in version to already looking it occurring. The folder centers in this area a appendix-attack Earth where aliens are manipulating humans into rounding taking place toting going on humans to put them into slavery. The protagonist of the act is a youngster man furthermore than than amnesia. He doesn't recall who he is or where he came from, but he understands what it takes to survive the assertiveness.
One of the excellent things not quite this author is his take bureau to flesh out the ancillary characters. Too many writers toss a environment in in view of that to touch the plot along otherwise of taking the period to round them out. Even the characters that don't talk atmosphere as even though they have severity.
The boy is approximately the run and bothersome to survive. He meets others along the way. Some are comfortable and some are not-for that footnote-comfortable. There is a moving scene that occurs following he is captured towards the beginning of the novel that makes me cringe all time I think more or less it. And even though I'm cringing, I'm impressed by the style of writing that brings that memory guidance to me.
There are a few period as soon as it felt following we jumped from scene to scene without too much produce taking place. He's supervision! He's in a museum? On a spaceship? What is happening? Once you agree a make available the operate believe you where it wants you to go, you'on the subject of in for an fascinating ride. There are a couple of instances in which the author overuses a word or phrase in a curt span, but nothing consequently conspicuous that it would distract.
So why four stars on the other hand of 3 once this much critique? Honestly, I don't much care for the alien genre. I guess you would classify this as sci-fi, but taking into account I don't care for the genre but I liked the autograph album itself? I gave it an pro star for keeping me eager.
(less)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2019
#ad #sponsored #partner #MichaelJAllen #Scion #ScionofConqueredEarth #Scion1 #ScienceFiction #SpaceOpera #Adventure
The synopsis had me at 'sarcastic AI starship.`` And boy did the AI deliver! The conversations between the ship and the main character were some of my favorite bits of the story. This fantastic story had the feel of Firefly with a little bit of Ender's Game which was wonderful! Though Michael J Allen took it one step further and tossed in zombies! So much fun. Another impressive, well-written and overall a great read by Allen. The book starts with incredible character development and becomes more intense as the story unfolds. No spoilers, but the cliffhanger ending left me begging for more.
Here is what Goodreads has to say about the book: “An alien force has descended upon Earth. Fighters bombard the ruins. Monsters hunt the wastes – some humans serving the Welorin in order to indulge their petty cruelties. The last free survivors struggle against starvation and capture. It’s a world where friendship costs too dearly and heroics verge on suicide. One young man simply can’t resist either. Welorin torture machines ravage his world, filling it with literal nightmares. Cannibalistic aerobics instructors hunt him and snatcher teams dog his every step. Alaric attempts one rescue after another, hoping someone might possess keys to unlock memories stolen by the initial assault. Alaric must decide who he is, what he holds dear and how far he’ll go to protect both. He must choose who to trust: his mentor, his temptress or his smitten ship’s AI. The right choice could save worlds. The wrong one could throw him into a desperate battle to save thousands from his betrayer at the cost of his truest friend.”
The synopsis had me at 'sarcastic AI starship.`` And boy did the AI deliver! The conversations between the ship and the main character were some of my favorite bits of the story. This fantastic story had the feel of Firefly with a little bit of Ender's Game which was wonderful! Though Michael J Allen took it one step further and tossed in zombies! So much fun. Another impressive, well-written and overall a great read by Allen. The book starts with incredible character development and becomes more intense as the story unfolds. No spoilers, but the cliffhanger ending left me begging for more.
Here is what Goodreads has to say about the book: “An alien force has descended upon Earth. Fighters bombard the ruins. Monsters hunt the wastes – some humans serving the Welorin in order to indulge their petty cruelties. The last free survivors struggle against starvation and capture. It’s a world where friendship costs too dearly and heroics verge on suicide. One young man simply can’t resist either. Welorin torture machines ravage his world, filling it with literal nightmares. Cannibalistic aerobics instructors hunt him and snatcher teams dog his every step. Alaric attempts one rescue after another, hoping someone might possess keys to unlock memories stolen by the initial assault. Alaric must decide who he is, what he holds dear and how far he’ll go to protect both. He must choose who to trust: his mentor, his temptress or his smitten ship’s AI. The right choice could save worlds. The wrong one could throw him into a desperate battle to save thousands from his betrayer at the cost of his truest friend.”
February 17, 2019
Eu li alguns dos livros do autor Michael J. Allen e descobri que sua escrita e estilo são envolventes e divertidos. Eu gostei muito de ler todos os seus trabalhos até agora, mas todos eles estiveram no gênero de fantasia. Eu queria ver se os livros de ficção científica dele eram tão bem escritos quanto a fantasia dele, então comecei esta série.
E descobri que, embora eu goste de trabalhos de ficção científica e ele escreveu um ótimo livro de ficção científica, eu definitivamente gostei desse trabalho também. Eu estava noiva desde o início, atraída pela história pelo estilo de escrita e escolha de palavras. Eu me vi incapaz de colocar o livro no chão uma vez que comecei, lendo do começo ao fim em um dia e realizando nada mais no processo, porque eu estava tão envolvido no mundo. Os personagens vieram à vida diante dos meus olhos, minha mente criando as cenas com facilidade graças às palavras do autor, que é um verdadeiro testemunho de seu talento na escrita. Os personagens eram todos bem desenvolvidos, na maioria das vezes críveis e pessoas com as quais você podia se relacionar. No geral, o enredo foi bom, mantendo-me no limite do meu assento enquanto eu mergulhei de cabeça no enredo e li e li e li para ver o que aconteceria em seguida.
A escrita foi bem feita também. Estava livre de erros na mecânica, ortografia e gramática. A história fluiu suavemente de página para página, e eu não tive problemas para acompanhar, sem problemas para entender o que estava acontecendo, sem perguntas deixadas sem resposta ou coisas que pareciam improváveis ou inacreditáveis. Eu gostei cada minuto gasto lendo e aguardo com expectativa o próximo livro!
E descobri que, embora eu goste de trabalhos de ficção científica e ele escreveu um ótimo livro de ficção científica, eu definitivamente gostei desse trabalho também. Eu estava noiva desde o início, atraída pela história pelo estilo de escrita e escolha de palavras. Eu me vi incapaz de colocar o livro no chão uma vez que comecei, lendo do começo ao fim em um dia e realizando nada mais no processo, porque eu estava tão envolvido no mundo. Os personagens vieram à vida diante dos meus olhos, minha mente criando as cenas com facilidade graças às palavras do autor, que é um verdadeiro testemunho de seu talento na escrita. Os personagens eram todos bem desenvolvidos, na maioria das vezes críveis e pessoas com as quais você podia se relacionar. No geral, o enredo foi bom, mantendo-me no limite do meu assento enquanto eu mergulhei de cabeça no enredo e li e li e li para ver o que aconteceria em seguida.
A escrita foi bem feita também. Estava livre de erros na mecânica, ortografia e gramática. A história fluiu suavemente de página para página, e eu não tive problemas para acompanhar, sem problemas para entender o que estava acontecendo, sem perguntas deixadas sem resposta ou coisas que pareciam improváveis ou inacreditáveis. Eu gostei cada minuto gasto lendo e aguardo com expectativa o próximo livro!
April 28, 2018
The teenaged boy remembers nothing from before the Welorin attacked Earth, not even his own name. He survives one day at a time, fleeing the deranged aerobics instructors and lawyers re-educated to crave human flesh and the snatchers—humans working with the Welorin to capture what remains of humanity in the ruins of Washington DC and across the globe. With food and water almost impossible to find, and Welorin drones and fighter planes patrolling the city, it’s not long before the boy’s luck runs out and a crew of snatchers captures him. His sadistic overseers subject him to unimaginable horrors while ensuring his obedience via the collar around his neck. They force him to hunt down other survivors for their camps, a duty that provides the teenager with an opportunity to escape, a friend who names him Alaric, and a daring flight from Earth.
Scion of Conquered Earth is an adrenalin-filled adventure that hits all the right spots. Allen’s vivid and engaging prose conjures a deeply convincing vision of a dystopian Earth in all its chaos and ruin. Alaric is capable, intelligent, and skilled without ever coming across as being anything more than a normal person and while he does suffer from amnesia, this doesn’t create unnecessary melodrama in the story. Scion of Conquered Earth does feature torture, mainly of the psychological form, but Allen handles the topic well. What begins as a dystopian novel of survival in a world conquered by amoral aliens effortlessly shifts into the more exotic but no less thrilling arena of space travel.
Reviewed for Reader's Favorite
Scion of Conquered Earth is an adrenalin-filled adventure that hits all the right spots. Allen’s vivid and engaging prose conjures a deeply convincing vision of a dystopian Earth in all its chaos and ruin. Alaric is capable, intelligent, and skilled without ever coming across as being anything more than a normal person and while he does suffer from amnesia, this doesn’t create unnecessary melodrama in the story. Scion of Conquered Earth does feature torture, mainly of the psychological form, but Allen handles the topic well. What begins as a dystopian novel of survival in a world conquered by amoral aliens effortlessly shifts into the more exotic but no less thrilling arena of space travel.
Reviewed for Reader's Favorite
February 4, 2019
The first few pages actually made me stop reading for a few days before I picked it back up again but once i managed to get through it was quite nice.
I was so impressed with how the author pulls you into the world of Alaric, and the rest of the crew.
And I found that though I enjoy sci-fi works and he wrote a great sci-fi book, I definitely enjoyed this work, too. drawn in to the story by the wriitng style and word choice even tho there was some mistakes but i didn't mind them as i'm used to reading fanmade translated books like the witcher serie from polish to english which contained REALLY alot of mistakes. I found myself unable to put the book down once I started, reading until the end because I was so caught up in the world. The characters came to life before my eyes "got how much i wanted to hit that hero, punch him in the face" ,The characters were all well developed, mostly believable.
Overall, the storyline was good, keeping me alarmed as i was despoiling in to the plot and continue reading to know what would happen next.
It keeps you on your toes at all times i have to admit that. One second you are screaming at the lead character to not be so stupid as i said before and the next you are praising him because yeah sometimes he wan't that dumb.
it's defenetly worth the shot especially if you love reading sci-fi books. you can get a copy from amazon, it's on promotion https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L9A72UK
I was so impressed with how the author pulls you into the world of Alaric, and the rest of the crew.
And I found that though I enjoy sci-fi works and he wrote a great sci-fi book, I definitely enjoyed this work, too. drawn in to the story by the wriitng style and word choice even tho there was some mistakes but i didn't mind them as i'm used to reading fanmade translated books like the witcher serie from polish to english which contained REALLY alot of mistakes. I found myself unable to put the book down once I started, reading until the end because I was so caught up in the world. The characters came to life before my eyes "got how much i wanted to hit that hero, punch him in the face" ,The characters were all well developed, mostly believable.
Overall, the storyline was good, keeping me alarmed as i was despoiling in to the plot and continue reading to know what would happen next.
It keeps you on your toes at all times i have to admit that. One second you are screaming at the lead character to not be so stupid as i said before and the next you are praising him because yeah sometimes he wan't that dumb.
it's defenetly worth the shot especially if you love reading sci-fi books. you can get a copy from amazon, it's on promotion https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L9A72UK
May 8, 2017
Scion of Conquered Earth by a gifted sci-fi author, Michael J. Allen, is the first book in a collection of adventure stories with set on an attack on Earth with intergalletic pirates, attack teams and even an occasional cannibalistic aerobics instructor. The writing style is fast, crisp and minimalist. You really will want to read all 362 pages in one sitting! The story feels like it could be a cross between a Twilight Zone episode and Star Trek with the emphasis of battling out on Earth. Good story from a good writer!
Find this book on Goodreads here:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
I highly recommend getting to know this author, Michael Allen on his Delirous Scribbles Press website and other connections below:
http://www.twitter.com/TheDScribbler (@TheDScribber)
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/micha...
http://www.facebook.com/DeliriousScri...
http://www.deliriousscribbles.com
Find this book on Goodreads here:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
I highly recommend getting to know this author, Michael Allen on his Delirous Scribbles Press website and other connections below:
http://www.twitter.com/TheDScribbler (@TheDScribber)
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/micha...
http://www.facebook.com/DeliriousScri...
http://www.deliriousscribbles.com
December 19, 2017
I love Sci-fi, so I have started a series, beginning with Scion of Conquered Earth. The main character has amnesia, but battles on to save those he had to leave behind. The book gives us a glimpse of life in the event we were to be conquered by aliens. It also let's us fantasize about life in outer space after that. Yes, it has war adventure, fantasy, and all. It also has just a dab of romance. That is great to open up that audience. I am not a normal woman, I love Halo and Battlefield Earth. Other women may find this more open to them with the added relationship factors. Do not think you will be disappointed men, or teens. There is plenty there for you, and not overly sappy. I like the way the book allows you to see how there will be dangers and positives for us. I was kept on edge throughout, wanting to know what will happen next to him as he fights his inner demons, and battles for all. I cannot wait to start the next book in the series.
February 21, 2018
This book will shock you in the first ten pages, and probably horrify you in the first few chapters. It does not shy away from darker and disturbing themes! The entire read from start to finish is stressful at times, but highly entertaining throughout. It’s not a light read, nor does it have many calm moments to break up the knuckle biting. Some scenes reminded me of some of the more twisted parts of the Hunger Games, in that “woah, now that was creepy,” kind of way. If that sort of novel is your cup of tea, you’re going to absolutely love this sci fi adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s unique style of writing, and found it very hard to put down. However, I did find the ending to be lacking. It feels more like the entire novel is a setup for the rest of the series, which is fantastic, but also leaves you wanting... more from the book. I think I’ll have to move on to the next book now.
June 27, 2018
Scion of Conquered Earth is a young adult science fiction novel, it's the first book in the Scion series. I usually like science fiction, but this book was just really, really boring. It starts of with the main character, a teen with amnesia, running away from... cannibalistic aerobics instructors. And it only goes downhill from there. The characters are flat and two-dimensional. There's no character development at all, no growth. The main character is whiny and immature, which is a hell of an accomplishment for someone who is supposed to be fending for himself in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where everyone and everything wants to kill him. Most people would grow up at least a little in those circumstances, but the main character manages to remain a petulant child throughout the book. The story drags on slowly and never successfully draws readers in. Hopefully, the story picks up in the next book.
May 30, 2020
*I received a free ebook copy, and I am writing this fair, unbiased review without anybody behind me. I'll do my best not to tell any spoilers.
I've never read works of Michael J. Allen before, but I'm now proud to say that I'm finally getting myself into his craft. Try to open this book of his, and you'll be pulled into the world of a dystopian space opera.
There were too many noticeable grammatical errors which definitely have to be corrected, yet the story gave me an engaging read.
This book was lucid and compelling. I love how the characters were created dynamically; they performed well. The scenes were pretty intense. It got me shivering in fear then clapping in bliss. There were bloody scenes and gore which made me think twice about it's target audience. Still, it's worth the read. And hopefully, the next ones will be worth it too.
A fairly solid story with a fine, sharp edge.
I've never read works of Michael J. Allen before, but I'm now proud to say that I'm finally getting myself into his craft. Try to open this book of his, and you'll be pulled into the world of a dystopian space opera.
There were too many noticeable grammatical errors which definitely have to be corrected, yet the story gave me an engaging read.
This book was lucid and compelling. I love how the characters were created dynamically; they performed well. The scenes were pretty intense. It got me shivering in fear then clapping in bliss. There were bloody scenes and gore which made me think twice about it's target audience. Still, it's worth the read. And hopefully, the next ones will be worth it too.
A fairly solid story with a fine, sharp edge.
May 5, 2019
Well Michael did it again I open the pages of this book started reading and the next thing I knew it was done and it was three hours later. My goodness I was so enthralled I don’t think I got up to do anything. The writing was wonderful the characters were exciting And it wasn’t something in any form I’ve read before. So I was caught and ready to go. It was kind of gross sometimes kind wonderful and highly entertaining. I recommend this to all fantasy and sci/fi lovers. And if your not read it anyways you won’t be disappointed. A simple synopsis of it is the world has been captured by aliens. Who have turned some human into cannibalize and other humans who get off on being mean and cruel. While the others just want to hide and survive throw them all together and you got this wonderful book. I’m not telling you more.
October 10, 2020
Exciting and thought provoking space opera!
This was a very interesting read, at times a tad complex and bizarre with random aspects thrown into the story at one point, however, once things began to quickly come back together again, I was right back on a wild ride and didn't want to stop reading!! =0 Glad I recovered from the slight confusion lol... I can honestly say staying action packed and keeping the reading engaging has been consistent with from this author!! I have read a couple others titles by him now and I find myself pulled into the action straight from the beginning which I've come to love!
I really enjoyed how he had the main character interacting with the aliens, haha sound minds can easily appreciate this aspect! Lol and I reaaaaaally got into it when it began to have the space opera feel!!! Yes yes and yes! Must read. 4.5/5
This was a very interesting read, at times a tad complex and bizarre with random aspects thrown into the story at one point, however, once things began to quickly come back together again, I was right back on a wild ride and didn't want to stop reading!! =0 Glad I recovered from the slight confusion lol... I can honestly say staying action packed and keeping the reading engaging has been consistent with from this author!! I have read a couple others titles by him now and I find myself pulled into the action straight from the beginning which I've come to love!
I really enjoyed how he had the main character interacting with the aliens, haha sound minds can easily appreciate this aspect! Lol and I reaaaaaally got into it when it began to have the space opera feel!!! Yes yes and yes! Must read. 4.5/5
January 6, 2018
Scion of Conquered Earth starts out on dystopian Earth and morphs into a space opera. Some of the plot is pretty gag inducing but it's not out of line with the scenes. I was relieved to get past those parts but the character has a few flashbacks which would be realistic if a person had lived through such trauma. The main character is a teen boy with a severe white knight complex. I'm looking forward to the next book and I'm rooting for him to finally save a woman...any woman.
The book has a good pace and kept my attention, the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is there are a couple of spelling errors that totally change the meaning of what the author meant to say. It should be so easy to fix on an e-book, I just can't understand why they haven't been corrected.
The book has a good pace and kept my attention, the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is there are a couple of spelling errors that totally change the meaning of what the author meant to say. It should be so easy to fix on an e-book, I just can't understand why they haven't been corrected.
June 4, 2018
Scion of Conquered Earth by Michael J. Allen wow where do I start at. Yes, it's war journey, fantasy, and all. It additionally has simply a dab of romance. that's nice to open up that audience. i'm not a traditional lady, i really like Halo and battleground Earth. different girls might realize this a lot of receptive them with the supplemental relationship factors. don't suppose you may be discomfited men, or teens. there's masses there for you, and not too sappy. i favor the method the book permits you to envision however there'll be dangers and positives for North American country. i used to be unbroken jumpy throughout, desperate to grasp what's going to happen next to him as he fights his inner demons, and battles for all. I cannot wait to begin following book within the series.
May 15, 2020
This was a great story and it reminded me of a mix of Ender's Game and Firefly which was wonderful! I really loved those two shows. This author did one step further and tossed in of all things zombies and more! I loved it. It did have a few issues but nothing too bad. If your a fandom geek then check this series put it has it all wrapped up in a very nice package. I didn't really care for the cover of this one though. I think that could have been a lot better. Covers are what makes us read books to start and this one just didn't do it for me. The story was well paced and the characters were well formed and worked well. The story and plot were engaging and I cant wait to dive into book two.
May 15, 2017
I have read other books by this author and this one was so different in feel and that makes me so happy. I love how dark and gritty the tory is because many authors worry about that chasing readers away. The main character is elatable and the secondary characters are a good counterbalance with their own spark of humanity which is ,is sing from the rest of the world. The story keeps koving , but not so quickly that you cannot follow what is going on. The back story is slowly revealed which is perfect with Alaric's missing memories. Go check this out if you want a dark story about the dark side of humanity.
Full disclosure, I received this for free in exchange for my honest review.
Full disclosure, I received this for free in exchange for my honest review.
August 14, 2018
Dark, action-packed, and a touch of humor in this first book of a series. I like how the main character is believable- young, hard headed, impulsive, and compassionate. He is a teen who like most falls easily for the opposite sex, wants to do the right thing, and is trying to come of age in a violent, slave trading fringe of the universe. He doesn't know his own name and can't remember where the voice in his head comes from, but after escaping a horrible fate decides he must go back for a friend. With his only real friends being a dog and a sarcastic AI of a ship, he slowly begins to learn the harsh laws of the universe the hard way. Can't wait to get into the second book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews