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Renegade Star #5
Renegade Fleet
An ancient threat is rising.
Jace Hughes has successfully crippled the Union, saving a small civilization in the process. With a new army at his side, he sets his sights on Earth, the lost homeworld of humanity, vowing to finish the job he set out to do.
But there is something looming on the horizon. Another threat of unspeakable carnage, and it isn't the Union or the Sarkonians.
It may not even be human.
Journey alongside Jace as he attempts to save his crew, his people, and himself from an enemy he cannot see. The mission is bleak, but the payoff is huge, and everyone wants him dead. In a galaxy full of violence, he'll be lucky to make it out alive.
Just another day for a Renegade.
Experience a sprawling galactic tale in this fourth entry to The Renegade Star series. If you're a fan of Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, or Leviathan Wakes, you'll love this epic, space opera thriller.
Jace Hughes has successfully crippled the Union, saving a small civilization in the process. With a new army at his side, he sets his sights on Earth, the lost homeworld of humanity, vowing to finish the job he set out to do.
But there is something looming on the horizon. Another threat of unspeakable carnage, and it isn't the Union or the Sarkonians.
It may not even be human.
Journey alongside Jace as he attempts to save his crew, his people, and himself from an enemy he cannot see. The mission is bleak, but the payoff is huge, and everyone wants him dead. In a galaxy full of violence, he'll be lucky to make it out alive.
Just another day for a Renegade.
Experience a sprawling galactic tale in this fourth entry to The Renegade Star series. If you're a fan of Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, or Leviathan Wakes, you'll love this epic, space opera thriller.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 21, 2018
1633 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
About the author
J.N. Chaney
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
June 10, 2024
· Book 1: Renegade Star ★★★★
· Book 2: Renegade Atlas ★★★★
· Book 3: Renegade Moon ★★★★
· Book 4: Renegade Lost ★★★★
· Book 6: Renegade Earth ★★★★
· Book 7: Renegade Dawn ★★★★
· Book 8: Renegade Children ★★★★
· Book 9: Renegade Union ★★★★
· Book 10: Renegade Empire ★★★★
· Book 11: Renegade Descent ★★★★
· Book 12: Renegade Rising ★★★★
· Book 13: Renegade Alliance ★★★★
· Book 14: Renegade Evolution ★★★★
· Book 15: Renegade War ★★★★
· Book 16: Renegade Peace ★★★★
· Book 2: Renegade Atlas ★★★★
· Book 3: Renegade Moon ★★★★
· Book 4: Renegade Lost ★★★★
· Book 6: Renegade Earth ★★★★
· Book 7: Renegade Dawn ★★★★
· Book 8: Renegade Children ★★★★
· Book 9: Renegade Union ★★★★
· Book 10: Renegade Empire ★★★★
· Book 11: Renegade Descent ★★★★
· Book 12: Renegade Rising ★★★★
· Book 13: Renegade Alliance ★★★★
· Book 14: Renegade Evolution ★★★★
· Book 15: Renegade War ★★★★
· Book 16: Renegade Peace ★★★★
June 29, 2021
I'm still not a huge fan of Jace. I don't think I ever will be. This book has its moments and enough to make me still want to finish this series. The end was sad and then surprising and this is probably the first time I finished one of these books and really wanted to start the next one to figure out what happens next.
How I choose my rating:
1* Didn't like it at all. These are rare as I usually just don't finish any book I dislike this much.
2** Didn't like it. Again usually DNF if I dislike it this much, but occasionally I feel it still has potential and I try to stick with it to the end.
3*** I liked it. It wasn't great but it was enjoyable enough. It is unlikely I'll ever reread it but I'll probably finish the series if it is a part of one.
4**** I really liked this book. Maybe not a work of genius, but highly entertaining. I might reread this at some point, and I will finish the series if part of one.
5***** I loved this book. I found little to no issues with it at all. I will probably reread this and possibly more than once. I will finish the series if it's part of one.
How I choose my rating:
1* Didn't like it at all. These are rare as I usually just don't finish any book I dislike this much.
2** Didn't like it. Again usually DNF if I dislike it this much, but occasionally I feel it still has potential and I try to stick with it to the end.
3*** I liked it. It wasn't great but it was enjoyable enough. It is unlikely I'll ever reread it but I'll probably finish the series if it is a part of one.
4**** I really liked this book. Maybe not a work of genius, but highly entertaining. I might reread this at some point, and I will finish the series if part of one.
5***** I loved this book. I found little to no issues with it at all. I will probably reread this and possibly more than once. I will finish the series if it's part of one.
April 14, 2018
Chaney has a knack for a wild and great imagination, wow! This is another thrill read, a roller coaster from the beginning till the end, with one of the greatest space battles with an ancient cognitive while in a quest to reach Earth. A wonderful character build, twists and unexpected turns, emotional moments when I bit my tongue and cried, and I cried again but of happiness at the end. What an amazing and emotive end! Impatient for the next release in this fantastic series!
April 13, 2020
This was a fun series! It was so amazing that I blasted through the series and forgot to write individual reviews. I'll be posting a review of the entire series on the page for book one, but I didn't want to keep my enthusiasm to myself. So, I’m sharing this ringing endorsement of the series, here, on the individual book pages. They were all epic in their own right, though there were times I thought I might have a heart attack during the action scenes! And can we talk about how awesome the narrator was? Wow, just wow! Overall, this series was a fun read and I was able to gloss over the near-death experiences!
My full review for this series doesn't fit, so read it here: https://jrhandley.com/2020/04/10/book...
My Overall Thoughts:
Okay, let’s get into the weeds on this one! I’ve organized my overall assessment by putting the stuff I didn’t like first so we can end on a high note. I also want to be clear that I really loved this series overall, it’s why I plowed through the audiobooks so quickly that I had to write a series review instead of an individual one for each of the six novels that make up The Renegade Star Series.
Alright, let’s rip off the band-aide and dive in. There were many parts that I wasn’t thrilled with in this series. First, the lack of details about the world was disheartening. I’m a guy who prefers all of the details, and I wasn’t given that in this series. This is a different type of book than I usually read, more pulp than anything, so some of that can generally be addressed by the fact that I’m not his ideal audience. However, I wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t mention that this was something I didn’t particularly like.
Another issue with the books was the profanity. I’m aware that the books description out a warning about the crude language. That normally bothers me, however, when you’re hooked on the fast-paced story, you want to listen every chance you get. I couldn’t do that if my kids were around, so this is more of an annoyance than anything because I went in with eyes wide open. Again, it wasn’t the profanity itself so much as the way that limited my ability to listen to the audiobooks. Luckily, this book is in the Kindle Unlimited program, and you can read it for free if you hit a patch where your rug rats won’t give you room to breathe.
I chose this book because the covers and the premise sounded entertaining, and I wasn’t disappointed. However, this book was very much a pulp novel and didn’t give me a lot to sink my teeth into. As many of you know, I’m the kind of reader that wants all the details in the novels I read. Some of this is just my own oddities, but I really like the little descriptions of the world that flush it out for me. I don’t just want to know that the character fired a blaster, I want the make and model. Again, some of this is just my preference, so this lack of detail was annoying, but not so much that I couldn’t keep reading because I obviously blazed through the series.
Another minor announcement I had was the lack of proper naval terminology. The main character calls the bulkheads walls and calls the decks a floor. I grew up in a Navy town, so hearing vessels using proper terminology always catches my attention. However, these traditions could change in the future, so this is really just nitpicking for the sake of my review.
My one major complaint about the story, aside from like details, was the character’s lack of reaction to killing. I’ve been in situations where you were required in someone else’s life, thank you Iraq, and there is always an emotional response to the action. I did not feel like the main character, Jace Hughes, ever felt remorse for the people he killed. It was just the thing he did, and then he’s callously shrugged it off. The combat veteran, this bugs me, but I’m sure most readers would never notice this.
Alright, now let’s talk about the happy things! One of the things that I liked about the series was the way characters grew as the story developed across the 13 novels. This is an area where the author grew as a creator, and it showed. I can’t really say anything else about the specific category because that would give spoilers, but trust me, it’s worth waiting for the big reveal later in the series.
Another area that struck me with this series was the audio narration. I loved this audiobook, Luke Daniels gave one of his trademarked top-notch performances. My only complaint in this arena was the way the main character socked on hard candy. However, this was more about the author’s characterization and how it translated to audiobooks, but it was about Luke’s performance. However, if especially noticeable in the morning and audiobook format. Despite that one minor complaint, this audiobook was a rollicking good adventure! Seriously, if you weren’t already hooked on Luke, this book would get you there! This was one of the many areas where this series really shined for me.
What did shine was the amazing premise of this book series. This definitely hit on all of the tropes that I love about science fiction, but not in a way that felt derivative. He carried it out in a way that somehow became uniquely his own thing. I found shades of the short-lived Firefly television show and the anime Outlaw Star that inspired it. There was also a Star Wars meets Indiana Jones element to this series, which kept you glued to the edge of your seat, waiting to see what happens next. Oh, and some of the reviewers called the series a mash-up of Andromeda and Battlestar Galactica. I agreed with them, though I didn’t see it at first. Once I read the review, the comparison was obvious!
If I haven’t said it enough, I REALLY loved the basic premise of this series. The concept of a grand adventure, trying to solve the mysteries of the universe, struck the right chord for me. It was very much. The Da Vinci Code in space, which I really liked. The fact that it was written in first person made you much more connected to the adventure, which I really appreciated. All of this combined, and you end up with a series of books that are a lot of fun to read. Seriously, it’s pulpy popcorn comfort food. Except you won’t regret eating it, because it’s calorie-free.
One of the overarching themes of the series that I enjoyed was the classic story of good versus evil. This was your typical David versus Goliath story except you had blaster since the slingshots. While the main character wasn’t quite the everyman, he was close enough that you ended up rooting for him and cheering as the bad guys get taken down a peg or two. There’s a Union officer whose face you want to smash in, but luckily Jace wants to do the same thing, and so you get a vicarious thrill of living for him. Isn’t that why we read fiction in the first place?
Oh, and I really loved the way Chaney explained his science of faster than light travel (FTL). It had just the right amount of Handwavium to keep me happy. Because of the structure of the story, he never felt let down by the lack of a more detailed explanation of how the science works. Instead, you have a character who doesn’t know and so can’t tell you. This is one of the beauties of the first-person narration done right!
Finally, I thoroughly enjoyed the more direct language that the author chose to use. It had a very Tom Clancy-esq vibe with simple words that avoided the tendency towards a pretentious use of big words, whether they were needed or not. It made it possible for Luke Daniels to give the stellar performance that he did with his narration, which I obviously loved. I know this style of writing isn’t for everyone, but it was something that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I wish I could gush more about the series, but I can’t think of ways to do this justice without giving spoilers. So… have I hinted that I enjoyed this universe yet? Good, I want it to be obvious! So, to wrap this bad boy up, I loved this series. Each one of these novels was at least 75,000 words long, about what you expect from the genre. Despite the length, each book felt like a quick read. If you didn’t know how long each novel was, you could almost imagine them as short stories. This is because they were so engrossing that the reader loses track of time while they temporarily live in the story. The author definitely made me want more from this universe, and I’ll definitely be reading the follow-on series that are already available.
In conclusion, I was hooked from the first page/minute! JN Chaney wove the action into this fun space opera romp that made me lose track of time. Basically, he had me hooked from the beginning and kept it going throughout the whole series. These are books that I would happily recommend, and an author I will definitely read again. While I don’t see myself diving more into the pulp side of the house, I don’t regret swimming in this pool of awesomesauce! Buy these novels! But hey, it’s easy to spend someone else’s money! I give these books a 5 out of 5 grenades!
My full review for this series doesn't fit, so read it here: https://jrhandley.com/2020/04/10/book...
My Overall Thoughts:
Okay, let’s get into the weeds on this one! I’ve organized my overall assessment by putting the stuff I didn’t like first so we can end on a high note. I also want to be clear that I really loved this series overall, it’s why I plowed through the audiobooks so quickly that I had to write a series review instead of an individual one for each of the six novels that make up The Renegade Star Series.
Alright, let’s rip off the band-aide and dive in. There were many parts that I wasn’t thrilled with in this series. First, the lack of details about the world was disheartening. I’m a guy who prefers all of the details, and I wasn’t given that in this series. This is a different type of book than I usually read, more pulp than anything, so some of that can generally be addressed by the fact that I’m not his ideal audience. However, I wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t mention that this was something I didn’t particularly like.
Another issue with the books was the profanity. I’m aware that the books description out a warning about the crude language. That normally bothers me, however, when you’re hooked on the fast-paced story, you want to listen every chance you get. I couldn’t do that if my kids were around, so this is more of an annoyance than anything because I went in with eyes wide open. Again, it wasn’t the profanity itself so much as the way that limited my ability to listen to the audiobooks. Luckily, this book is in the Kindle Unlimited program, and you can read it for free if you hit a patch where your rug rats won’t give you room to breathe.
I chose this book because the covers and the premise sounded entertaining, and I wasn’t disappointed. However, this book was very much a pulp novel and didn’t give me a lot to sink my teeth into. As many of you know, I’m the kind of reader that wants all the details in the novels I read. Some of this is just my own oddities, but I really like the little descriptions of the world that flush it out for me. I don’t just want to know that the character fired a blaster, I want the make and model. Again, some of this is just my preference, so this lack of detail was annoying, but not so much that I couldn’t keep reading because I obviously blazed through the series.
Another minor announcement I had was the lack of proper naval terminology. The main character calls the bulkheads walls and calls the decks a floor. I grew up in a Navy town, so hearing vessels using proper terminology always catches my attention. However, these traditions could change in the future, so this is really just nitpicking for the sake of my review.
My one major complaint about the story, aside from like details, was the character’s lack of reaction to killing. I’ve been in situations where you were required in someone else’s life, thank you Iraq, and there is always an emotional response to the action. I did not feel like the main character, Jace Hughes, ever felt remorse for the people he killed. It was just the thing he did, and then he’s callously shrugged it off. The combat veteran, this bugs me, but I’m sure most readers would never notice this.
Alright, now let’s talk about the happy things! One of the things that I liked about the series was the way characters grew as the story developed across the 13 novels. This is an area where the author grew as a creator, and it showed. I can’t really say anything else about the specific category because that would give spoilers, but trust me, it’s worth waiting for the big reveal later in the series.
Another area that struck me with this series was the audio narration. I loved this audiobook, Luke Daniels gave one of his trademarked top-notch performances. My only complaint in this arena was the way the main character socked on hard candy. However, this was more about the author’s characterization and how it translated to audiobooks, but it was about Luke’s performance. However, if especially noticeable in the morning and audiobook format. Despite that one minor complaint, this audiobook was a rollicking good adventure! Seriously, if you weren’t already hooked on Luke, this book would get you there! This was one of the many areas where this series really shined for me.
What did shine was the amazing premise of this book series. This definitely hit on all of the tropes that I love about science fiction, but not in a way that felt derivative. He carried it out in a way that somehow became uniquely his own thing. I found shades of the short-lived Firefly television show and the anime Outlaw Star that inspired it. There was also a Star Wars meets Indiana Jones element to this series, which kept you glued to the edge of your seat, waiting to see what happens next. Oh, and some of the reviewers called the series a mash-up of Andromeda and Battlestar Galactica. I agreed with them, though I didn’t see it at first. Once I read the review, the comparison was obvious!
If I haven’t said it enough, I REALLY loved the basic premise of this series. The concept of a grand adventure, trying to solve the mysteries of the universe, struck the right chord for me. It was very much. The Da Vinci Code in space, which I really liked. The fact that it was written in first person made you much more connected to the adventure, which I really appreciated. All of this combined, and you end up with a series of books that are a lot of fun to read. Seriously, it’s pulpy popcorn comfort food. Except you won’t regret eating it, because it’s calorie-free.
One of the overarching themes of the series that I enjoyed was the classic story of good versus evil. This was your typical David versus Goliath story except you had blaster since the slingshots. While the main character wasn’t quite the everyman, he was close enough that you ended up rooting for him and cheering as the bad guys get taken down a peg or two. There’s a Union officer whose face you want to smash in, but luckily Jace wants to do the same thing, and so you get a vicarious thrill of living for him. Isn’t that why we read fiction in the first place?
Oh, and I really loved the way Chaney explained his science of faster than light travel (FTL). It had just the right amount of Handwavium to keep me happy. Because of the structure of the story, he never felt let down by the lack of a more detailed explanation of how the science works. Instead, you have a character who doesn’t know and so can’t tell you. This is one of the beauties of the first-person narration done right!
Finally, I thoroughly enjoyed the more direct language that the author chose to use. It had a very Tom Clancy-esq vibe with simple words that avoided the tendency towards a pretentious use of big words, whether they were needed or not. It made it possible for Luke Daniels to give the stellar performance that he did with his narration, which I obviously loved. I know this style of writing isn’t for everyone, but it was something that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I wish I could gush more about the series, but I can’t think of ways to do this justice without giving spoilers. So… have I hinted that I enjoyed this universe yet? Good, I want it to be obvious! So, to wrap this bad boy up, I loved this series. Each one of these novels was at least 75,000 words long, about what you expect from the genre. Despite the length, each book felt like a quick read. If you didn’t know how long each novel was, you could almost imagine them as short stories. This is because they were so engrossing that the reader loses track of time while they temporarily live in the story. The author definitely made me want more from this universe, and I’ll definitely be reading the follow-on series that are already available.
In conclusion, I was hooked from the first page/minute! JN Chaney wove the action into this fun space opera romp that made me lose track of time. Basically, he had me hooked from the beginning and kept it going throughout the whole series. These are books that I would happily recommend, and an author I will definitely read again. While I don’t see myself diving more into the pulp side of the house, I don’t regret swimming in this pool of awesomesauce! Buy these novels! But hey, it’s easy to spend someone else’s money! I give these books a 5 out of 5 grenades!
October 18, 2022
Least favorite of the series so far. I might continue to see if the next book makes more progress.
October 15, 2018
Jace and his growing band of refugees want desperately to get back to Earth, the problem is that one of the AIs left to guard earth has lost its mind. The other problem is that the AI has hundreds of killer drones at its disposal and thinks that the refugees are enemies, Jace and his friends as usual figure out how to take out the AI and save the day.
March 29, 2018
Another great, fast paced addition to this growing groups adventures! A constant battle from page one until the end, and a bit of emotion thrown in. Found myself shocked and literally yelling at Chaney, "How could you, you monster!" But in the end, I was happy, very very happy, and again left itching for more! I can't wait for the final book, but will be so sad to see it end. If you like non stop action, with lots of sarcastic humor, then what are you waiting for, this series is totally for you!
June 12, 2019
This series is really a wonderful Kindle Unlimited find. A quick, fun space opera, with great characters and an engaging story, I'm really having a lot of fun with it. These books are very much like an episodic serial, quick and light, but painting a detailed overall picture.
I can't wait to see Earth in the next book!
I can't wait to see Earth in the next book!
April 18, 2018
Good read!
I enjoy this series very much. I am a Firefly fan and this definitely has a similar feel. I can’t wait for the next book!
I enjoy this series very much. I am a Firefly fan and this definitely has a similar feel. I can’t wait for the next book!
March 31, 2018
Love this series
I just hate waiting for the next book to come out. I love this series and its characters and can't wait to find out what will happen next. I recommend this series to everyone who enjoys a great space adventure.
I just hate waiting for the next book to come out. I love this series and its characters and can't wait to find out what will happen next. I recommend this series to everyone who enjoys a great space adventure.
March 24, 2018
Action packed with plenty of twists and turns along the way. This fifth installment of the series progresses the story nicely while continuing to expand upon the characters.
November 13, 2018
This is one of the better sci-fi series out there. The original story has changed a lot since it began. Jace Hughes was a young guy who wanted to do something more exiting that what his current future seemed to hold. So, he wanted to become a “Renegade” or, as more commonly referred to by the authorities, an outlaw! He made some interesting decisions early on that got him a ship, the Renegade Star, and a lot of debt. He had to do a lot of not so legal things to begin paying off his debt while at the same time, trying to stay away from the authorities.
Now Jace Hughes is not a bad guy. He thinks he is and can use some awful language at the most inappropriate times, but deep down, he’s a good guy. When he was sent on a job to transport a Nun and a little girl from one planet to another, he shouldn’t have cared what he was transporting. Still, he knew he had taken aboard a Nun and her cargo while under gun-fire from the local authorities. As soon as he got into space, the Union military were after him. So, he demanded the Nun tell him what she was smuggling so he could decide whether it was worth his life and his ship. That’s where the little girl comes into play. She was in a stasis container which Jace opened and the girl flopped out. This girl was an albino with some very strange tattoos or makings on her body.
Being a good guy, Jace wasn’t about to let this little girl fall into the hands of the Union military nor any other bad guys. So, he started a long journey that resulted in him killing the guy he owed a huge debt to and now he’s wanted by everyone and everything in Union Space. Even a few alien civilizations now also want him and his cargo. It seems this little girl is the key to finding Earth.
So, the Renegade Star has been on quite an adventure since the very first book. It and the Titan, an extremely intelligent space ship the size of a small moon, have come together to find Earth. They have also found during their travels, a lost colony of humans that also have long ago came from Earth. These people have the same tattoos and markings as does the little girl, Lex.
You do need to start reading this series from the beginning. Jace Hughes has gone from just him and his ship to now an entire colony of people, a giant moon-sized ship and a quest to find Earth. They are just about there only to find out that Earth has a huge defensive network controlled and maintained by a very advanced artificial intelligence, a Cognitive, who seems to have become deranged. They must get through this defense network to finally get to Earth, but how are they supposed to do so when this deranged entity keeps building huge drones that block their path.
Lots of exciting adventures with a lot of space fighting. Jace is the leader of quite a band of people whether he wants to admit it or not. He just can’t stop himself from helping people even though he’ll complain and yell about doing it all the way. It’s good that he has some very tolerant friends now and he certainly has a friend in little Lex.
I can’t wait to get into the next book.
Now Jace Hughes is not a bad guy. He thinks he is and can use some awful language at the most inappropriate times, but deep down, he’s a good guy. When he was sent on a job to transport a Nun and a little girl from one planet to another, he shouldn’t have cared what he was transporting. Still, he knew he had taken aboard a Nun and her cargo while under gun-fire from the local authorities. As soon as he got into space, the Union military were after him. So, he demanded the Nun tell him what she was smuggling so he could decide whether it was worth his life and his ship. That’s where the little girl comes into play. She was in a stasis container which Jace opened and the girl flopped out. This girl was an albino with some very strange tattoos or makings on her body.
Being a good guy, Jace wasn’t about to let this little girl fall into the hands of the Union military nor any other bad guys. So, he started a long journey that resulted in him killing the guy he owed a huge debt to and now he’s wanted by everyone and everything in Union Space. Even a few alien civilizations now also want him and his cargo. It seems this little girl is the key to finding Earth.
So, the Renegade Star has been on quite an adventure since the very first book. It and the Titan, an extremely intelligent space ship the size of a small moon, have come together to find Earth. They have also found during their travels, a lost colony of humans that also have long ago came from Earth. These people have the same tattoos and markings as does the little girl, Lex.
You do need to start reading this series from the beginning. Jace Hughes has gone from just him and his ship to now an entire colony of people, a giant moon-sized ship and a quest to find Earth. They are just about there only to find out that Earth has a huge defensive network controlled and maintained by a very advanced artificial intelligence, a Cognitive, who seems to have become deranged. They must get through this defense network to finally get to Earth, but how are they supposed to do so when this deranged entity keeps building huge drones that block their path.
Lots of exciting adventures with a lot of space fighting. Jace is the leader of quite a band of people whether he wants to admit it or not. He just can’t stop himself from helping people even though he’ll complain and yell about doing it all the way. It’s good that he has some very tolerant friends now and he certainly has a friend in little Lex.
I can’t wait to get into the next book.
December 26, 2024
My Reading Log
Plot Summary
Jace Hughes finds himself at the helm of a growing resistance as he unites disparate groups to form the Renegade Fleet. With the Order of the Nexus tightening its grip on the galaxy, Jace must navigate political alliances, rogue factions, and the strain of leadership. Abigail’s powers reach a critical turning point, placing her at the center of both hope and fear among their allies. As battles rage and secrets are revealed, Jace must lead his fleet into a decisive confrontation that will determine the future of the galaxy.
Characters
Jace Hughes - The reluctant leader of the Renegade Fleet, balancing his smuggler instincts with his new responsibilities.
Abigail Pryar - The young girl whose powers have become a symbol of hope but also a source of tension among the fleet.
Sigmond - Jace’s trusted AI companion, providing tactical insights and much-needed humor during the fleet’s struggles.
Eliza Lobo - A skilled fighter and Jace’s steadfast ally, whose bravery and strategic mind are key to the fleet’s survival.
Dr. Thea Morlin - The fleet’s scientist, working to understand Abigail’s powers and their connection to the Nexus’s plans.
Commander Tyrn - The Nexus officer whose relentless pursuit threatens to dismantle the Renegade Fleet’s efforts.
Admiral Toran - A former military leader who joins Jace’s cause, adding firepower and strategic expertise to the fleet.
Quotes
"A fleet isn’t just ships—it’s people, their dreams, and the hope they carry." - Context: Jace delivers this line during a rallying speech to inspire unity among his allies.
"Power doesn’t corrupt; it reveals who you really are." - Context: Abigail reflects on the burden of her abilities and how they’ve changed perceptions of her.
"Victory isn’t about fighting the strongest—it’s about outlasting the smartest." - Context: Sigmond offers this insight during a tense tactical discussion, reminding the crew of their need for cunning over brute force.
Plot Summary
Jace Hughes finds himself at the helm of a growing resistance as he unites disparate groups to form the Renegade Fleet. With the Order of the Nexus tightening its grip on the galaxy, Jace must navigate political alliances, rogue factions, and the strain of leadership. Abigail’s powers reach a critical turning point, placing her at the center of both hope and fear among their allies. As battles rage and secrets are revealed, Jace must lead his fleet into a decisive confrontation that will determine the future of the galaxy.
Characters
Jace Hughes - The reluctant leader of the Renegade Fleet, balancing his smuggler instincts with his new responsibilities.
Abigail Pryar - The young girl whose powers have become a symbol of hope but also a source of tension among the fleet.
Sigmond - Jace’s trusted AI companion, providing tactical insights and much-needed humor during the fleet’s struggles.
Eliza Lobo - A skilled fighter and Jace’s steadfast ally, whose bravery and strategic mind are key to the fleet’s survival.
Dr. Thea Morlin - The fleet’s scientist, working to understand Abigail’s powers and their connection to the Nexus’s plans.
Commander Tyrn - The Nexus officer whose relentless pursuit threatens to dismantle the Renegade Fleet’s efforts.
Admiral Toran - A former military leader who joins Jace’s cause, adding firepower and strategic expertise to the fleet.
Quotes
"A fleet isn’t just ships—it’s people, their dreams, and the hope they carry." - Context: Jace delivers this line during a rallying speech to inspire unity among his allies.
"Power doesn’t corrupt; it reveals who you really are." - Context: Abigail reflects on the burden of her abilities and how they’ve changed perceptions of her.
"Victory isn’t about fighting the strongest—it’s about outlasting the smartest." - Context: Sigmond offers this insight during a tense tactical discussion, reminding the crew of their need for cunning over brute force.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2021
I actually had high hopes for this book in the Renegade Star series. Perhaps I built up my hopes a bit too much because I kind of felt a bit disappointed.
With a name like Renegade Fleet I was hoping for some real fleet action. Maybe a few more Titans or something. However it was more of the same old Titan just it was deploying fighters. I was also hoping for some surprises for the Union like Jace showing up with this bigass fleet that I was hoping for and kicking their ass. Okay, that was probably me making a lot of assumptions just based on the title and I got screwed on those assumptions.
It is quite a good book anyway, just not as good as I hoped. The adventures of Jace & Co continues and they get a bit closer to Earth although they did get to go all the way which also disappointed me a bit. I hope the author doesn’t drag out this finding Earth too much.
There was quite a bit of decent space action as well as on-station and on-ship fighting. Jace almost dying several times was a bit tedious though. One time per book is quite enough for my taste. As a matter of fact this was bit a theme in this book. Every time they where getting somewhere a new the author just threw new surprise problems their way and, as I wrote before, it got a bit TV-show style tedious.
The most interesting part of the book was the character development of Jace old AI. I really like that guy and it was nice to see him progress even though you could deduce where his story was going quite quickly so the little surprise at the end was not much of a surprise.
Anyway, good book even though it was not great and the next one is in the pipeline already.
With a name like Renegade Fleet I was hoping for some real fleet action. Maybe a few more Titans or something. However it was more of the same old Titan just it was deploying fighters. I was also hoping for some surprises for the Union like Jace showing up with this bigass fleet that I was hoping for and kicking their ass. Okay, that was probably me making a lot of assumptions just based on the title and I got screwed on those assumptions.
It is quite a good book anyway, just not as good as I hoped. The adventures of Jace & Co continues and they get a bit closer to Earth although they did get to go all the way which also disappointed me a bit. I hope the author doesn’t drag out this finding Earth too much.
There was quite a bit of decent space action as well as on-station and on-ship fighting. Jace almost dying several times was a bit tedious though. One time per book is quite enough for my taste. As a matter of fact this was bit a theme in this book. Every time they where getting somewhere a new the author just threw new surprise problems their way and, as I wrote before, it got a bit TV-show style tedious.
The most interesting part of the book was the character development of Jace old AI. I really like that guy and it was nice to see him progress even though you could deduce where his story was going quite quickly so the little surprise at the end was not much of a surprise.
Anyway, good book even though it was not great and the next one is in the pipeline already.
November 28, 2018
The deeper you read into a series, the less representative the ratings become. Almost by definition, those who have read 5 books into a series are homers for the series - anyone who would negatively review the book has been selected out of the sample, and no one jumps in at book five.
Anyway, on the scale of things, this book is probably the worst of the bunch thus far. We have more people and more ships on the good guy team, which just means that the author can kill off a statistically significant quantity of them without losing any main characters. Further, you know what bugs me? These ships, they have sensors that seem to work over light years of distance...but they have communications systems that are spec'ed to work over TWO KILOMETERS without repeaters. WTF? A decent old Earth walkie talkie does better than that. The New Horizons probe sends pictures from the other side of the solar system using a 200 W power source. This mega-moon can't communicate over a few hundred thousand miles? You need 8 repeaters to talk to someone a couple hundred feet underground? What is going on here...
Anyway, on the scale of things, this book is probably the worst of the bunch thus far. We have more people and more ships on the good guy team, which just means that the author can kill off a statistically significant quantity of them without losing any main characters. Further, you know what bugs me? These ships, they have sensors that seem to work over light years of distance...but they have communications systems that are spec'ed to work over TWO KILOMETERS without repeaters. WTF? A decent old Earth walkie talkie does better than that. The New Horizons probe sends pictures from the other side of the solar system using a 200 W power source. This mega-moon can't communicate over a few hundred thousand miles? You need 8 repeaters to talk to someone a couple hundred feet underground? What is going on here...
May 21, 2020
After landing on a forgotten planet and surviving perilous creatures, the team has integrated the remaining civilization into their crew. Now, with a new army at their side, they are ready to find the long-ago lost planet of Earth. But a new danger is looming─one they cannot see─and it will not stop until it destroys everything it deems as a threat, including Jace and his team. Definitely the most action-packed of the series, the crew is facing the most dangerous mission they have yet to encounter. Both the world that the author has created as well as the characters are continuously evolving, ensuring that the series doesn’t grow stale and each story is better than the last─a genuine rarity in a story arc of this length. Filled with multiple twists and turns and a truly unexpected ending, RENEGADE FLEET leaves readers on the edge-of-their-seat for the next installment.
May 12, 2019
Drones and more drones.
Jace and the rescued colonists are training to be a fighting force. We are continuing to fill in Jace’s background with flashbacks. As Athena and her passengers approach Earth, Hephaestus eventually contacts her but it is only with a warning to leave or be destroyed. Hephaestus is not interested in opening a dialogue with Athena which calls into question the sanity of the cognitive. Jace and the crew identify the location of the Hephaestus shell and determine to go there to shut it down. That is obviously with a lot of danger. So off they go to fight another mass of drones controlled by Hephaestus. Good YA and young at heart. Anyone who likes space opera will like this.
Jace and the rescued colonists are training to be a fighting force. We are continuing to fill in Jace’s background with flashbacks. As Athena and her passengers approach Earth, Hephaestus eventually contacts her but it is only with a warning to leave or be destroyed. Hephaestus is not interested in opening a dialogue with Athena which calls into question the sanity of the cognitive. Jace and the crew identify the location of the Hephaestus shell and determine to go there to shut it down. That is obviously with a lot of danger. So off they go to fight another mass of drones controlled by Hephaestus. Good YA and young at heart. Anyone who likes space opera will like this.
July 20, 2018
With all on the line (again) our heroes battle a rebooted evil AI and its army of drones from their super-Death Star spaceship on their way to find the lost homeworld of Earth. Jace is finally admitting he loves the girl who seems to suddenly not have any religious vows to break.
We do get some background into Jace’s character, giving him some sympathy. Overall, better than the previous books. I still don’t get the whole slip stream hyperspace concept. Couldn’t they bypass the bad guys and go directly to their destination? If so, this whole book seems rather unnecessary. If they can’t, I must have missed the reason.
So, fun-ish if you’re standards aren’t set too high. The books have a slightly unfinished aspect to them which an editor could help with, but they are written and published every 6-8 weeks.
We do get some background into Jace’s character, giving him some sympathy. Overall, better than the previous books. I still don’t get the whole slip stream hyperspace concept. Couldn’t they bypass the bad guys and go directly to their destination? If so, this whole book seems rather unnecessary. If they can’t, I must have missed the reason.
So, fun-ish if you’re standards aren’t set too high. The books have a slightly unfinished aspect to them which an editor could help with, but they are written and published every 6-8 weeks.
July 17, 2021
Jace and his crew have been training as they get closer and closer to Earth. They are preparing for the fight that they know is coming with the Union. During a training session, they run across a drone crash site. Their discovery rabbit trails their journey and throws them into a war with a drone army which is controlled by a deranged cognitive. They must defeat him in order to have any chance of getting closer to Earth. Super fast-paced with lots of action. Not as much character growth in this one, but some heartwrenching moments with my favorite A.I.
March 27, 2024
Just another enjoyable book on the Renegade series. Maybe this one could be called "The Rise of Siggy." Or not.
Anyway, it starts a little slow but gains its footing toward the end... Which I have kinda noticed is a trend in this series. Either way, we peel back the onion just a little more with Renegade Fleet.
Maybe I'll read the entire series when all is said and done. Who knows. So much to read out there but with the Renegade series I kinda know what I'm going to get. Shortish episodic books that inch the overall arc closer to the endgame. I like it.
Anyway, it starts a little slow but gains its footing toward the end... Which I have kinda noticed is a trend in this series. Either way, we peel back the onion just a little more with Renegade Fleet.
Maybe I'll read the entire series when all is said and done. Who knows. So much to read out there but with the Renegade series I kinda know what I'm going to get. Shortish episodic books that inch the overall arc closer to the endgame. I like it.
June 22, 2018
And so we go on....
In this book Jace and Amanda have moved all of the people from the book before on to the Titan, started a huge training schedule on the small ships and continued to travel towards Earth.
They try to contact the avatar that runs the outer sentry posts but evidently something has happened tossing them into more fighting. There are more adventures to read about, so read and enjoy the book!!!
In this book Jace and Amanda have moved all of the people from the book before on to the Titan, started a huge training schedule on the small ships and continued to travel towards Earth.
They try to contact the avatar that runs the outer sentry posts but evidently something has happened tossing them into more fighting. There are more adventures to read about, so read and enjoy the book!!!
May 24, 2019
A JNC. SYFY. Novel. (AISOA. - RSB-5)
JNC. has. penned the fifth novel in the Renegade Series. In this action p asked thriller we find out reluctant hero discovering that the way to return to Earth is loaded with many traps and pitfalls. Then as things are lowering themselves they discover a way into the A. I. System, but even with that success comes a forceful display by Earth's A.I. As it attempts to take over everything. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
JNC. has. penned the fifth novel in the Renegade Series. In this action p asked thriller we find out reluctant hero discovering that the way to return to Earth is loaded with many traps and pitfalls. Then as things are lowering themselves they discover a way into the A. I. System, but even with that success comes a forceful display by Earth's A.I. As it attempts to take over everything. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
December 5, 2019
Surprise!
So much action! Jace and crew are pushed to their limits as they do their best to keep ahead of the Union, deal with interesting threats, and keep pushing on their journey to find Earth. The ending is just amazing!!! You really need to read this one. I’m off to read Renegade Earth now.
So much action! Jace and crew are pushed to their limits as they do their best to keep ahead of the Union, deal with interesting threats, and keep pushing on their journey to find Earth. The ending is just amazing!!! You really need to read this one. I’m off to read Renegade Earth now.
Read
December 24, 2019Another great book in the series.
Same review as before.
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Quick, easy, fun read.
It’s like a young Han Solo (Star Wars) or Malcolm Reynolds (Firefly/Serenity). Great fun.
I wish there were not so many swear words throughout the book. While not necessarily gratuitous, definitely over the top excessive and unnecessary.
Same review as before.
—————
Quick, easy, fun read.
It’s like a young Han Solo (Star Wars) or Malcolm Reynolds (Firefly/Serenity). Great fun.
I wish there were not so many swear words throughout the book. While not necessarily gratuitous, definitely over the top excessive and unnecessary.
August 29, 2021
Remember as a kid you would watch scfi or other bad TV, probably don't need to say "bad" as 90% even now is bad.. but you watched anyway glued to the box knowing it was probably awful but you like it anyway and eagerly await the next episode.
This series is like that. You know it's not great but it doesn't matter if you enjoy it.
This series is like that. You know it's not great but it doesn't matter if you enjoy it.
October 8, 2025
This is an excellent and COMPELLING series. Book 5 takes us closer to Earth, and provides us with more of Jace, Renegade, and captain of the Renegade Star and the Titan's origin story. We also are introduced to the Cognitives, who fly the space craft and oversee the supply stations on various planets, and the "trilobites", small destructive drones. The crew of the Titan has to destroy a humanoid-formed ship, which they do. They also shut down a Cognitive called Hephaestus which has malfunctioned.
July 18, 2018
Wonderful!!! Fantastic Characters!!
Love the development of the characters, the humor and the storyline. Just a wonderful read.
The story needs more action of the Eternals either with the Union or AI.
Love the development of the characters, the humor and the storyline. Just a wonderful read.
The story needs more action of the Eternals either with the Union or AI.
September 14, 2018
Robert's Review
Awesome, this series is really heating up as this universe and characters mature. I am looking forward to next installment, be it as short as the others, but satisfactory none the less. Thanks for the GoodRead.
Awesome, this series is really heating up as this universe and characters mature. I am looking forward to next installment, be it as short as the others, but satisfactory none the less. Thanks for the GoodRead.
October 15, 2018
Renegade fleet J.N. Chaney
Renegade Captain Jace and his crew are getting closer to Earth. The mythical planet people talk about. Does it truly exist? Non stop action, sacrifice, bravery. They are committed to achieving their goal, their dream. Enjoyed immensely!
Renegade Captain Jace and his crew are getting closer to Earth. The mythical planet people talk about. Does it truly exist? Non stop action, sacrifice, bravery. They are committed to achieving their goal, their dream. Enjoyed immensely!
September 16, 2019
Great addition to the series
They finally made it close to earth but now an old defense system won’t allow them easy access. It was great to see them battle someone other then the union. Great addition to the series!
They finally made it close to earth but now an old defense system won’t allow them easy access. It was great to see them battle someone other then the union. Great addition to the series!
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