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Ixan Legacy #2
Pride of the Fleet
The Galaxy's Never Had It Darker
Armed with new tech that could revolutionize space combat, Captain Husher must now try to convince the Interstellar Union to implement it in time to defend against the godlike Progenitors.
When a new alien ally shows up in the galaxy, it’s a mixed blessing. Their military might could prove a boon to the war effort, but what secrets lurk in their past, and how might they shape galactic society for centuries to come?
It's a lot for one supercarrier captain to contend with, especially when tensions are escalating aboard the IGS Vesta herself.
Husher can only stand on his well-worn principles:
Do right by his crew.
Do right by the galaxy, even when the galaxy fights him every step of the way.
If death comes anyway, make it an honorable one, and make it count.
Armed with new tech that could revolutionize space combat, Captain Husher must now try to convince the Interstellar Union to implement it in time to defend against the godlike Progenitors.
When a new alien ally shows up in the galaxy, it’s a mixed blessing. Their military might could prove a boon to the war effort, but what secrets lurk in their past, and how might they shape galactic society for centuries to come?
It's a lot for one supercarrier captain to contend with, especially when tensions are escalating aboard the IGS Vesta herself.
Husher can only stand on his well-worn principles:
Do right by his crew.
Do right by the galaxy, even when the galaxy fights him every step of the way.
If death comes anyway, make it an honorable one, and make it count.
377 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 20, 2018
196 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Scott Bartlett
115 books305 followersScott Bartlett writes his books from inside a mech, which is inside the hangar bay of a light armored cruiser stationed just past Jupiter.
Certain parts of the last sentence may not be completely true.
Here are some more believable statements:
Scott was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland – the easternmost province of Canada.
During his decade-long journey to become a full-time author, he supported himself by working an assortment of jobs…
...salmon hatchery technician, grocery clerk, youth care worker, ghostwriter, research assistant, pita maker, and freelance editor.
In 2014, he succeeded in becoming a full-time novelist, and he’s been writing science fiction at light speed ever since.
Get 3 FREE military space opera ebooks:
https://www.scottplots.com
Certain parts of the last sentence may not be completely true.
Here are some more believable statements:
Scott was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland – the easternmost province of Canada.
During his decade-long journey to become a full-time author, he supported himself by working an assortment of jobs…
...salmon hatchery technician, grocery clerk, youth care worker, ghostwriter, research assistant, pita maker, and freelance editor.
In 2014, he succeeded in becoming a full-time novelist, and he’s been writing science fiction at light speed ever since.
Get 3 FREE military space opera ebooks:
https://www.scottplots.com
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 18, 2018
I quite reading this book only 3 chapters in.
1)Same old, nothing new. If you read Bartlett's last book you can predict what happens in this one.
2)He is forcing his politics on to the reader. Talk of "those liberals". Felt like I was watching Fox news. The right wing arguments made as much sense as stuff you see on Fox
I like being entertained not force fed ridiculous political dribble
1)Same old, nothing new. If you read Bartlett's last book you can predict what happens in this one.
2)He is forcing his politics on to the reader. Talk of "those liberals". Felt like I was watching Fox news. The right wing arguments made as much sense as stuff you see on Fox
I like being entertained not force fed ridiculous political dribble
November 30, 2025
Kinda "Meh" to me - Bartlett skips over an incredible amount of world building and just dumps it on the reader to accept totally new factions, character history, etc. It made me feel like I needed to read a couple support stories to really know what was going on. He's created some very interesting bones to the story but it feels somehow less than the sum of the parts.
The pacing also seems very strange. Breakneck moments where it seems the galaxy balanced on a knife's edge, followed by a month just chilling in dry-dock without any anexity or consequences. I could see an argument that it was trying to mimic the hurry-up-and-wait of war but it didn't feel that intentional.
The social/political commentary is still very heavy. This is a book written straight out of the 2019 headlines. While I agree with most of the points I think the author is trying to make, the overt similarities to modern day US issues makes this a slog to read. If I'm fed up with hearing these ideas in my own society, I sure don't want to deal with them all over again just for fun in fiction!
The pacing also seems very strange. Breakneck moments where it seems the galaxy balanced on a knife's edge, followed by a month just chilling in dry-dock without any anexity or consequences. I could see an argument that it was trying to mimic the hurry-up-and-wait of war but it didn't feel that intentional.
The social/political commentary is still very heavy. This is a book written straight out of the 2019 headlines. While I agree with most of the points I think the author is trying to make, the overt similarities to modern day US issues makes this a slog to read. If I'm fed up with hearing these ideas in my own society, I sure don't want to deal with them all over again just for fun in fiction!
February 27, 2018
Pride of the Fleet is the second book in the Ixan Legacy series. If you are looking for a well written SciFi Military series, this is a good one to read. You can read this as a standalone book but it does start where the previous book ended and ends in a cliffhanger for the next book to be written in the series. There is a lot of violence. This is a military thriller after all.
The book blurb adequately describes the book so I am not going to repeat that information here. The author has done a good job of keeping elements of his original Ixan Prophecy future universe that was full of aliens, old tech and new tech, people in power who will do anything too continue to remain in power. Then combine that with these enemies of old as well as new problems to deal with. As usual, everything and everyone are not as they seem. Please be warned that there are political themes in this book. It’s probably not a good idea for you to read this if you are someone who requires a safe zone. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and want to read more.
The book blurb adequately describes the book so I am not going to repeat that information here. The author has done a good job of keeping elements of his original Ixan Prophecy future universe that was full of aliens, old tech and new tech, people in power who will do anything too continue to remain in power. Then combine that with these enemies of old as well as new problems to deal with. As usual, everything and everyone are not as they seem. Please be warned that there are political themes in this book. It’s probably not a good idea for you to read this if you are someone who requires a safe zone. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and want to read more.
October 24, 2025
Wow, what a mess. Talk about a society out of control. You can give me that "this book is way too pro-American merit crap" all day long, but I sure do like what Husher says about it. The whole book is full of this political stuff and while I can appreciate it, I think the balance of that to cool battle scenes was tipped a little more than I liked.
That said, it was still good and bringing the Mechs back in was a nice touch. Jake is such a young Husher and seeing Husher realise that was kind of sweet.
I have to say, I liked this book more than the first, but overall it's frustrating. Seeing a gifted captain having to be at the mercy of politicians and their ideas was irritating.
Mark Boyett, as usual, was fabulous.
That said, it was still good and bringing the Mechs back in was a nice touch. Jake is such a young Husher and seeing Husher realise that was kind of sweet.
I have to say, I liked this book more than the first, but overall it's frustrating. Seeing a gifted captain having to be at the mercy of politicians and their ideas was irritating.
Mark Boyett, as usual, was fabulous.
March 30, 2018
The concept of Pride is an interesting one, it can be one of the Seven Deadly Sins, but you can also take Pride in your work, meaning that you try to work harder to be the best person you can be, and work as hard as you can to achieve the goals you have laid out in front of you. But what about in a Galaxy in which your species is viewed as being a toxic, overbearing creature that has too much power and tries to use it in all the wrong ways, a Galaxy that is heading for its 2nd Major conflict with a Genocidal Alien Species, hell bent on destroying all life in the universe regardless of who they are. For one Man, who is trying desperately to get others to understand that their views are actually causing the rifts that they want to correct, and creating violent splinter groups, he is also faced with the fact that he seems to be the only one that can see that the Ixan are not everyone’s friend, they are here to destroy and kill again.
Husher starts this book having to answer for trying to stop Teth at the end of the last book, and although we (the readers, hopefully), can see that he is right in fighting the Ixan, and that the actions of the activists against humanity are only causing more violence and splinter groups (such as the Sapient Brotherhood(.
This book is set in the future, but highlights so many of the issues we seem to face in today’s society, with people standing up for an issue, but doing it in such a belligerent manner so as to cause a negative response to their cause.
This book is fascinating as it unfolds, with ‘Pride’ taking the forefront time and again, mostly in a sinful way, as people’s own Pride stands in the way of their better judgement, and in several instances, Humans start fighting Humans. Husher spends half the book lamenting that Teth told him that he wouldn’t have to fight, that Husher would win the war for him, and it is only in this second book that Husher truly begins to understand how right the Ixan was.
However, Husher is never one to give up, and as a result, he continues on, resulting in an incredibly interesting insight into both the Political situation that is taking place in Union, but also the Social situation, as all of the different Alien species (excluding the Ixan), try to collaborate and cooperate, working towards the future.
Bartlett has taken the conundrums that face the current world political arena, turned countries into alien races and flung them into space, and then given them a real threat, letting us look at what we are looking at today on the world stage, but on a galactic scale – and the results are both intriguing and terrifying.
One of the other really interesting aspects of this book is the integration of the Mech series into this Universe, bringing the Oneri team into play with Jake Price and his team of Mechs, as well as their ultimate nemesis Roach.
This adds a whole new line of plot intrigue and has allowed Bartlett to finish off the Steele system plot lines, as well as introduce some new ones into the fold, continuing it in this galaxy. We learn that the Progenitors are everywhere, and this adds another fascinating element to the story.
Of course, one of the really exceptional parts of these books is the amazing ship to ship combat, and the stunning descriptions of the space battles, especially now with the Capital Starships and the incredible power that they bring to bear. Bartlett has also introduced some new elements to the game in this book, making the fighters a little more interesting.
Overall, this is not only a fascinating and intriguing read from a political and social stand point, it is a great read from a Military Sci-Fi point of view. There is something for everyone in this book, with some outstanding Tech in it as well, and as usual, some exceptional character work.
If you have been following the series, you have to read this, or go pick up book one and get into it!!
Husher starts this book having to answer for trying to stop Teth at the end of the last book, and although we (the readers, hopefully), can see that he is right in fighting the Ixan, and that the actions of the activists against humanity are only causing more violence and splinter groups (such as the Sapient Brotherhood(.
This book is set in the future, but highlights so many of the issues we seem to face in today’s society, with people standing up for an issue, but doing it in such a belligerent manner so as to cause a negative response to their cause.
This book is fascinating as it unfolds, with ‘Pride’ taking the forefront time and again, mostly in a sinful way, as people’s own Pride stands in the way of their better judgement, and in several instances, Humans start fighting Humans. Husher spends half the book lamenting that Teth told him that he wouldn’t have to fight, that Husher would win the war for him, and it is only in this second book that Husher truly begins to understand how right the Ixan was.
However, Husher is never one to give up, and as a result, he continues on, resulting in an incredibly interesting insight into both the Political situation that is taking place in Union, but also the Social situation, as all of the different Alien species (excluding the Ixan), try to collaborate and cooperate, working towards the future.
Bartlett has taken the conundrums that face the current world political arena, turned countries into alien races and flung them into space, and then given them a real threat, letting us look at what we are looking at today on the world stage, but on a galactic scale – and the results are both intriguing and terrifying.
One of the other really interesting aspects of this book is the integration of the Mech series into this Universe, bringing the Oneri team into play with Jake Price and his team of Mechs, as well as their ultimate nemesis Roach.
This adds a whole new line of plot intrigue and has allowed Bartlett to finish off the Steele system plot lines, as well as introduce some new ones into the fold, continuing it in this galaxy. We learn that the Progenitors are everywhere, and this adds another fascinating element to the story.
Of course, one of the really exceptional parts of these books is the amazing ship to ship combat, and the stunning descriptions of the space battles, especially now with the Capital Starships and the incredible power that they bring to bear. Bartlett has also introduced some new elements to the game in this book, making the fighters a little more interesting.
Overall, this is not only a fascinating and intriguing read from a political and social stand point, it is a great read from a Military Sci-Fi point of view. There is something for everyone in this book, with some outstanding Tech in it as well, and as usual, some exceptional character work.
If you have been following the series, you have to read this, or go pick up book one and get into it!!
November 25, 2023
Pride of the Fleet has in context a two fold meaning. The first would refer to the Vesta being the foremost of the fleet of capital starships, mostly because of the military genius of Vin Husher, it's captain.
The second meaning has to do with what you would regard as a true value in life to pursue and be proud of to associate with.
Which is what vex the militant amongst the non military on board the Vesta immensely.
Two extreme factions are vieing for popularity of the masses. There are those that think aliens are not appreciated and accommodated sufficiently.
Then there the faction that think humanity has a proven record of success and should rule at all times.
And both factions would have Vin Husher endorse their view points fanatically.
But Vin Husher recognises neither, instead focusing on the true threat to freedom in the rising danger of the Progenitors against all races in the Milky Way.
War is imminent. How to deal with it?
Pride of the Fleet is strangely topical even today. Perhaps why it so immerses the reader in the war that may very well end humanity with little effort by the enemy, as held by Teth the Ixan.
Yet, action there is certainly a lot of, enough to satisfy every action fanatic.
Enjoy.
The second meaning has to do with what you would regard as a true value in life to pursue and be proud of to associate with.
Which is what vex the militant amongst the non military on board the Vesta immensely.
Two extreme factions are vieing for popularity of the masses. There are those that think aliens are not appreciated and accommodated sufficiently.
Then there the faction that think humanity has a proven record of success and should rule at all times.
And both factions would have Vin Husher endorse their view points fanatically.
But Vin Husher recognises neither, instead focusing on the true threat to freedom in the rising danger of the Progenitors against all races in the Milky Way.
War is imminent. How to deal with it?
Pride of the Fleet is strangely topical even today. Perhaps why it so immerses the reader in the war that may very well end humanity with little effort by the enemy, as held by Teth the Ixan.
Yet, action there is certainly a lot of, enough to satisfy every action fanatic.
Enjoy.
February 23, 2018
“Pride of the Fleet” is Bartlett’s second entry in his “Ixan Legacy” series. Bartlett has proven to be a master of military SF. “Pride” does not disappoint!
It is a dark time for the Interstellar Union. Husher has been preparing for this war for decades, but the IU has become complacent. The Ixan/Progenitor alliance brings new technology for the unprepared IU to contend against. Husher must use every tool at his disposal to move the reluctant IU towards the war-footing needed to take on this specter of the past. Thanks to Husher and the integration of Oneiri into Husher’s crew, the IU is receiving new technology as well, but is it a case of too little too late?
Bartlett deftly interweaves political intrigue and betrayal into his latest work. “Pride” serves as a dark mirror where reflections of our own political issues are reflected back to the reader. Bartlett leaves a host of questions to be answered about the direction of the war and the fate of both the Interstellar Union and its allies.
With a jaw dropping cliffhanger, Bartlett left this reviewer wanting more!
Note: This reviewer received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It is a dark time for the Interstellar Union. Husher has been preparing for this war for decades, but the IU has become complacent. The Ixan/Progenitor alliance brings new technology for the unprepared IU to contend against. Husher must use every tool at his disposal to move the reluctant IU towards the war-footing needed to take on this specter of the past. Thanks to Husher and the integration of Oneiri into Husher’s crew, the IU is receiving new technology as well, but is it a case of too little too late?
Bartlett deftly interweaves political intrigue and betrayal into his latest work. “Pride” serves as a dark mirror where reflections of our own political issues are reflected back to the reader. Bartlett leaves a host of questions to be answered about the direction of the war and the fate of both the Interstellar Union and its allies.
With a jaw dropping cliffhanger, Bartlett left this reviewer wanting more!
Note: This reviewer received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2018
The author graciously sent me an ARC...
Captain Vin Husher of the Starship VESTA is back in action with book 2 of the Ixan Legacy. Pride of the Fleet throws the reader right back into the fray. With his best friend Fesky by his side, more forces of the enemy have arrived to battle. Add to this the yet another batch of allegations to Husher. He patiently explains his position to the council but they're having none of it. Husher needs to placate them, but somehow, as always, Husher has his own agenda. And again as always, his plan is the one he, his crew, and civilians follow. Book 2 also brings in the ONEIRI crew, led by Jake Price. The way Bartlett meshes Jake's crew (and attitude) with Husher and the VESTA is brilliant. Husher and Price butt heads, but they both know they need to come together for the greater good.
The book has twists and turns along the way, but the cliff hanger ending here will blow you away!
Bartlett is the master!
Captain Vin Husher of the Starship VESTA is back in action with book 2 of the Ixan Legacy. Pride of the Fleet throws the reader right back into the fray. With his best friend Fesky by his side, more forces of the enemy have arrived to battle. Add to this the yet another batch of allegations to Husher. He patiently explains his position to the council but they're having none of it. Husher needs to placate them, but somehow, as always, Husher has his own agenda. And again as always, his plan is the one he, his crew, and civilians follow. Book 2 also brings in the ONEIRI crew, led by Jake Price. The way Bartlett meshes Jake's crew (and attitude) with Husher and the VESTA is brilliant. Husher and Price butt heads, but they both know they need to come together for the greater good.
The book has twists and turns along the way, but the cliff hanger ending here will blow you away!
Bartlett is the master!
July 1, 2018
Only a poet could write my feelings about those awesome series’s that Scott Boyett have written, I don’t believe that I’ll ever find such a great imagination ever again!
The truth is that only one review needed to be written and then copy/paste it to every one of his books because they are all perfection !
Coupled with the narrator Mark Boyett no less then an audiobooks masterpiece series’s where created.
Like I said if I only was a poet I probably could a written the perfect review ever but I’m not so trust me those books are impossible to put down, it’s just impossible not to fall in love with all the books in that beautiful universe that he created and all the surprises and twists in each of those books.
Full heartedly, sure that all will agree with me,
ABSOLUTELY RECOMMENDED !!!
The truth is that only one review needed to be written and then copy/paste it to every one of his books because they are all perfection !
Coupled with the narrator Mark Boyett no less then an audiobooks masterpiece series’s where created.
Like I said if I only was a poet I probably could a written the perfect review ever but I’m not so trust me those books are impossible to put down, it’s just impossible not to fall in love with all the books in that beautiful universe that he created and all the surprises and twists in each of those books.
Full heartedly, sure that all will agree with me,
ABSOLUTELY RECOMMENDED !!!
August 1, 2020
Audio, narrated by Mark Boyett
As a sequel, this book jumps right into the action where book one (Capital Fleet) left off. There's more focus on Jake, someone I vaguely being mentioned by the BBEG in a previous book. While I have nothing against him, the only reason he seemed to have been included was to provided a POV for the action in the battles. His presence isn't otherwise necessary or explained.
That said, it was a fun read. Lots of action and political intrigue, with a build up toward what I'm assuming will be the final showdown/big reveal in the next and final installment. Narrator is great.
As a sequel, this book jumps right into the action where book one (Capital Fleet) left off. There's more focus on Jake, someone I vaguely being mentioned by the BBEG in a previous book. While I have nothing against him, the only reason he seemed to have been included was to provided a POV for the action in the battles. His presence isn't otherwise necessary or explained.
That said, it was a fun read. Lots of action and political intrigue, with a build up toward what I'm assuming will be the final showdown/big reveal in the next and final installment. Narrator is great.
April 17, 2019
An SB. SYFY. Novel (ILB. - 2)/Help From Another Source/Can We Trust Them
SB. has penned the second novel of the Ian. Legacy., Which shows more than one source in the Milky Way Constellation is ready to join forces with the Earth Forces. The leader of the Earth Forces is glad to receive any help, but the military leader wonders if the new arrivals can be trusted. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
SB. has penned the second novel of the Ian. Legacy., Which shows more than one source in the Milky Way Constellation is ready to join forces with the Earth Forces. The leader of the Earth Forces is glad to receive any help, but the military leader wonders if the new arrivals can be trusted. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
April 23, 2020
Ixan Legacy Book 2 Pride of the Fleet
As Gusher continues to fight the Progenitor fleet and Teth. He must face the IU fall into tyranny. Gusher working with Ochrim has been able to develop inter-dimensional space travel. Gusher puts Fesky in charge of the ship and she discovers the Prigenitor's homework with another Gusher. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next book.
As Gusher continues to fight the Progenitor fleet and Teth. He must face the IU fall into tyranny. Gusher working with Ochrim has been able to develop inter-dimensional space travel. Gusher puts Fesky in charge of the ship and she discovers the Prigenitor's homework with another Gusher. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next book.
February 24, 2018
Captain Husher returns in pride of the fleet, what a journey we have been on to get here. Strong complex characters and fast paced plot with plenty of action, with the final pages bringing an unexpected twist. Really enjoyed read the follow up book to Capital Starship.
July 25, 2018
Good read enjoyed the can’t wait to get my teeth in to the next one.
Really enjoyed this one now for the next one. Would definitely recommend this book. One pick up the story just ends with no real end like one book has been made in to two and they’ve just cut book in middle.
Really enjoyed this one now for the next one. Would definitely recommend this book. One pick up the story just ends with no real end like one book has been made in to two and they’ve just cut book in middle.
January 23, 2020
Another Great Storyline
Well Hushed keeps saving the day lol just as the bosses seem to be about to take him down pmsl.. Totally enjoying this series one more book to go then need to wait for the follow up in Fleet Ops.. Well done Scott Bartlett
Well Hushed keeps saving the day lol just as the bosses seem to be about to take him down pmsl.. Totally enjoying this series one more book to go then need to wait for the follow up in Fleet Ops.. Well done Scott Bartlett
February 28, 2018
Amazing read
Just as action packed and character driven as always. The new characters fit in extremely well and the ending, just wow. Can't wait for the next one.
Just as action packed and character driven as always. The new characters fit in extremely well and the ending, just wow. Can't wait for the next one.
March 16, 2019
Outstanding book.
I would be among the first in line of a movie ever came of this book. Not much of a movie over but this one would bring me.
I would be among the first in line of a movie ever came of this book. Not much of a movie over but this one would bring me.
July 3, 2019
Still enjoying the book, still slow going
March 6, 2020
I'm biased towards science fiction
I'm to biased to offer a valid summary and review.I can say that I am left unsatisfied until I complete this series.
I'm to biased to offer a valid summary and review.I can say that I am left unsatisfied until I complete this series.
Read
November 4, 2021Hushed what else
Excellent story as good as the Supercarrier story lot of action with many false leads twists and turns carried on to the end with a surprise ending
Excellent story as good as the Supercarrier story lot of action with many false leads twists and turns carried on to the end with a surprise ending
January 12, 2022
Highly recommend - A real page turner.
August 17, 2022
Great installment plenty of action and surprises along the way. Straight onto the next in the series
April 22, 2023
Captain Vin Husher continues to oppose the enemies who populated Capital Starship. Great characters and superior world-building. Scott Bartlett is as good as Rick Partlow at his best.
January 14, 2021
Pride of the Fleet is the second book in the Ixan Legacy trilogy, the military scifi series written by Scott Barlett. The Interstellar Union is pressed by their new enemy, but they are holding on. A new alien species make their entry, and they quickly ally with the union, lending them more firepower, but they themselves also have their own agenda. Unfortunately, the enemys capability of shifting in and out of our universe still proves hard to fight, and Captain Husher is doing his best to figure out how to fight this new way of warfare, and figure out a way to destroy the progenitor threat once and for all.
The writing style and audiobook narration by Mark Boyett is unchanged, and still very positive. This book has more action compared to the previous entry, and is more akin to the first trilogy, Ixan Prophecies, and dials down the politics a bit. That being said, the politics now moves up to a different level, which suited the story very well. Husher now has his ship firmly under his command, mostly, and now his problems are on the galactic scale, and this was nicely done and very exciting to listen to. He now has problems with a pro-Sapian (Humans!) uprising, that are very fascist in their beliefs and actions, and while this wasn’t the most exciting part of the book, it was blending in very nicely since it was playing on themes introduced in the first novel.
The middle part of the book was clearly the weakest IMHO, in part of the fascist uprising, but also because the book introduced a secondary plotline, a new enemy, and new characters, all from Scott Barletts Mech Wars series (I assume). If you’ve read those books, you probably new exactly what was going on, but for one like me, it was a bit uninteresting. I didn’t know the characters, and this new enemy, and both were lacking quite a bit in depth, simply because I was missing their introductions and backgrounds. The author did a very good job intermingling them with this trilogy, but for new readers I recommend reading the Mech Wars series before reading this one, to get everything out of it. It was VERY clear a lot has happened that I didn’t know about, and while I had an easy time following everything, it just presented way too many questions, especially with regards to the new superpowered enemy which, fortunately wasn’t mentioned very much.
My second complaint is that our main enemy in the series, Thot, is really very uninteresting this time around. He’s evil for the sake of being evil. Fortunately he is not the main focus for most of the book.
The book ends with a giant cliffhanger, so if you read this one, you’ll automatically want to read the next one too. :P
Again, did you like the previous entries in the series, you will also enjoy this one. I will say though, that despite not having listened to the Mech Wars series, I do recommend that one read/listen to those first, as you will get most out of the story. It can be listened to independently though, and still be enjoyed.
I received this audiobook for free in return for a review. I have no affiliation with the author, the narrator, the publisher, or their pets (Although I am sure the latter are quite nice!).
The writing style and audiobook narration by Mark Boyett is unchanged, and still very positive. This book has more action compared to the previous entry, and is more akin to the first trilogy, Ixan Prophecies, and dials down the politics a bit. That being said, the politics now moves up to a different level, which suited the story very well. Husher now has his ship firmly under his command, mostly, and now his problems are on the galactic scale, and this was nicely done and very exciting to listen to. He now has problems with a pro-Sapian (Humans!) uprising, that are very fascist in their beliefs and actions, and while this wasn’t the most exciting part of the book, it was blending in very nicely since it was playing on themes introduced in the first novel.
The middle part of the book was clearly the weakest IMHO, in part of the fascist uprising, but also because the book introduced a secondary plotline, a new enemy, and new characters, all from Scott Barletts Mech Wars series (I assume). If you’ve read those books, you probably new exactly what was going on, but for one like me, it was a bit uninteresting. I didn’t know the characters, and this new enemy, and both were lacking quite a bit in depth, simply because I was missing their introductions and backgrounds. The author did a very good job intermingling them with this trilogy, but for new readers I recommend reading the Mech Wars series before reading this one, to get everything out of it. It was VERY clear a lot has happened that I didn’t know about, and while I had an easy time following everything, it just presented way too many questions, especially with regards to the new superpowered enemy which, fortunately wasn’t mentioned very much.
My second complaint is that our main enemy in the series, Thot, is really very uninteresting this time around. He’s evil for the sake of being evil. Fortunately he is not the main focus for most of the book.
The book ends with a giant cliffhanger, so if you read this one, you’ll automatically want to read the next one too. :P
Again, did you like the previous entries in the series, you will also enjoy this one. I will say though, that despite not having listened to the Mech Wars series, I do recommend that one read/listen to those first, as you will get most out of the story. It can be listened to independently though, and still be enjoyed.
I received this audiobook for free in return for a review. I have no affiliation with the author, the narrator, the publisher, or their pets (Although I am sure the latter are quite nice!).
December 27, 2021
Good book
Very interesting. Took me awhile to catch on cause I read it out of order. Now to go back to the start
Very interesting. Took me awhile to catch on cause I read it out of order. Now to go back to the start
March 6, 2021
Scott Bartlett, you've done it to me again. I find your books to be so enthralling. The idea of all this advanced technology is amazing to even think about. Where does you mind go to come up with such things? I love how you describe what is happening with the war and don't sugar-coat things. And your surprise with Fesky was fantastic. I don't like saying too much about the plot - no spoilers here - but I just loved it all. Now I'll get started on Book 3 in this three book run. Can't wait to discover what is going to happen out in the far reaches of the galaxy.
August 17, 2025
A giant leap forward in the series with a fantastic cliffhanger to set up Book 3. As much as I liked the protest timelines in Book 1, their relative absence in this book made for a tauter, more dramatic story. Great battles, intrigue, and characters were the rule in this one. Really looking forward to Book 3, and now I absolutely have to go back and listen to the Mech Wars series to find out more about Jake Price and Gabe Roach.
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