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Warrior King
An apocalyptic war looms, and few believe it is a war that can be won. As Terran colonies evacuate, the mighty Laconians stand alone against the merciless Median Empire. They will never surrender, and their new King, Agesilaus, has a scheme that could transform the fortunes of all Terrans.
As leader of the most powerful of the Terran states, he plans the unthinkable. Inspired by the valour and adventures of the infamous Ten Thousand mercenaries, he launches a pre-emptive strike against the Empire. Agesilaus and his twin sister, the warrior princess Kyniska, will lead the attack, and they will not stop until their enemies are brought to their knees.
Little do they know that the God King and his trusted warlords are mustering powerful legions from deep inside the Empire. Soon thousands of Median foot soldiers, hordes of monstrous Taochi warriors, and even large numbers of deadly fighting machines from the Robotic Domains are preparing for war. As the Terrans launch their battle of liberation, the God King puts his own deadly plan into action.
The six-book Terran Wars series by Michael G. Thomas is a thrilling military science fiction series that retells the greatest stories of the ancient Greek world. Heroes like Xenophon, Agesilaus, Lysander and the warriors of Athens, Thebes, and Sparta clash with the unstoppable might of the Persian Empire in futuristic combat among the stars!
As leader of the most powerful of the Terran states, he plans the unthinkable. Inspired by the valour and adventures of the infamous Ten Thousand mercenaries, he launches a pre-emptive strike against the Empire. Agesilaus and his twin sister, the warrior princess Kyniska, will lead the attack, and they will not stop until their enemies are brought to their knees.
Little do they know that the God King and his trusted warlords are mustering powerful legions from deep inside the Empire. Soon thousands of Median foot soldiers, hordes of monstrous Taochi warriors, and even large numbers of deadly fighting machines from the Robotic Domains are preparing for war. As the Terrans launch their battle of liberation, the God King puts his own deadly plan into action.
The six-book Terran Wars series by Michael G. Thomas is a thrilling military science fiction series that retells the greatest stories of the ancient Greek world. Heroes like Xenophon, Agesilaus, Lysander and the warriors of Athens, Thebes, and Sparta clash with the unstoppable might of the Persian Empire in futuristic combat among the stars!
- GenresScience Fiction
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2018
55 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Michael G. Thomas
217 books130 followersMichael G. Thomas, is a writer, martial artist and military historian. He has written books on European martial arts and military history as well as Zombie Survival books and fiction. He is the co-founder of the prestigious Academy of Historical Fencing that teaches traditional armed and unarmed European martial arts. His specialist subject areas are teaching the use of the medieval two handed longsword and the German long knife in both the UK and other parts of Europe.
His academic background is as varied as his writing with degrees in Computing, Classical Studies and Machine Learning. In recent years he has undertaken substantial research in the fields of machine learning and artificial intelligence as well as Ancient Greek and Byzantine military history.
Michael is currently completing his Champions of the Apocalypse Series and Star Crusades science fiction series.
His academic background is as varied as his writing with degrees in Computing, Classical Studies and Machine Learning. In recent years he has undertaken substantial research in the fields of machine learning and artificial intelligence as well as Ancient Greek and Byzantine military history.
Michael is currently completing his Champions of the Apocalypse Series and Star Crusades science fiction series.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 27, 2018
Warrior King
Star Legions: The Terran Wars, Book 1
By: Michael G. Thomas
Narrated by: J. Scott Bennett
Great story! Well written and performed!
Overall 4 out of 5 stars Performance 5 out of 5 stars Story 4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed: 07-27-18
I really enjoyed this book and Scott Bennett’s narration just made the whole book for me. His character voices were varied and distinctive for each character. No way to mistake who was speaking or what they were saying. One or two voices might have been a little hokey, but that just made listening more fun.
I appreciate the author bringing this book to a definitive conclusion as it could have easily ended on a major cliffhanger. My personal opinion is that even books in a series should have definite conclusions in each book so that there is some sense of closure.
I can most definitely recommend this book, and I will be listening to more by this author and narrator!
August 3, 2018
An interesting first book in the series. It is flowing over with battles, both in space and on the ground; giving you a mix of sci-fi, Greek and Persian battle tactics and mythology. From spider like alien machines to Minotaur’s and futuristic space ships, this story has them all. It did take me a little time to get into the story and work out who was who in the beginning, but the unique voices the narrator used in the audiobook helped with this greatly. The character grew on you as the story progresses and you want them to survive the mess that had become their world. The political intrigue, relationships formed and the fast action battles kept you entertained and the well-chosen narrator made the book more enjoyable.
August 5, 2018
( Format : Audiobook )
"Something serious is happening."
War can be confusing for those involved. If writing about it, though, it rests with authors to bring clarity if they wish to hold their readers. As the book begins, battles are fought, soldiers slaughtered, betrayals occur and saviours intervene, ships crash down and missiles fall as many unfamiliar (and sometimes unpronounceable) names are constantly being presented - names of people, places, buildings, ships, beliefs, weapon types, warriors and different communities. It wasn't until chapter six that a vague pattern seemed to emerge and the namings became more intelligible.
War is coming. The merciless Median Empire is recruiting soldiers and warriors from inside the empire and machines from the Robotic domains. The Terrain Empire is under attack, with Agesilaus and his sister, Kynisca of the militaristic planet, Laconia, trying to raise an army with little help even from his own people. This is a mix of futuristic ships and weapons combined with Greek mythology and Spartan values, which almost works. The story plot itself was good, the world building quite sufficient with some fine visualisations of major centres and descriptions of ships and guns. But more attention should have been given to his people - it is difficult to feel empathy for the two dimensional characters as the main protagonists seem to slide flatly through their missions and ideals whilst some weapons seem far more empowered with life.
Even the excellent narration of J.Scott Bennett could not fully bring the characters alive for this reader despite giving distinctive voices to each one. His input did, however, make it possible to listen to the end. Just. A special mention must be made of his ability to effortlessly pronounce names (many, many names) both unfamiliar and slightly intimidating.
I usually enjoy the confrontation and battling between starships and colonies and all things science fiction, which is why I requested a copy of this book. And my thanks to the rights holder for freely gifting me a complimentary copy, via Audiobook Boom. But, although easy to comprehend after the initial confusion, for me the book never seemed to flow with energy or personality and I felt no allegiance to any of the protagonists. I simply did not care. Perhaps, had I been familiar with earlier books set within this universe, this might have been different.
"Something serious is happening."
War can be confusing for those involved. If writing about it, though, it rests with authors to bring clarity if they wish to hold their readers. As the book begins, battles are fought, soldiers slaughtered, betrayals occur and saviours intervene, ships crash down and missiles fall as many unfamiliar (and sometimes unpronounceable) names are constantly being presented - names of people, places, buildings, ships, beliefs, weapon types, warriors and different communities. It wasn't until chapter six that a vague pattern seemed to emerge and the namings became more intelligible.
War is coming. The merciless Median Empire is recruiting soldiers and warriors from inside the empire and machines from the Robotic domains. The Terrain Empire is under attack, with Agesilaus and his sister, Kynisca of the militaristic planet, Laconia, trying to raise an army with little help even from his own people. This is a mix of futuristic ships and weapons combined with Greek mythology and Spartan values, which almost works. The story plot itself was good, the world building quite sufficient with some fine visualisations of major centres and descriptions of ships and guns. But more attention should have been given to his people - it is difficult to feel empathy for the two dimensional characters as the main protagonists seem to slide flatly through their missions and ideals whilst some weapons seem far more empowered with life.
Even the excellent narration of J.Scott Bennett could not fully bring the characters alive for this reader despite giving distinctive voices to each one. His input did, however, make it possible to listen to the end. Just. A special mention must be made of his ability to effortlessly pronounce names (many, many names) both unfamiliar and slightly intimidating.
I usually enjoy the confrontation and battling between starships and colonies and all things science fiction, which is why I requested a copy of this book. And my thanks to the rights holder for freely gifting me a complimentary copy, via Audiobook Boom. But, although easy to comprehend after the initial confusion, for me the book never seemed to flow with energy or personality and I felt no allegiance to any of the protagonists. I simply did not care. Perhaps, had I been familiar with earlier books set within this universe, this might have been different.
July 22, 2018
Warrior King, the first book of the Star Legions: The Terran Wars series, is a stand alone continuation of the Ten Thousand series that has strategic space opera elements as well as bouts of ground based battles that utilize military tactics reminiscent of those of Ancient Greece. I came to think of Star Legions as an interesting projection of Ancient Greece and Persian cultures onto a galactic scale with technology that allows for futuristic laser weapons to be countered by futuristic armor, spears, swords and shields like before the age of gunpowder warfare. This added a lot to the various battles in terms of the importance of tactics used and how battles unfolded. Overall, it's a unique take on possible galactic cultures with interesting battles but it could have done with more character development to get the reader invested more in the primary characters.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
August 31, 2018
“Warrior King” is the first book in the new “Star Legions: The Terran Wars” series written by Michael G. Thomas; available now in audiobook format. This author currently has over thirty books available on Audible (at the time of this review) and most fall into the science fiction genre. The audiobook edition is performed by J. Scott Bennett who is a well-known narrator with nearly 150 audiobook performances covering almost every possible genre imaginable. If I were to take one life lesson away from what I learned in this book, it would be the quote that says, “Be where your enemy is not.”; lightly attributed to quotes from the “Art of War” book by Sun Tzu. If you like your science fictions stores rather large, complex, and expansive, you may want to give this series a try. There are some things that set this book apart from your run of the mill science fiction tale, yet I’m not sure I will be recommending the series to others due to some of the things mentioned below.
The book had so much potential with such a grand premise along with its ability to blend both old and new. There were ships, futuristic weapons, and swords all being used alongside one another throughout the story. We were shown ship-to-ship battles along with some sizable ground-based assaults, and many of these were done well. I thought the blending of mythology and future was a great concept and I wanted more of it in this book. It felt like bits and pieces of Star Wars because of its vast and open worlds, good vs. evil story, and the various factions battling for the win. For me though, the story was too disjointed, meandering, and inconsistent from similar books I have listened too. I wanted to enjoy the book but instead found myself focusing elsewhere and it is easy to get lost if you do not rewind and pick up where you last remembered. I had to do this a few times while listening and I do not recall other book where I needed to rewind the material to pick the story back up.
I did not feel the characters were passionate about their roles and tasks; overall. There were times they were focused but only to get distracted and go in a different direction. They all seemed to operate at the same pace and urgency, at times it was hard to tell characters apart from one another. I wanted more depth and backstory on the main characters and their various people groups. I wanted to truly understand their desires and struggles, which I just did not get a feel for. Give me, the listener, a reason to care or have feelings for the book’s characters. The world and scenes were painted with vivid detail and color, but the characters themselves felt flat and uninteresting. I wanted to care for one side or the other, yet neither were interesting enough to expend such energy upon. I wanted more of the science fiction elements such as the Great Expanse, more technology, and more character development making the book more fun and interesting to listen too.
The audiobook’s narration was done well by J. Scott Bennett. Although the characters were not multi-dimensional the voicing of them was good. Mr. Bennett was able to add inflection and some subtle sound effects making the book feel grander and fuller. There were times the performance seemed a bit flat or monotone, yet this could have been due to the material he was given. The overall audio quality and performance was decent and above average based on other books I have listened too. I have a few of his other works and I enjoyed them very much.
In summary, the book felt incomplete and unpolished. It was average when placed alongside the many other books found in the genre. Could it have been a great science fiction space opera? I think so, but it feels like it needed to be more cohesive and tighter in the storylines and the characters needed to me much better defined. The audiobook’s performance was solid with only a few slight blemishes, most of those are my own preferences. Being that this is the first in a series, I have to give the author some leeway in my critique. Yet, this is not his first published work and I expected more than what I felt was delivered in the end. I hope the other books in the series are more defined, more interesting, and more action.
The book had so much potential with such a grand premise along with its ability to blend both old and new. There were ships, futuristic weapons, and swords all being used alongside one another throughout the story. We were shown ship-to-ship battles along with some sizable ground-based assaults, and many of these were done well. I thought the blending of mythology and future was a great concept and I wanted more of it in this book. It felt like bits and pieces of Star Wars because of its vast and open worlds, good vs. evil story, and the various factions battling for the win. For me though, the story was too disjointed, meandering, and inconsistent from similar books I have listened too. I wanted to enjoy the book but instead found myself focusing elsewhere and it is easy to get lost if you do not rewind and pick up where you last remembered. I had to do this a few times while listening and I do not recall other book where I needed to rewind the material to pick the story back up.
I did not feel the characters were passionate about their roles and tasks; overall. There were times they were focused but only to get distracted and go in a different direction. They all seemed to operate at the same pace and urgency, at times it was hard to tell characters apart from one another. I wanted more depth and backstory on the main characters and their various people groups. I wanted to truly understand their desires and struggles, which I just did not get a feel for. Give me, the listener, a reason to care or have feelings for the book’s characters. The world and scenes were painted with vivid detail and color, but the characters themselves felt flat and uninteresting. I wanted to care for one side or the other, yet neither were interesting enough to expend such energy upon. I wanted more of the science fiction elements such as the Great Expanse, more technology, and more character development making the book more fun and interesting to listen too.
The audiobook’s narration was done well by J. Scott Bennett. Although the characters were not multi-dimensional the voicing of them was good. Mr. Bennett was able to add inflection and some subtle sound effects making the book feel grander and fuller. There were times the performance seemed a bit flat or monotone, yet this could have been due to the material he was given. The overall audio quality and performance was decent and above average based on other books I have listened too. I have a few of his other works and I enjoyed them very much.
In summary, the book felt incomplete and unpolished. It was average when placed alongside the many other books found in the genre. Could it have been a great science fiction space opera? I think so, but it feels like it needed to be more cohesive and tighter in the storylines and the characters needed to me much better defined. The audiobook’s performance was solid with only a few slight blemishes, most of those are my own preferences. Being that this is the first in a series, I have to give the author some leeway in my critique. Yet, this is not his first published work and I expected more than what I felt was delivered in the end. I hope the other books in the series are more defined, more interesting, and more action.
July 30, 2018
Disclaimer.
I had requested and received audible version of this book for free from the narrator, in exchange for an unbiased review.
What I liked about the book -
Loved the mix of past and future tech in this really unique book. It took me a little time to get into it, but once it picked up pace, I was hooked. The story is very intriguing and held my interest. The characters are well written and are interesting too. And I'm glad that this book ends without a cliffhanger, unlike the last book I had read.
What I disliked about the book -
Took some time to get interesting.
Narration -
Narration by J. Scott Bennett was a good match for the content. All the different characters got their unique voices and it made for a good listening experience.
I had requested and received audible version of this book for free from the narrator, in exchange for an unbiased review.
What I liked about the book -
Loved the mix of past and future tech in this really unique book. It took me a little time to get into it, but once it picked up pace, I was hooked. The story is very intriguing and held my interest. The characters are well written and are interesting too. And I'm glad that this book ends without a cliffhanger, unlike the last book I had read.
What I disliked about the book -
Took some time to get interesting.
Narration -
Narration by J. Scott Bennett was a good match for the content. All the different characters got their unique voices and it made for a good listening experience.
February 15, 2024
Audiobook: I enjoyed this first book in the "Star Legions: The Terran Wars" series. There was some creation to the worldbuilding and an introduction to the opposing armies which was necessary to understand what was happening, but once one grasped who the main characters were, the story was exciting. I liked the nod to the Greek stories of old and that those stories were retold in a futuristic context. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. J. Scott Bennett's narration was great, and his performance enhanced the story's entertainment. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.
August 19, 2018
I've only begun to scratch the surface of this genre, so I might not have the wisdom that true fans possess, but I really liked this story! Very intriguing blend of old/ancient/medieval and futuristic/space. It's complicated, but a great story with great action/battles. As always, J. Scott Bennett's performance is awesome! I think this series has potential, and I'll be interested in hearing more. Great job!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
January 9, 2023
Absolutely intriguing. The Terrans are exhausted after fighting a Civil War. Unknown to them is an Apocalyptic disaster coming How will they get through this as well. Intense with lots of action to keep you reading.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews