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The Kin Wars Saga #2
Darkling
Soldier. Spy. Statesman.
Gabriel Espinoza is dead, yet living in a world where he never sees those he loves and cares about. Every day of his existence is one of fear; however, this fear keeps his edge sharpened and his senses honed while he continues to fight for his Emperor. Fear can be a useful tool in the proper hands…
Andrew Espinoza is both dead and alive, caught in a juxtaposition of identities that not even he can truly understand. He embraced his fear long before, and it has made him a loyal servant to the Dominion of Man. It also is his driving force, as he knows it is a double-edged sword that can either hurt him, or save him…
Kevin Espinoza is alive and well, doing what he can to bring about true equal rights throughout the Dominion as his world’s Representative in Parliament. He knows history, and can attest to the notion that fear can drive mankind to shape great nations, or destroy them all…
Fear is a wondrous tool, for it can drive a man to many acts of bravery—and defiance.
Gabriel Espinoza is dead, yet living in a world where he never sees those he loves and cares about. Every day of his existence is one of fear; however, this fear keeps his edge sharpened and his senses honed while he continues to fight for his Emperor. Fear can be a useful tool in the proper hands…
Andrew Espinoza is both dead and alive, caught in a juxtaposition of identities that not even he can truly understand. He embraced his fear long before, and it has made him a loyal servant to the Dominion of Man. It also is his driving force, as he knows it is a double-edged sword that can either hurt him, or save him…
Kevin Espinoza is alive and well, doing what he can to bring about true equal rights throughout the Dominion as his world’s Representative in Parliament. He knows history, and can attest to the notion that fear can drive mankind to shape great nations, or destroy them all…
Fear is a wondrous tool, for it can drive a man to many acts of bravery—and defiance.
363 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 10, 2018
22 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Jason Córdova
75 books56 followersBestselling author Jason Cordova is both a John W. Campbell Award and Dragon Award finalist (though not in the same year). He is the author of Mountain of Fire and Monster Hunter Memoirs: Fever (w/ Larry Correia), and editor of Chicks in Tank Tops and Dancing with Destruction.
Along the way, he has had novels published in multiple languages around the world, been featured in over 40 anthologies, and has penned over two dozen novels across many genres, including YA, horror, science fiction, and urban fantasy.
A history nerd, he is a Navy veteran, former teacher, and is currently an Associate Editor at Baen Books.
Along the way, he has had novels published in multiple languages around the world, been featured in over 40 anthologies, and has penned over two dozen novels across many genres, including YA, horror, science fiction, and urban fantasy.
A history nerd, he is a Navy veteran, former teacher, and is currently an Associate Editor at Baen Books.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 4, 2025
Jason Cordova knocked it out of the park again with this sequel, keeping up not only an excellent story, but making me even more connected to the characters here.
One thing I like about this book is that it has 3 main plotlines that are seemingly separate but somehow connected: Gabriel has the military plotline, Andrew has the spy plotline, and Kevin has the political plotline. (Part way through the book another mystery plotline featuring Christine starts as well)
I absolutely loved Gabriel's storyline. Getting to see what the inside of the Darkling suit was like, how his conditioning affected him, and how he had remained loyal to his family was just fantastic. It read like if Darth Vader was forced into the suit and worked for the emperor...but didn't actually turn evil. I really enjoyed Gabriel's plotline throughout, although there was a bit too much of a slowdown on Maelstrom in the middle of the book. My only real complaint really.
I also really enjoyed Andrew's storyline here. His cover being blown and being chased so many times really reminded me of Mission Impossible mixed with Andor. I felt so bad for him throughout, and I was on the edge of my seat to see what would happen to him.
Kevin had the smallest storyline of the three, but man is his storyline so impactful. Can't say why without spoilers, but his story was handled perfectly in the book.
Christine's plotline which starts in the middle was most excellent, and I was also on the edge of my seat with her story.
One thing that Jason does well is tackle interesting themes seemingly effortlessly. He explores themes about governmental power, equality, and the role of spy agencies, and none of it feels preachy. He also explores the merits of Independence in a way that many authors would not be able to tackle. Really excellent work here thematically.
The best thing I can say about the books though is that they are so engrossing. I just want to keep reading the books and I'm always hooked by the story. That's very hard to do, and Jason has done it with 2 books in a row here.
Overall, I loved Darkling, just as much if not more than I loved Wraithkin. Jason Cordova is quickly rising the ranks of my favorite authors, and the Kin Wars Saga is quickly rising the ranks of my favaorite Science Fiction series! 9.5 out of 10!
One thing I like about this book is that it has 3 main plotlines that are seemingly separate but somehow connected: Gabriel has the military plotline, Andrew has the spy plotline, and Kevin has the political plotline. (Part way through the book another mystery plotline featuring Christine starts as well)
I absolutely loved Gabriel's storyline. Getting to see what the inside of the Darkling suit was like, how his conditioning affected him, and how he had remained loyal to his family was just fantastic. It read like if Darth Vader was forced into the suit and worked for the emperor...but didn't actually turn evil. I really enjoyed Gabriel's plotline throughout, although there was a bit too much of a slowdown on Maelstrom in the middle of the book. My only real complaint really.
I also really enjoyed Andrew's storyline here. His cover being blown and being chased so many times really reminded me of Mission Impossible mixed with Andor. I felt so bad for him throughout, and I was on the edge of my seat to see what would happen to him.
Kevin had the smallest storyline of the three, but man is his storyline so impactful. Can't say why without spoilers, but his story was handled perfectly in the book.
Christine's plotline which starts in the middle was most excellent, and I was also on the edge of my seat with her story.
One thing that Jason does well is tackle interesting themes seemingly effortlessly. He explores themes about governmental power, equality, and the role of spy agencies, and none of it feels preachy. He also explores the merits of Independence in a way that many authors would not be able to tackle. Really excellent work here thematically.
The best thing I can say about the books though is that they are so engrossing. I just want to keep reading the books and I'm always hooked by the story. That's very hard to do, and Jason has done it with 2 books in a row here.
Overall, I loved Darkling, just as much if not more than I loved Wraithkin. Jason Cordova is quickly rising the ranks of my favorite authors, and the Kin Wars Saga is quickly rising the ranks of my favaorite Science Fiction series! 9.5 out of 10!
April 14, 2018
I read Jason Cordova's newest novel, the hotly awaited DARKLING, and enjoyed it immensely despite it being possibly the darkest military SF novel I've ever read. This is the tale of three brothers: Gabriel Espinoza, a Darkling super-soldier treated as subhuman due to being an Imperfect (that is, insufficiently disease-free for his time, as he may develop some rare disease down the line); Andrew Espinoza, a super-spy/chameleon mole who can take on any identity if need be; And Kevin Espinoza, a politician/diplomat. These brothers are all in strange situations, sitting on different types of powderkegs, and can't discuss them with each other due to various things that happened in the first book of the series, WRAITHKIN. (If for some reason you have yet to encounter WRAITHKIN, please read it without delay.)
Anyway, because so much of this book rests on the twists and turns and political machinations and the war-torn strife Gabriel, in particular, seems to be drawn to like a magnet, I can't say much about the plot. Except that it's absorbing, and actually made me gasp in pain a few times due to the visceral nature of the writing.
In short, DARKLING is intelligent, violent, intriguing, sometimes desperately depressing, and a damned absorbing read. I call it "grim-dark military SF," and give it my highest recommendation despite it being a little bit different than many books I've read. (I do hope, though, that in the third book of the Kin Wars Saga, that we finally see a little peace or happiness or something, even if it's only for one page, for the Espinoza brothers.)
Five stars. Recommended.
Barb Caffrey
Anyway, because so much of this book rests on the twists and turns and political machinations and the war-torn strife Gabriel, in particular, seems to be drawn to like a magnet, I can't say much about the plot. Except that it's absorbing, and actually made me gasp in pain a few times due to the visceral nature of the writing.
In short, DARKLING is intelligent, violent, intriguing, sometimes desperately depressing, and a damned absorbing read. I call it "grim-dark military SF," and give it my highest recommendation despite it being a little bit different than many books I've read. (I do hope, though, that in the third book of the Kin Wars Saga, that we finally see a little peace or happiness or something, even if it's only for one page, for the Espinoza brothers.)
Five stars. Recommended.
Barb Caffrey
October 31, 2018
This is the second book in the Kin Wars saga, and it's a great entry. Andrew Espinoza is a spy on the run, after somebody in a position of power puts the agency he works for on a terrorist watchlist. His girlfriend, also a spy, goes to hide at the family farm, only to be attacked there, and saved by Gabriel's telekinetic daughter.
Meanwhile, his supposedly dead brother, Gabriel, is sent on a mission to recon a planet full of rebels against the Dominion of Man and the Emperor. Kevin, the third brother, introduces legislation to Parliament at the request of the Princess Royal, heir to the throne, and is assassinated, along with her. Andrew, taking on a persona of someone in the aristocracy, is forced to take on the role for real, by the matriarch, when she announces he is her heir.
After being captured and escaping from the rebels, Gabriel realises that while 9 months have gone by for him, only 3 weeks have for the Dominion, and that the Rebels have had over a hundred years to prepare for an invasion of the Dominion. He succeeds in delaying their fleet by subterfuge, but almost fails to save the Emperor. The Emperor, confesses he is responsible for the plight of the family Espinoza, the reason Gabriel is a Darkling, the death of Kevin, and Gabriel shoots him dead.
Meanwhile, his supposedly dead brother, Gabriel, is sent on a mission to recon a planet full of rebels against the Dominion of Man and the Emperor. Kevin, the third brother, introduces legislation to Parliament at the request of the Princess Royal, heir to the throne, and is assassinated, along with her. Andrew, taking on a persona of someone in the aristocracy, is forced to take on the role for real, by the matriarch, when she announces he is her heir.
After being captured and escaping from the rebels, Gabriel realises that while 9 months have gone by for him, only 3 weeks have for the Dominion, and that the Rebels have had over a hundred years to prepare for an invasion of the Dominion. He succeeds in delaying their fleet by subterfuge, but almost fails to save the Emperor. The Emperor, confesses he is responsible for the plight of the family Espinoza, the reason Gabriel is a Darkling, the death of Kevin, and Gabriel shoots him dead.
August 16, 2018
A world torn apart
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a fast paced read that kept me going until I finished it in one sitting. Editing was good, and while there were a few inconsistencies or continuity issues, they were mainly for plot expedience, and kept the characters involved from being invincible.
This book picks up where the other left off. We are introduced to an expanding plot, and given much more lore and background for this universe in a well thought and unobtrusive manner. We continue to see the dangers to the empire introduced in the last book, but also see new threats rise from the shadows. I look forward to the next book in the series.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a fast paced read that kept me going until I finished it in one sitting. Editing was good, and while there were a few inconsistencies or continuity issues, they were mainly for plot expedience, and kept the characters involved from being invincible.
This book picks up where the other left off. We are introduced to an expanding plot, and given much more lore and background for this universe in a well thought and unobtrusive manner. We continue to see the dangers to the empire introduced in the last book, but also see new threats rise from the shadows. I look forward to the next book in the series.
April 15, 2018
Well worth the wait!
I have been waiting for the release of this book since I finished the first in the series. The sequel tops the first and that was hard to do. Lot of good plot developments. Characters just get better. I read this on Kindle Unlimited.
I have been waiting for the release of this book since I finished the first in the series. The sequel tops the first and that was hard to do. Lot of good plot developments. Characters just get better. I read this on Kindle Unlimited.
May 12, 2018
Someone is playing the long game
Actually multiple people are playing the long game. Secrets have come out and what secrets they are. Lives have been ruined and people have been killed. Can’t wait for the next one to see what else happens!!
Actually multiple people are playing the long game. Secrets have come out and what secrets they are. Lives have been ruined and people have been killed. Can’t wait for the next one to see what else happens!!
April 30, 2019
Interesting book, the ending is predictable if you think like the main character, but I'd wager most will find it a surprise. I'm definitely anxious to see the next book in this series, it should be a good one.
July 14, 2020
Emperor prolly should have thought that through without a concussion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews