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Crimson Son #3
Ashes
It is a time for heroes...but are there any left?
The Crimson Mask has fallen. Spencer and his allies have been scattered across the globe. In the wake of Aurora’s final expression of grief, the United States has suffered a massive blackout.
Imprisoned in a country under martial law, Spencer accepts help from the wily and ruthless CEO of Nanomech. He makes a bargain to become what he’s always feared and loathed - The Black Beetle.
His father gone, this is not a time for heroes. This is a time for revenge.
Spencer must find a way to deal with the loss and prevent his quest for vengeance from consuming him. New Augments will rise to test his mettle, and one may just save him from himself.
The Crimson Mask has fallen. Spencer and his allies have been scattered across the globe. In the wake of Aurora’s final expression of grief, the United States has suffered a massive blackout.
Imprisoned in a country under martial law, Spencer accepts help from the wily and ruthless CEO of Nanomech. He makes a bargain to become what he’s always feared and loathed - The Black Beetle.
His father gone, this is not a time for heroes. This is a time for revenge.
Spencer must find a way to deal with the loss and prevent his quest for vengeance from consuming him. New Augments will rise to test his mettle, and one may just save him from himself.
490 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 14, 2018
6 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Russ Linton
31 books93 followersDanger, depth, and discovery. I'm an independent fiction author and vagabond travelling the US looking for adventure. As an author, I've dabbled in horror, science fiction, and fantasy. Even landed a small role with a Hollywood studio along the way.
But as a former government agent, I kept running across books about former government agents wandering the country in pursuit of justice.
I decided not to be a cliché.
Then, someone stole my Jeep. And I just *had* to get it back....
New Vigilante Justice series incoming 2023. Stay tuned!
Sign up for his mailing list here: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...
You can also find Russ online at:
http://www.russlinton.com
http://www.facebook.com/RussLinton
But as a former government agent, I kept running across books about former government agents wandering the country in pursuit of justice.
I decided not to be a cliché.
Then, someone stole my Jeep. And I just *had* to get it back....
New Vigilante Justice series incoming 2023. Stay tuned!
Sign up for his mailing list here: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...
You can also find Russ online at:
http://www.russlinton.com
http://www.facebook.com/RussLinton
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 11, 2018
4+ stars for Book 3 of this amazing trilogy that as a whole, I'd probably rate even higher! Friends, this is how the super-hero genre is supposed to be done!!
Wow, after completing Russ Linton's amazing 'Crimson Son' trilogy, my immediate reaction is that I feel pummeled. Like after a good fight where nobody is left without a good bruise or 10 and all are wondering just what the hell is going on! This is probably owing in large part to the fact that "Ashes" is noticeably darker than the previous two books even though we've faced death and even the end of civilization as we know it before. Spencer's ride as a(n) (un)willing pawn of Xamses is fraught with moral questions galore, as we're allowed to tag along on his ride through learning just how much vengeance can cost your soul. Plus, the 'war stories' chapters are just emotionally draining in their suspense!
But just as I've mentioned in reviews for the previous two books, these books work best for me because of the sheer plausibility of the world Linton has created. The whole Corporate rule after the government falls: too believable. The military actions across the globe: too accurate. Why just today, the e-papers headlines included a crash in the world's most popular crytocurrency as well as the stupid-as-mud US.Government alienating all their allies. Take away that most of the supers we get to know are vets of WW2 and every 'police action' since and it all just seems way too real. Maybe Linton has some inside information that we haven't seen yet (arrgh, maybe the Fake News people are faking the fake news and it's really real, he exclaimed shortly before his brain left his body and went to live in a swamp... ahem... ).
I will confess that parts of this book left my head spinning and I'm not sure I connected all the dots correctly (I'll try to do this without spoilers). I'm still a tad confused about what happened to Xamses between his order to kill two of Kid Crimson's friends and his eventual - and rather abrupt - departure is indicated (he never really reappears after that bit even though he seemed to be having some real issues before he 'left'). Even the on-going conundrum that is Chroma is no closer to being even vaguely settled but heck, maybe we can eventually hope that this series continues? And finally, how did Ember's kid keep her clothes intact on her jog to San Diego? ENQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW!
And now my biggest compliment that I can give a book or even a series of books and it doesn't even always come with the highest ratings either: I am going to re-read this trilogy one day. Not in the next week, no, but these are staying on the shelf to be enjoyed again! All I can finish with then is a subtle suggestion to you all: READ THESE BOOKS DAMMIT!!!
Wow, after completing Russ Linton's amazing 'Crimson Son' trilogy, my immediate reaction is that I feel pummeled. Like after a good fight where nobody is left without a good bruise or 10 and all are wondering just what the hell is going on! This is probably owing in large part to the fact that "Ashes" is noticeably darker than the previous two books even though we've faced death and even the end of civilization as we know it before. Spencer's ride as a(n) (un)willing pawn of Xamses is fraught with moral questions galore, as we're allowed to tag along on his ride through learning just how much vengeance can cost your soul. Plus, the 'war stories' chapters are just emotionally draining in their suspense!
But just as I've mentioned in reviews for the previous two books, these books work best for me because of the sheer plausibility of the world Linton has created. The whole Corporate rule after the government falls: too believable. The military actions across the globe: too accurate. Why just today, the e-papers headlines included a crash in the world's most popular crytocurrency as well as the stupid-as-mud US.Government alienating all their allies. Take away that most of the supers we get to know are vets of WW2 and every 'police action' since and it all just seems way too real. Maybe Linton has some inside information that we haven't seen yet (arrgh, maybe the Fake News people are faking the fake news and it's really real, he exclaimed shortly before his brain left his body and went to live in a swamp... ahem... ).
I will confess that parts of this book left my head spinning and I'm not sure I connected all the dots correctly (I'll try to do this without spoilers). I'm still a tad confused about what happened to Xamses between his order to kill two of Kid Crimson's friends and his eventual - and rather abrupt - departure is indicated (he never really reappears after that bit even though he seemed to be having some real issues before he 'left'). Even the on-going conundrum that is Chroma is no closer to being even vaguely settled but heck, maybe we can eventually hope that this series continues? And finally, how did Ember's kid keep her clothes intact on her jog to San Diego? ENQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW!
And now my biggest compliment that I can give a book or even a series of books and it doesn't even always come with the highest ratings either: I am going to re-read this trilogy one day. Not in the next week, no, but these are staying on the shelf to be enjoyed again! All I can finish with then is a subtle suggestion to you all: READ THESE BOOKS DAMMIT!!!
May 22, 2019
And the corruption and ego trips continue...
Carrying on from book two, this instalment is a lot darker and more intense than the other two offerings. The Collective are determined to create a Utopia based on a bizarre neo Communist idea of freedoms and ownership for all. As with most things in life, this is soon exploited and corrupted and, as the story progresses, we see the ways that even perceived good intentions can go horribly wrong. There are some interesting parallels between what could happen and has already happened in relation to experimentation and technology 'for the greater good'. Although a work of fiction, it is easy to see how these ideas could take effect and quite disturbing in the portrayal of how events would follow. There are some intricate plot twists which, at times, left me confused as to what was actually happening within the timelines. These work themselves out during the later stages of the story, but I'm still scratching my head a bit wondering if I 'get' everything that has taken place.
All said, this was another fascinating story that will draw you in and keep you there. As I have already purchased book 4 Legacy, it's a no brainer what I'm reading next!
Carrying on from book two, this instalment is a lot darker and more intense than the other two offerings. The Collective are determined to create a Utopia based on a bizarre neo Communist idea of freedoms and ownership for all. As with most things in life, this is soon exploited and corrupted and, as the story progresses, we see the ways that even perceived good intentions can go horribly wrong. There are some interesting parallels between what could happen and has already happened in relation to experimentation and technology 'for the greater good'. Although a work of fiction, it is easy to see how these ideas could take effect and quite disturbing in the portrayal of how events would follow. There are some intricate plot twists which, at times, left me confused as to what was actually happening within the timelines. These work themselves out during the later stages of the story, but I'm still scratching my head a bit wondering if I 'get' everything that has taken place.
All said, this was another fascinating story that will draw you in and keep you there. As I have already purchased book 4 Legacy, it's a no brainer what I'm reading next!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews