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The Elderon Chronicles #1
Colony One
From the author of The Fringe comes a riveting new adventure in space.
Maggie Barnes is at the end of her rope. She’s young and broke living in New York, and her newspaper job has been taken by robots. When she’s offered a job aboard the first civilian space colony, Maggie thinks it’s her lucky break.
For Jonah Wyatt, the Space Force is his last shot at a military career. After years of tracking down the members of a deadly cyberterrorism ring, he was discharged from the army and stuck toning the asses of LA’s elite. Now this disgraced combat specialist is headed to space.
At first glance, Elderon seems to be a futuristic utopia: Bots do the laundry, meat comes from a lab, and the latest technology expands the scope of human capability. But as Maggie digs deeper, she realizes that Elderon is not at all what it seems. When she receives a tip from an unknown source, she’ll go undercover to learn the truth and place herself in the crosshairs of an all-out war.
Maggie Barnes is at the end of her rope. She’s young and broke living in New York, and her newspaper job has been taken by robots. When she’s offered a job aboard the first civilian space colony, Maggie thinks it’s her lucky break.
For Jonah Wyatt, the Space Force is his last shot at a military career. After years of tracking down the members of a deadly cyberterrorism ring, he was discharged from the army and stuck toning the asses of LA’s elite. Now this disgraced combat specialist is headed to space.
At first glance, Elderon seems to be a futuristic utopia: Bots do the laundry, meat comes from a lab, and the latest technology expands the scope of human capability. But as Maggie digs deeper, she realizes that Elderon is not at all what it seems. When she receives a tip from an unknown source, she’ll go undercover to learn the truth and place herself in the crosshairs of an all-out war.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 22, 2018
1140 people are currently reading
1465 people want to read
About the author
Tarah Benner
39 books348 followersTarah Benner is the author of more than 25 books, including Witches of Mountain Shadow, Mountain Shadow Mysteries, The Fringe, the Elderon Chronicles, the Lawless Saga, and more.
She lives and writes in sunny Colorado with her two dogs, a cat, a toddler, and her beloved partner in crime. When she’s not writing, she enjoys breakfast, hiking, yoga, and martial arts.
She lives and writes in sunny Colorado with her two dogs, a cat, a toddler, and her beloved partner in crime. When she’s not writing, she enjoys breakfast, hiking, yoga, and martial arts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
November 26, 2018
10* Fave...
Damn that was good- so good I read it straight through without even pausing to surf the internet or GR! That's an amazing feat for me, if that tells you anything.
The story follows a journalist and a military soldier as they accept 5 year positions on the first colonized space station-Elderon. Their paths intercept after realizing that there is more to Elderon then meets the eye and they find themselves embroiled together in a major conspiracy.
If you like soft space operas then you don't want to miss this one. It's going on my favorites shelf.
I should be trying to sleep right now but my desire to find out what happens in book two is outweighing any rational decisions. : )
*Read for 2018 AMMP Bairn Bingo - Elephant
Damn that was good- so good I read it straight through without even pausing to surf the internet or GR! That's an amazing feat for me, if that tells you anything.
The story follows a journalist and a military soldier as they accept 5 year positions on the first colonized space station-Elderon. Their paths intercept after realizing that there is more to Elderon then meets the eye and they find themselves embroiled together in a major conspiracy.
If you like soft space operas then you don't want to miss this one. It's going on my favorites shelf.
I should be trying to sleep right now but my desire to find out what happens in book two is outweighing any rational decisions. : )
*Read for 2018 AMMP Bairn Bingo - Elephant
June 2, 2023
Do you always wonder if a character is wearing a bra or not? Are you wishing with every read that there were more descriptions of women in a tshirt and underwear? This book is for you! The base idea - tech outpacing law, hackers using tech to do terrorism, androids you can't tell from people - those are all interesting to explore. The issue is that the book doesn't explore them. Lots of talk about how hot the protagonists are. The male lead doesn't think much of women until he meets the female lead. The characters are flat, the writing comes off like a horny 14 year old is imaging what would be sexy and adult, and its kind of boring.
January 4, 2020
I was in the mood for a space station story so I decided to give this a read. It's been in my TBR pile for a while and one of my resolutions this year is to whittle away at that more than I have in the past.
This was a good story and I already want to go on to the next book (thanks Kindle Unlimited!). The story is told from two POVs, Maggie a journalist who has just been replaced at her newspaper by AI and Jonah, a former soldier whose life is in a bad rut. Both are given the opportunity to work for Maverick Enterprises on the first civilian space station, Elderon also known as Colony One. Maggie's puff pieces are to cast the company in a good light to basically sell the station to the masses as a destination they'd like to visit. Jonah's joined the private Space Force and his prior skillset is suited. Before too long, the fact that the Space Force has more recruits than seems normal and the inclusion of a bot company in the mix, all start to raise questions in our resident journalist. Things on Earth take a turn and then it's an all-out page-turner to the end.
The story was a good one and I have to say the strength lay in the parts about technology and its influence, intrusion and utility in the lives of everyone. Maggie's mother, a nurse, is replaced at her hospital by a bot. The SPIDER technology felt too likely for my comfort. The food lab was fascinating and while initially, the meat making was a bit off-putting, I decided that I could eat it. I thought the "garden" was very cool. The Optix seemed probable, useful and more addictive than mobile phones (if that's possible). Another highlight of the story is the suspense and action that finally kick in at the 67% mark when some robots on Earth start attacking people. I had to smile at an instance of bots going off on a bunch of theatregoers at a showing of Terminator.
There's a lot here to recommend it but there were a few points that were problems for me. There is a very bad case of "snapping" eyes in this story. It's constantly happening and not only did I start to think this should be something people can hear, I wished very much for there to be another descriptor in use for sharp looks given. Hopefully, that wanes in the next installment. And there are a couple of moments of shenanigans I have to call. First, let me say that the story was very much flirting with being romantic suspense. We have Maggie and Jonah but there's also Tripp Van de Graff (who sadly didn't get a POV in this book though he'seemed most interesting) so there's a bit of an attraction triangle. Fine. But Maggie and Jonah, both had instances where they seemed not to know that those physical stirrings in their bodies meant they were attracted to each other. It rang false. They're not tweens and Jonah very clearly got laid almost as soon as we meet him. I'm not a fan of adults acting like they don't know things they clearly should know. Fortunately, the instances are sparse, just enough to annoy not enough to derail the story or entirely damage the characters. The bigger shenanigan offence comes in for Maggie. She's rescued by Jonah after several hours on the floor of an airlock, bound, beaten and gagged and she's pulled free from a bot's death grip around her neck which results in gashes on her neck that are bleeding at a good rate and more bots are in pursuit... but she takes a moment to note how good Jonah smells. Girl, what?! All the shenanigans called and it took me right out of the story.
I'm going to read the next book so definitely recommended. Come for the space station, stay for the suspense.
This was a good story and I already want to go on to the next book (thanks Kindle Unlimited!). The story is told from two POVs, Maggie a journalist who has just been replaced at her newspaper by AI and Jonah, a former soldier whose life is in a bad rut. Both are given the opportunity to work for Maverick Enterprises on the first civilian space station, Elderon also known as Colony One. Maggie's puff pieces are to cast the company in a good light to basically sell the station to the masses as a destination they'd like to visit. Jonah's joined the private Space Force and his prior skillset is suited. Before too long, the fact that the Space Force has more recruits than seems normal and the inclusion of a bot company in the mix, all start to raise questions in our resident journalist. Things on Earth take a turn and then it's an all-out page-turner to the end.
The story was a good one and I have to say the strength lay in the parts about technology and its influence, intrusion and utility in the lives of everyone. Maggie's mother, a nurse, is replaced at her hospital by a bot. The SPIDER technology felt too likely for my comfort. The food lab was fascinating and while initially, the meat making was a bit off-putting, I decided that I could eat it. I thought the "garden" was very cool. The Optix seemed probable, useful and more addictive than mobile phones (if that's possible). Another highlight of the story is the suspense and action that finally kick in at the 67% mark when some robots on Earth start attacking people. I had to smile at an instance of bots going off on a bunch of theatregoers at a showing of Terminator.
There's a lot here to recommend it but there were a few points that were problems for me. There is a very bad case of "snapping" eyes in this story. It's constantly happening and not only did I start to think this should be something people can hear, I wished very much for there to be another descriptor in use for sharp looks given. Hopefully, that wanes in the next installment. And there are a couple of moments of shenanigans I have to call. First, let me say that the story was very much flirting with being romantic suspense. We have Maggie and Jonah but there's also Tripp Van de Graff (who sadly didn't get a POV in this book though he'seemed most interesting) so there's a bit of an attraction triangle. Fine. But Maggie and Jonah, both had instances where they seemed not to know that those physical stirrings in their bodies meant they were attracted to each other. It rang false. They're not tweens and Jonah very clearly got laid almost as soon as we meet him. I'm not a fan of adults acting like they don't know things they clearly should know. Fortunately, the instances are sparse, just enough to annoy not enough to derail the story or entirely damage the characters. The bigger shenanigan offence comes in for Maggie. She's rescued by Jonah after several hours on the floor of an airlock, bound, beaten and gagged and she's pulled free from a bot's death grip around her neck which results in gashes on her neck that are bleeding at a good rate and more bots are in pursuit... but she takes a moment to note how good Jonah smells. Girl, what?! All the shenanigans called and it took me right out of the story.
I'm going to read the next book so definitely recommended. Come for the space station, stay for the suspense.
abandoned
March 15, 2021Page 1 has us in frigidly cold Siberia. We're introduced to four characters (Jonah, Rogers, Jefferson, and Lovingood). We're told Jefferson has brown fingers and will steal the skittles from your MREs if you aren't careful.
I don't think I've ever seen so many red flags on a first page before.
Abandoned.
I don't think I've ever seen so many red flags on a first page before.
Abandoned.
March 7, 2023
Even tho I knew going in it was the first book in a series, still very annoying when things finally get interesting and then it ends, saying, "download the second in this series to see what happens..." I didn't care enough to do so.
December 5, 2023
Really enjoyed the book but the ending ruined it for me. I'm now torn between wanting to read the next book and refusing to read it to avoid another disappointing ending!
November 4, 2023
This book was… weirdly good? I started reading it because it was free on Apple Books and I didn’t want to pay attention in class, but it was surprisingly interesting. I thought the concept of a space civilization was well researched, especially considered her explanations for certain things in her author notes at the end of the book, along with the robotics angle spicing it up a bit. Some of the writing was a bit lackluster at times, but I enjoyed how the author switched back and forth from the point of view of our two main characters. The cliffhanger/surprise ending was fun too.
May 24, 2023
Tarah Benner's Colony One sounded interesting and I was looking forward to reading an engaging and fun science fiction novel, but sadly, it fell short in every aspect. From its clichéd characters to its unsatisfying cliffhanger ending, this book left me feeling as though I wasted valuable time.
Let's start with the characters. One would hope for a diverse and well-developed cast in a story set in a space colony, but instead, Benner presents us with cardboard cutouts straight out of a recycled script. We have the disheveled but perky pop-culture journalist who wants to be "the real thing," the brooding ex-military man who wants another chance, and a typical supporting cast of characters including the goofy sidekick and the mean girl. These characters lack any genuine depth or growth, making it impossible to care about their fates. It felt as though the author had simply assembled a checklist of clichéd archetypes rather than investing time and effort into creating memorable and authentic individuals.
To make matters worse, the dialogue throughout Colony One could be more coherent and inspired. Characters speak in predictable, stilted phrases that only serve to reinforce the lack of originality in their personalities. The interactions between them feel forced and unnatural, adding to the overall sense of artificiality that permeates the entire narrative.
And then there's the ending—or should I say lack thereof? Benner's decision to end the book on a cliffhanger is not only disappointing but also feels like a cheap ploy to keep readers hooked for the next installment. Instead of providing closure or a satisfying resolution to the story's numerous plot threads, the author abruptly cuts off the narrative, leaving readers frustrated. It's a lazy narrative device that smacks of a lack of imagination and a reliance on gimmicks rather than solid storytelling. Needless to say, Benner's gimmick didn't work and I won't be reading the next novel.
Furthermore, I found the world-building in Colony One shallow and underdeveloped. The reasons for the colony are never convincingly established. And although the descriptions of it and its inhabitants provide some detail, Benner fails to create a vivid and immersive setting. The futuristic technology is introduced without much explanation or exploration, leaving the reader with an incomplete understanding of the world they are meant to inhabit.
The novel was disappointing and I struggled to finish it. The clichéd characters, unimaginative dialogue, and frustrating cliffhanger ending all contribute to a lackluster reading experience. If you're seeking an original and well-crafted science fiction story, I suggest looking elsewhere.
Let's start with the characters. One would hope for a diverse and well-developed cast in a story set in a space colony, but instead, Benner presents us with cardboard cutouts straight out of a recycled script. We have the disheveled but perky pop-culture journalist who wants to be "the real thing," the brooding ex-military man who wants another chance, and a typical supporting cast of characters including the goofy sidekick and the mean girl. These characters lack any genuine depth or growth, making it impossible to care about their fates. It felt as though the author had simply assembled a checklist of clichéd archetypes rather than investing time and effort into creating memorable and authentic individuals.
To make matters worse, the dialogue throughout Colony One could be more coherent and inspired. Characters speak in predictable, stilted phrases that only serve to reinforce the lack of originality in their personalities. The interactions between them feel forced and unnatural, adding to the overall sense of artificiality that permeates the entire narrative.
And then there's the ending—or should I say lack thereof? Benner's decision to end the book on a cliffhanger is not only disappointing but also feels like a cheap ploy to keep readers hooked for the next installment. Instead of providing closure or a satisfying resolution to the story's numerous plot threads, the author abruptly cuts off the narrative, leaving readers frustrated. It's a lazy narrative device that smacks of a lack of imagination and a reliance on gimmicks rather than solid storytelling. Needless to say, Benner's gimmick didn't work and I won't be reading the next novel.
Furthermore, I found the world-building in Colony One shallow and underdeveloped. The reasons for the colony are never convincingly established. And although the descriptions of it and its inhabitants provide some detail, Benner fails to create a vivid and immersive setting. The futuristic technology is introduced without much explanation or exploration, leaving the reader with an incomplete understanding of the world they are meant to inhabit.
The novel was disappointing and I struggled to finish it. The clichéd characters, unimaginative dialogue, and frustrating cliffhanger ending all contribute to a lackluster reading experience. If you're seeking an original and well-crafted science fiction story, I suggest looking elsewhere.
January 28, 2023
Leaves you hanging…what a ripoff!
Just as the climax of the story is reached and all hell is about to break loose, it ends and you are directed to purchase the next book in the series. I HATE this trend! The writing is good, characters believable, and a great plot, but I refuse to buy into such a blatant ploy for more money.
Just as the climax of the story is reached and all hell is about to break loose, it ends and you are directed to purchase the next book in the series. I HATE this trend! The writing is good, characters believable, and a great plot, but I refuse to buy into such a blatant ploy for more money.
February 26, 2020
Cliches abound.
Poorly written, every cliche in the book of how not to write a gripping story abound. Only finished reading so as not to completely waste my money. Not an original paragraph throughout, pulp fiction at it's lowest, cheesiest form.
Poorly written, every cliche in the book of how not to write a gripping story abound. Only finished reading so as not to completely waste my money. Not an original paragraph throughout, pulp fiction at it's lowest, cheesiest form.
April 27, 2018
I've never read any other books by Tarah Benner but saw this one and it piqued my interest - having now finished it I must say I will certainly be looking at some of her others as this was fantastic.
Maggie is a disgruntled journalist stuck writing fluff pieces and finally cracks and blasts her employer via her column after her serious story is bumped and she's informed AI will be taking other from some journalists at the paper. As a result she comes to the attention of one of the men behind a company opening the first manned space colony and is offered a job reporting there.
Jonah is a troubled ex-soldier struggling to fit into regular civilian life, an old colleague returns to his life and offers him a job working to train soldiers for the 'Space Force' on the new space colony.
Upon arrival at the space colony things aren't quite what they seem, there are far too many soldiers for a civilian colony and an abnormally high amount of expenditure. Maggie decides to look into things still searching for a real story instead of writing fluff and gets help from some inside sources to enter the Space Force disguised as a recruit.
I found it extremely hard to put down, the pages flew by and after managing to peel myself away once in the afternoon I was back into it in the evening and finished it in two sittings. The writing style was good, things flowed well and the changing perspective from which the story was told was clear cut and well executed.
Would recommend!
Maggie is a disgruntled journalist stuck writing fluff pieces and finally cracks and blasts her employer via her column after her serious story is bumped and she's informed AI will be taking other from some journalists at the paper. As a result she comes to the attention of one of the men behind a company opening the first manned space colony and is offered a job reporting there.
Jonah is a troubled ex-soldier struggling to fit into regular civilian life, an old colleague returns to his life and offers him a job working to train soldiers for the 'Space Force' on the new space colony.
Upon arrival at the space colony things aren't quite what they seem, there are far too many soldiers for a civilian colony and an abnormally high amount of expenditure. Maggie decides to look into things still searching for a real story instead of writing fluff and gets help from some inside sources to enter the Space Force disguised as a recruit.
I found it extremely hard to put down, the pages flew by and after managing to peel myself away once in the afternoon I was back into it in the evening and finished it in two sittings. The writing style was good, things flowed well and the changing perspective from which the story was told was clear cut and well executed.
Would recommend!
July 4, 2024
Not what I expected and not what I enjoy - but not badly written. Except the mentions of "a personality disorder", as if it would be too much research work for the author to decide which one. Especially annoying because not every personality disorder is the same and I assume not every single one would lead to someone being kicked out of army. In fact, there are a few that seem to be rather useful for army members...
April 16, 2021
Colony One by Tarah Benner is a technological thriller that uses science fiction as a backdrop fifty years in Earth’s future. A corporation has established an orbital space habitat called Elderon, and the story follows a freelance reporter and an ex-soldier as they restart their careers as part of the initial staff of said station. I found it to be well-paced and briskly unfolded the story.
The couple of things that I enjoyed most were the subtle use of hard science for many of the aspects of the story. I also appreciated the deliberate pace as the story developed. There were hints of what might happen, but many were red herrings and others were complete surprises. It allowed the main characters to develop naturally and for the reader to get to know and appreciate their personalities.
As the story progresses, the characters are drawn deeper into something that doesn’t seem right. Again, as a reader, I enjoyed trying to figure out the plot through the character’s eyes. The author did a good job of making them feel real, and someone I wanted to care about. The two main characters also had the kinship in the way they were both trying to re-establish their careers, while at the same time being completely different personalities. One makes a living from chaos, the other from order.
My dissatisfaction comes from the end of this story. First, the villain makes the overused trope of letting the protagonist figure out who is behind the chaos, but at the same time, tying them up and letting them live to tell the world at some point. I think that this would be forgivable, but the story comes to an end without really coming to a conclusion. The reader is left frustrated that they won’t be able to find out what happens to the characters they care about unless they purchase the next installment. The end is not a satisfying wrap-up, and it leaves far too many of the story lines incomplete. In some ways, if this is a three-act story, this would be only the first act. I would have preferred to have the complete story available.
Overall, I enjoyed everything about this story except for the ending. I don’t have any concrete plans to pick up the second book in the series because I’m worried it will end the same way. Although I’m not fond of the ending, I still give the first installment a strong four out of five on Goodreads.
The couple of things that I enjoyed most were the subtle use of hard science for many of the aspects of the story. I also appreciated the deliberate pace as the story developed. There were hints of what might happen, but many were red herrings and others were complete surprises. It allowed the main characters to develop naturally and for the reader to get to know and appreciate their personalities.
As the story progresses, the characters are drawn deeper into something that doesn’t seem right. Again, as a reader, I enjoyed trying to figure out the plot through the character’s eyes. The author did a good job of making them feel real, and someone I wanted to care about. The two main characters also had the kinship in the way they were both trying to re-establish their careers, while at the same time being completely different personalities. One makes a living from chaos, the other from order.
My dissatisfaction comes from the end of this story. First, the villain makes the overused trope of letting the protagonist figure out who is behind the chaos, but at the same time, tying them up and letting them live to tell the world at some point. I think that this would be forgivable, but the story comes to an end without really coming to a conclusion. The reader is left frustrated that they won’t be able to find out what happens to the characters they care about unless they purchase the next installment. The end is not a satisfying wrap-up, and it leaves far too many of the story lines incomplete. In some ways, if this is a three-act story, this would be only the first act. I would have preferred to have the complete story available.
Overall, I enjoyed everything about this story except for the ending. I don’t have any concrete plans to pick up the second book in the series because I’m worried it will end the same way. Although I’m not fond of the ending, I still give the first installment a strong four out of five on Goodreads.
Read
August 7, 2023I'm unsure how to rate this book, as it ends right in the middle of the action, and thus my feelings towards
that
little surprise have overshadowed any feelings I had about the actual story. One mystery has just been found out (but nothing's been done about it yet), another mystery has just appeared, and things are getting tense - but that's all continued in the next book. (Or is it? I've read reviews that say book 2 is just book 1 but on Earth, so maybe it's continued in book 3?)
I've no problem with setting up future books, but this feels like the author took a finished book and only uploaded so many chapters.
I've no problem with setting up future books, but this feels like the author took a finished book and only uploaded so many chapters.
June 3, 2024
This was not a book. There was no conclusion to the story. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind a cliffhanger, but this was not that. This was ending the story part way thru. I’m assuming as a gimmick for more sales.
If you want to release your novel in parts, at least make that know beforehand that there is no conclusion in this part. Tho I suspect, like myself, no one would have picked it up in that case.
I would have likely rated this high as I did enjoy the story until the end, but bad behavior like this should not be rewarded. Glad I didn’t pay money for this one. I will not be buying the rest.
If you want to release your novel in parts, at least make that know beforehand that there is no conclusion in this part. Tho I suspect, like myself, no one would have picked it up in that case.
I would have likely rated this high as I did enjoy the story until the end, but bad behavior like this should not be rewarded. Glad I didn’t pay money for this one. I will not be buying the rest.
August 19, 2025
Ends on a cliffhanger in the middle of action. Nonsensical ending to the book that’s almost certainly a money grab. The author rails against AI in the end matter, but I definitely think that she used AI to write at least some of the book. Everything in this book was underdeveloped and shallow. Not even a cliffhanger would convince me to read the second novel. I got the book expecting a conclusion to be included, and there is no guarantee there will be a conclusion in book 2. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
February 3, 2021
A chic flick in space sci-if novel about a rich coporation building a space station and staffing it with the elite against an earth based threat.
The usual mix of spies, military, corporate greed, rich kids playing at being poor, rouge robots, conspiracies, haunted-by-the-past soldiers, cheeky reporters, and more.
The usual mix of spies, military, corporate greed, rich kids playing at being poor, rouge robots, conspiracies, haunted-by-the-past soldiers, cheeky reporters, and more.
April 29, 2018
Outstanding/Makes you think!!!
After reading this very well researched futuristic book, I'm still up at 3am thinking about the ramifications of a future robotics society. It's scary. It's here! The future is here!
No, I don't own a Google car, but I do use the ez pay kiosk at Red Robin to order dessert and pay my tab; I don't use ECHO or its counterparts, but I recently had robotic surgery and my pharmacy fills my prescriptions robotically. These are now standard advancements in our technology made to improve our lives.
But what happens when these same technological advancements are hacked or even outright developed to commit war on us as in cyberterrorism? This is a concept I have little thought about...until now!
Tara Benner has created a very real so-called technologically advanced society on earth, circa 2075, as well as a newly developed space colony. The lives of average citizens are impacted in ways that I hadn't thought about previously......this story is an enormous wake-up call!
If humans can build/program robotic cars, food services, surgical procedures, media and shopping services to "serve" our consumer/corporate greed, it is no stretch to believe, nay, understand the very same technology to be used against humankind as with cyberterrorism. Again, the future is here! It has happened! And it is scary!
Benner has created characters such as Joshua and Maggie, two people who have never met pteviously, both accepting positions on the newly constructed space colony Elderon. Maggie is a news reporter. Joshua an army specialist. Both average Americans whose lives intersect on Elderon as they become shockingly aware of how dangerous technology can be in the wrong hands. All one has to do is be reminded of WWII and the advanced military machinery of Germany as it swept Europe and Africa! They used blimps as advanced weaponry....we now have drones!
I use these comparisons as I lay awake in deep thought hours after reading Colony One. Ice cold water in the face is nothing in comparison!
Americans suffered 911 with its human hijackers, but what if they had done the same on a larger scale by hacking the airplane computerized systems? Too farfetched you say? Better you wake up and face reality because technology is that advanced, and corporate greed partnered with the focus on world domination is a fact of life.
Benner lays out a, albeit fictional, furistic plot that will knock your socks off! I'm no naive youngster......I've lived several decades and seen/used the comforts of advanced technology and still do, but this is a must-read to all breathing, thinking consumers. Dystopian fans won't see vampires and magic here.....Cold, hard facts are incorporated into the plot. Tech readers, readers of the sciences, readers of military history, readers of consumer technologies combined with those who enjoy the dystoptian genre 'need' to read this book. It is the first in a series that beckons one to open their eyes and do a bit of research. It's frighteningly real....it's already here, and, lest we forget, our lives are changing rapidly in a direction that can be easily forced off-track! READ THE BOOK! For myself, I anxiously await the next book in this amazing series. Tara Benner is amazing!!!! Her research and creative writing is second to none. Although I received an ARC of this book, I pride myself on giving an honest review. This is a full five stars!
After reading this very well researched futuristic book, I'm still up at 3am thinking about the ramifications of a future robotics society. It's scary. It's here! The future is here!
No, I don't own a Google car, but I do use the ez pay kiosk at Red Robin to order dessert and pay my tab; I don't use ECHO or its counterparts, but I recently had robotic surgery and my pharmacy fills my prescriptions robotically. These are now standard advancements in our technology made to improve our lives.
But what happens when these same technological advancements are hacked or even outright developed to commit war on us as in cyberterrorism? This is a concept I have little thought about...until now!
Tara Benner has created a very real so-called technologically advanced society on earth, circa 2075, as well as a newly developed space colony. The lives of average citizens are impacted in ways that I hadn't thought about previously......this story is an enormous wake-up call!
If humans can build/program robotic cars, food services, surgical procedures, media and shopping services to "serve" our consumer/corporate greed, it is no stretch to believe, nay, understand the very same technology to be used against humankind as with cyberterrorism. Again, the future is here! It has happened! And it is scary!
Benner has created characters such as Joshua and Maggie, two people who have never met pteviously, both accepting positions on the newly constructed space colony Elderon. Maggie is a news reporter. Joshua an army specialist. Both average Americans whose lives intersect on Elderon as they become shockingly aware of how dangerous technology can be in the wrong hands. All one has to do is be reminded of WWII and the advanced military machinery of Germany as it swept Europe and Africa! They used blimps as advanced weaponry....we now have drones!
I use these comparisons as I lay awake in deep thought hours after reading Colony One. Ice cold water in the face is nothing in comparison!
Americans suffered 911 with its human hijackers, but what if they had done the same on a larger scale by hacking the airplane computerized systems? Too farfetched you say? Better you wake up and face reality because technology is that advanced, and corporate greed partnered with the focus on world domination is a fact of life.
Benner lays out a, albeit fictional, furistic plot that will knock your socks off! I'm no naive youngster......I've lived several decades and seen/used the comforts of advanced technology and still do, but this is a must-read to all breathing, thinking consumers. Dystopian fans won't see vampires and magic here.....Cold, hard facts are incorporated into the plot. Tech readers, readers of the sciences, readers of military history, readers of consumer technologies combined with those who enjoy the dystoptian genre 'need' to read this book. It is the first in a series that beckons one to open their eyes and do a bit of research. It's frighteningly real....it's already here, and, lest we forget, our lives are changing rapidly in a direction that can be easily forced off-track! READ THE BOOK! For myself, I anxiously await the next book in this amazing series. Tara Benner is amazing!!!! Her research and creative writing is second to none. Although I received an ARC of this book, I pride myself on giving an honest review. This is a full five stars!
August 8, 2023
If I could give this book a 3.5/5, I would. I got it for free, as part of Amazon's Prime program. My expectations were low. I was wrong. This novel has character development and a real plot. The setting is more technically believable than many so-called 'hard' SF novels I've picked up on the cheap. One could categorize the book in the tradition of 'hard' SF because the author did make a successful effort to incorporate believable technology -- mostly present stuff updated plausibly. For example, the space station architecture, the robots, the computer systems, and the comm gear of 2075 are consistent with tech trends and limited by the laws of physics. She did fall short with some mundane tech. For example, I'm certain there won't be any fluorescent lights or tile floors in the hallways of a space station in 2075.
The main character is a reporter, and the author seems familiar with the world of journalism, which was interesting. The author also knows something about martial arts and describes it well.
The pacing is fast. I enjoy that. At times, scenes alternate the first person point of view between the protagonist, Maggie, and the male support, Travis, which produces interesting action scenes where you experience what each is feeling and thinking. This is immersive and enjoyable.
The writing is clear. Rarely did I hit a string of dialog where I lost track of who's speaking in contrast to the great Robert Heinlein's novels. The female protagonist has a believable background. She makes some credible mistakes and misjudgments. She is never excused because she is female. 'Expect more from women of the future' seems to be a sub-theme of this novel. Keep writing protagonists like Maggie Barnes, and I'll read another. She's almost as entertaining as Tom Clancy's Ryan.
The protagonist initially spends a seemingly unnecessarily large amount of time on her appearance. Perhaps this is just how women really think today, and I, a male, am seeing the consequences clearly. This was intriguing. I have no reference points, so I have no answers, but the story made me think of something I had never thought about before, so it earns points as good SF.
Flaws: 1) The main character asks the question, "Why do we have so many military people on a residential space station?" Answering this question is the main driver of the plot. The threats from a terrorist group could be just as well fought on earth's surface at far less cost so this question is well-founded, but never answered. (Must I read another or all the volumes in the set to find out?) We are given a number of rogue robots that come onstage later in the book, and a villain is exposed, but it's like we've been thrown a bone. There are enough other loose ends to lure me back, but not getting the answer to the primary question is dissatisfying. I am not accustomed to reading series of novels. If the answer to the mystery is big and complicated then we readers should hear this and then expectations would be set.
2) The Space Force is running a boot camp on the station. That seems an uneconomic, implausible way to train raw recruits. In the story, Maggie doesn't ask them why they are there, and the raw recruits don't ask the question either. There should at least be a cover story that they have all been told.
3) With several characters, parts of the dialog are hyperbole, but to my ear, it makes the speaker sound like a teenager.
The main character is a reporter, and the author seems familiar with the world of journalism, which was interesting. The author also knows something about martial arts and describes it well.
The pacing is fast. I enjoy that. At times, scenes alternate the first person point of view between the protagonist, Maggie, and the male support, Travis, which produces interesting action scenes where you experience what each is feeling and thinking. This is immersive and enjoyable.
The writing is clear. Rarely did I hit a string of dialog where I lost track of who's speaking in contrast to the great Robert Heinlein's novels. The female protagonist has a believable background. She makes some credible mistakes and misjudgments. She is never excused because she is female. 'Expect more from women of the future' seems to be a sub-theme of this novel. Keep writing protagonists like Maggie Barnes, and I'll read another. She's almost as entertaining as Tom Clancy's Ryan.
The protagonist initially spends a seemingly unnecessarily large amount of time on her appearance. Perhaps this is just how women really think today, and I, a male, am seeing the consequences clearly. This was intriguing. I have no reference points, so I have no answers, but the story made me think of something I had never thought about before, so it earns points as good SF.
Flaws: 1) The main character asks the question, "Why do we have so many military people on a residential space station?" Answering this question is the main driver of the plot. The threats from a terrorist group could be just as well fought on earth's surface at far less cost so this question is well-founded, but never answered. (Must I read another or all the volumes in the set to find out?) We are given a number of rogue robots that come onstage later in the book, and a villain is exposed, but it's like we've been thrown a bone. There are enough other loose ends to lure me back, but not getting the answer to the primary question is dissatisfying. I am not accustomed to reading series of novels. If the answer to the mystery is big and complicated then we readers should hear this and then expectations would be set.
2) The Space Force is running a boot camp on the station. That seems an uneconomic, implausible way to train raw recruits. In the story, Maggie doesn't ask them why they are there, and the raw recruits don't ask the question either. There should at least be a cover story that they have all been told.
3) With several characters, parts of the dialog are hyperbole, but to my ear, it makes the speaker sound like a teenager.
March 4, 2024
CONFLICT AND SUSPENSE IN LOW=EARTH ORBIT
It’s 2075, and the human race is in the earliest stages of colonizing the solar system. A trillion-dollar high tech company named Maverick Enterprises has built Elderon, Earth’s first space colony in Low Earth Orbit. It’s designed to house five thousand colonists. Accommodations range from spartan quarters resembling prison cells to first class suites worthy of a five-star hotel.
Meanwhile, on Earth, high-intensity war is raging between Russia and the United States. Cyber-attacks are frequent and devastating. It seems only a matter of time before Russian hackers—and perhaps soldiers, too—will find a way to disrupt the operations on Elderon. Which is why Jonah Wyatt, who was a sergeant in US Army Special Operations, has been assigned to a private army forming in the colony.
There, his life will become entangled with an investigative journalist named Magnolia Barnes in Tarah Benner’s science fiction thriller, Colony One.
TWO HAPLESS YOUNG PEOPLE ENSNARED IN AN EVIL PLOT
Neither Jonah nor Maggie has come to Elderon with a clean slate. Jonah was the sole survivor of his team’s operation deep below the surface of the Earth in a Siberian tunnel, searching for the lair of a Russian cyber-terrorist cell. His reward was an administrative discharge. And Maggie lost her job as a reporter with a respected New York daily newspaper when the paper’s new owner, Maverick Enterprises, replaced all the reporters with artificial intelligence. She only ekes out a living crafting fluffy first-person stories for the web about her experiences with food and other lifestyle choices under the name Layla Jones. Now, somehow, these two young Americans find themselves at the center of a nefarious plot to disable the space colony and bankrupt Maverick Enterprises.
A DEEPLY FLAWED NOVEL
The setup in Colony One is intriguing, and an accomplished writer might have developed it into an exciting novel. Banner does manage to build suspense, but she stumbles badly along the way. She portrays every “good” character as physically attractive, while the others are potbellied or ugly. Jonah and Maggie feel powerfully drawn to each other, and love is bound to develop. It’s a distraction from the action and clearly a sop to readers looking for romance. And, somehow, though they’ve met and interacted, Jonah doesn’t recognize her when she turns up unexpectedly dressed a little differently and wearing no eyeglasses.
But the story includes two even worse flaws. The action revolves around a piece of technology that Benner clearly made to order. It’s technology that no sane scientist would ever propose. And then, as the action accelerates toward a violent climax, the author leaves the story hanging. To find out what happens, you have to read the next book in the series. Well, the hell with that. No, thank you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tarah Benner writes on her author website, “I’m an author and adventurer living in sunny Colorado with two dogs, one cat, one tiny savage, and my partner in crime. I write stories with badass heroines, tormented heroes, lots of action, and a dash of romance. I love to put ordinary people in extraordinary situations and give them a chance to be the hero of their small town…or all of humanity.” Now we know.
Benner is the author of more than twenty books, including both science fiction and fantasy.
It’s 2075, and the human race is in the earliest stages of colonizing the solar system. A trillion-dollar high tech company named Maverick Enterprises has built Elderon, Earth’s first space colony in Low Earth Orbit. It’s designed to house five thousand colonists. Accommodations range from spartan quarters resembling prison cells to first class suites worthy of a five-star hotel.
Meanwhile, on Earth, high-intensity war is raging between Russia and the United States. Cyber-attacks are frequent and devastating. It seems only a matter of time before Russian hackers—and perhaps soldiers, too—will find a way to disrupt the operations on Elderon. Which is why Jonah Wyatt, who was a sergeant in US Army Special Operations, has been assigned to a private army forming in the colony.
There, his life will become entangled with an investigative journalist named Magnolia Barnes in Tarah Benner’s science fiction thriller, Colony One.
TWO HAPLESS YOUNG PEOPLE ENSNARED IN AN EVIL PLOT
Neither Jonah nor Maggie has come to Elderon with a clean slate. Jonah was the sole survivor of his team’s operation deep below the surface of the Earth in a Siberian tunnel, searching for the lair of a Russian cyber-terrorist cell. His reward was an administrative discharge. And Maggie lost her job as a reporter with a respected New York daily newspaper when the paper’s new owner, Maverick Enterprises, replaced all the reporters with artificial intelligence. She only ekes out a living crafting fluffy first-person stories for the web about her experiences with food and other lifestyle choices under the name Layla Jones. Now, somehow, these two young Americans find themselves at the center of a nefarious plot to disable the space colony and bankrupt Maverick Enterprises.
A DEEPLY FLAWED NOVEL
The setup in Colony One is intriguing, and an accomplished writer might have developed it into an exciting novel. Banner does manage to build suspense, but she stumbles badly along the way. She portrays every “good” character as physically attractive, while the others are potbellied or ugly. Jonah and Maggie feel powerfully drawn to each other, and love is bound to develop. It’s a distraction from the action and clearly a sop to readers looking for romance. And, somehow, though they’ve met and interacted, Jonah doesn’t recognize her when she turns up unexpectedly dressed a little differently and wearing no eyeglasses.
But the story includes two even worse flaws. The action revolves around a piece of technology that Benner clearly made to order. It’s technology that no sane scientist would ever propose. And then, as the action accelerates toward a violent climax, the author leaves the story hanging. To find out what happens, you have to read the next book in the series. Well, the hell with that. No, thank you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tarah Benner writes on her author website, “I’m an author and adventurer living in sunny Colorado with two dogs, one cat, one tiny savage, and my partner in crime. I write stories with badass heroines, tormented heroes, lots of action, and a dash of romance. I love to put ordinary people in extraordinary situations and give them a chance to be the hero of their small town…or all of humanity.” Now we know.
Benner is the author of more than twenty books, including both science fiction and fantasy.
February 21, 2023
So Colony One follows two main characters, Jonah and Maggie.
Jonah is ex-military, he’s clearly got baggage from his time serving and is definitely not happy with his life at the moment so when offered the chance to join Space Force he jumps at it.. what’s he got to loose.
We also meet Maggie, a reporter who is slowly being side-lined by artificial intelligence.. no one needs real reporters or news any longer.. the only thing they want is trash.,, but Maggie is the real deal.. she's worth more than this so when she is offered the chance to join an expedition to Elderon, a space colony it doesn't take long for her to decide.
While on Elderon Maggie can’t but help let her reporter instincts kick in. Something isnt right.. there’s a lot of military personnel...Space Force.... why.. where’s the danger?
Soon she has her way in.. a fake identity.. Maggie ends up under the command of Jonah and tensions grow between them in more way than one… but who is helping her.. it’s not exactly easy to get the documentation in place that they have.. what’s their motivation?
While in training things heat up and I really loved how the author showed each recruits development.. or lack of ha. As time passes and it's clear the recruits aren't cut out for this we we learn of a new device that may lead to recruits learning the skills needed faster.. but is it too good to be true.. it’s kind of a freaky piece of technology…abruptly we are forced to forget about this bit of kit as a cyberattack hits.. the bots that people depend on have turned on humans.. but it is an isolated incident and how did the hackers get into such sophisticated systems.. something isnt right here.. but what.
What I enjoyed about the book was the nice mixture of plot and character development. I’ve seen some negative reviews simply because this book doesn’t have an ending.. it’s book 1 in a series and I’ll forgive some as the book as been out since 2018 but to me the book set things up perfectly for a series..that cliff hanger ended was the perfect setup and hooked me.. I’ve already bought the next book in the series to see what happens next.
The pace and development of the plot was good and there's a clear direction but I would have just loved to have seen a few more scenes between Maggie and Jonah to really build on their development. Saying that I think the author did a great job of the inner monologue.. to help you understand where the characters were at emotionally and knowing there’s more for me to read leaves me in little doubt I’ll see the development I love between characters.
Flow wise this book was super-fast and fun, the style of writing makes it very easy to follow, mix in an intriguing plot and for me it’s a strong 4 star book.
Jonah is ex-military, he’s clearly got baggage from his time serving and is definitely not happy with his life at the moment so when offered the chance to join Space Force he jumps at it.. what’s he got to loose.
We also meet Maggie, a reporter who is slowly being side-lined by artificial intelligence.. no one needs real reporters or news any longer.. the only thing they want is trash.,, but Maggie is the real deal.. she's worth more than this so when she is offered the chance to join an expedition to Elderon, a space colony it doesn't take long for her to decide.
While on Elderon Maggie can’t but help let her reporter instincts kick in. Something isnt right.. there’s a lot of military personnel...Space Force.... why.. where’s the danger?
Soon she has her way in.. a fake identity.. Maggie ends up under the command of Jonah and tensions grow between them in more way than one… but who is helping her.. it’s not exactly easy to get the documentation in place that they have.. what’s their motivation?
While in training things heat up and I really loved how the author showed each recruits development.. or lack of ha. As time passes and it's clear the recruits aren't cut out for this we we learn of a new device that may lead to recruits learning the skills needed faster.. but is it too good to be true.. it’s kind of a freaky piece of technology…abruptly we are forced to forget about this bit of kit as a cyberattack hits.. the bots that people depend on have turned on humans.. but it is an isolated incident and how did the hackers get into such sophisticated systems.. something isnt right here.. but what.
What I enjoyed about the book was the nice mixture of plot and character development. I’ve seen some negative reviews simply because this book doesn’t have an ending.. it’s book 1 in a series and I’ll forgive some as the book as been out since 2018 but to me the book set things up perfectly for a series..that cliff hanger ended was the perfect setup and hooked me.. I’ve already bought the next book in the series to see what happens next.
The pace and development of the plot was good and there's a clear direction but I would have just loved to have seen a few more scenes between Maggie and Jonah to really build on their development. Saying that I think the author did a great job of the inner monologue.. to help you understand where the characters were at emotionally and knowing there’s more for me to read leaves me in little doubt I’ll see the development I love between characters.
Flow wise this book was super-fast and fun, the style of writing makes it very easy to follow, mix in an intriguing plot and for me it’s a strong 4 star book.
March 25, 2020
I loved it! I was a huge fan of The Fringe because I like how Benner handles romance, so I was looking forward to that. I'll admit - I absolutely hate Other Women drama, so I wasn't a fan of the girl in the first chapter. But that was way before anything really started, so I could get over it.
We all know Benner is a huge fan of active supporting characters, but I was just so happy we only saw the hero and heroine's POVs. So happy!
I'm an idiot, though. Spoiler (seriously, don't read this if you don't want to ruin a reveal. I'm mostly including it because I'll probably end up reading this review at some point down the road when I'm looking for a book to reread. I figured some of you fell into the same trap too, haha.):
Anyways, it was a light, fun read. Would love to see more romance come in, but I didn't expect to see much in the first book anyways. Absolutely loved Jonah's thoughts about Maggie. Can't wait to see more of them.
Oh, one more complaint, so adding another spoiler:
We all know Benner is a huge fan of active supporting characters, but I was just so happy we only saw the hero and heroine's POVs. So happy!
I'm an idiot, though. Spoiler (seriously, don't read this if you don't want to ruin a reveal. I'm mostly including it because I'll probably end up reading this review at some point down the road when I'm looking for a book to reread. I figured some of you fell into the same trap too, haha.):
Anyways, it was a light, fun read. Would love to see more romance come in, but I didn't expect to see much in the first book anyways. Absolutely loved Jonah's thoughts about Maggie. Can't wait to see more of them.
Oh, one more complaint, so adding another spoiler:
September 11, 2023
The year is 2075 and life isn’t going well for ex-soldier Jonah and young reporter, Maggie. Although they haven’t yet met, both accept a 5-year assignment to live three hundred miles away from Earth in a new space colony. Maggie immediately becomes suspicious of the number of military people boarding what should be a civilian colony. As she digs deeper, it becomes clear she has reason to be concerned.
Maggie and Jonah are well-drawn characters, and although Maggie’s on the reckless side, I still cheered for her. Jonah is battle-worn and bitter, but he has a strong moral compass and finds himself drawn to Maggie. It’s interesting to try and figure out which secondary characters are trustworthy and which are up to no good.
The pacing and suspense-building are terrific in this well-written novel. My only disappointment is the cliffhanger ending. I don’t like them, and being forced to buy the second installment to see how things turn out isn’t fair, in my view. I appreciate that others might think differently, though. I recommend that you read the author’s note at the back of the book, as she discusses the research that went into this novel. It’s insightful and unnerving.
Maggie and Jonah are well-drawn characters, and although Maggie’s on the reckless side, I still cheered for her. Jonah is battle-worn and bitter, but he has a strong moral compass and finds himself drawn to Maggie. It’s interesting to try and figure out which secondary characters are trustworthy and which are up to no good.
The pacing and suspense-building are terrific in this well-written novel. My only disappointment is the cliffhanger ending. I don’t like them, and being forced to buy the second installment to see how things turn out isn’t fair, in my view. I appreciate that others might think differently, though. I recommend that you read the author’s note at the back of the book, as she discusses the research that went into this novel. It’s insightful and unnerving.
July 20, 2024
What a fun space romp! Good story buildup and character development. I like my SciFi, but I don't want it to get too technical (RE: Three Body Problem). This was a good story with characters I like and moved along at a good pace. You kind of get left with a cliffhanger, so, of course, I ordered the rest of the series! Much of what the author talks about in regards to living in outer space in the not so distant future seems plausible and feels like she sticks to basic known science principles (NOT that I am a scientist by any means). It's not too futuristic...all I'm sayin'! The main character, Maggie, is a normal, everyday person just trying to make their way in a job she loves and gets caught up in government espionage and secret selling...so not only space fun, action and spy thriller fun! It's obvious there will be a romantic interlude between her and her male counterpart at some point, but since there's 5 books in the series, it'll get there when it gets there- not the main focus of the book. For now, I like the interaction between the two of them. I'm looking forward to the next one!
March 19, 2025
I remember reading this years ago and it left an impression. Enough that when I stumbled onto it again I wanted to read it again. I love strong capable women, what I don’t like is being nosy and using people to get certain answers. Maggie is all of it to the point where I rolled my eyes with frustration I understand the need to get the truth, to let people know what’s happening. But it seems to come from her pride not her sense of justice or need for truth. Jonah who’s had a real rough time since leaving the army is an example of government failure. A good leader, caring, well trained is tossed aside when wanting to know what happened to his team. Not fitting in well after discharge he takes the job where he might do well. Meeting each other they both sense an attraction but do nothing they are both focused on their jobs. But Maggie’s digging and certain events gets her in danger, Jonah has no choice but to rescue her realizing that there is more going on here than he believed. Making me excited to read the rest of the series.
December 10, 2021
Exciting, suspenseful and fully relatable
This amazing book is told by the perspective of character named Maggie and another character by the name of Jonah.
Jonah is a washed out military who specializes in hand-to-hand combat. He is recruited by a person he knew in the military to train soldiers in space in a new space station basically the size of a small City.
Maggie is a struggling news reporter trying to make a life in a modern world filled with robots who are taking jobs away from humans. She gets recruited to this space station also, to write stories telling people how nice and livable it is in space, basically fluff stories.
Maggie also investigates the reason why there is so much military presence on station that holds 4,000 people basically 1/4 of the person's inhabiting are military.
I hope I peeked your interest in this story?
You will truly put yourself in Maggie and Jonas situation and it is a very exciting and suspenseful book.
This amazing book is told by the perspective of character named Maggie and another character by the name of Jonah.
Jonah is a washed out military who specializes in hand-to-hand combat. He is recruited by a person he knew in the military to train soldiers in space in a new space station basically the size of a small City.
Maggie is a struggling news reporter trying to make a life in a modern world filled with robots who are taking jobs away from humans. She gets recruited to this space station also, to write stories telling people how nice and livable it is in space, basically fluff stories.
Maggie also investigates the reason why there is so much military presence on station that holds 4,000 people basically 1/4 of the person's inhabiting are military.
I hope I peeked your interest in this story?
You will truly put yourself in Maggie and Jonas situation and it is a very exciting and suspenseful book.
February 24, 2024
Okay but weak
First off, I don’t appreciate series books that don’t close the story of each book. The end of this book simply leaves you hanging in the middle of action. Not good. None of the plot elements have even remotely finished. But even before that, I was plodding through the reading because there were too many aspects of the plot that required suspending disbelief; basic premises that needed better. Someone can be part of a boot camp training…and still do another job at night? Cerebral-type cyber intelligence geeks thrown into a physical boot camp? For what reason? And more. So…I won’t be picking up the next book. But I admit I did read this one all the way through, so it did have some merit in holding my attention, mostly through strong characterization and a believable world-building.
First off, I don’t appreciate series books that don’t close the story of each book. The end of this book simply leaves you hanging in the middle of action. Not good. None of the plot elements have even remotely finished. But even before that, I was plodding through the reading because there were too many aspects of the plot that required suspending disbelief; basic premises that needed better. Someone can be part of a boot camp training…and still do another job at night? Cerebral-type cyber intelligence geeks thrown into a physical boot camp? For what reason? And more. So…I won’t be picking up the next book. But I admit I did read this one all the way through, so it did have some merit in holding my attention, mostly through strong characterization and a believable world-building.
March 24, 2024
A really interesting, keeps on moving story. The main character Maggie, is developing well as is Jonah. The story is told in both their POVs
She is a journalist, in a world where robots are taking over jobs left right and centre.
Colony One, a space colony is filling jobs for 5 year terms and she brought aboard to write “fluff” pieces to make the colony attractive to future vacationers, when what she really wants to to write informative expose type of stories. She alters her identity and, She finds something that might get her killed
He is ex military, with a big blemish on his record. He sees something that indicates that Maggie is a spy, and he gets involved.
The story just drops at the end, in the middle of a scene, but I knew this in advance so bought all three books in the series at the same time. On to book 2.
She is a journalist, in a world where robots are taking over jobs left right and centre.
Colony One, a space colony is filling jobs for 5 year terms and she brought aboard to write “fluff” pieces to make the colony attractive to future vacationers, when what she really wants to to write informative expose type of stories. She alters her identity and, She finds something that might get her killed
He is ex military, with a big blemish on his record. He sees something that indicates that Maggie is a spy, and he gets involved.
The story just drops at the end, in the middle of a scene, but I knew this in advance so bought all three books in the series at the same time. On to book 2.
May 21, 2018
Tarah Benner is my favorite author. I have enjoyed reading every book.
I read Colony One in a day knowing I didn’t want to read it yet because I would only want to read the next book in the series. So now I will impatiently wait for what comes next. There is no indication of another book, but I have hope there will be a part 2.
This book continues her fast paced writing style that draws the reader in and makes them experience the world along with the lovable characters. My favorite aspect of her writing is her ability to develop characters without drowning the reader and keeping the story moving.
The major points of the story felt mildly predictable but I enjoyed to journey. But then again, the story is just beginning.
I read Colony One in a day knowing I didn’t want to read it yet because I would only want to read the next book in the series. So now I will impatiently wait for what comes next. There is no indication of another book, but I have hope there will be a part 2.
This book continues her fast paced writing style that draws the reader in and makes them experience the world along with the lovable characters. My favorite aspect of her writing is her ability to develop characters without drowning the reader and keeping the story moving.
The major points of the story felt mildly predictable but I enjoyed to journey. But then again, the story is just beginning.
December 6, 2020
I'm a sucker for sci-fi and the blurb of this book picked my interesting.
I must say I thought about DNFing about half way through. The pace is painfully slow. Ao much so that the blurb basically tell you the whole story, it took about 40% until something other than what's in the blurb, to happened. And even so, it's not very important to the story, although it was fun.
But I'm happy I continue because the story pickup the pace after 60% and became very interesting, as well as the characters. I'm curious about what's gonna happen next!
The narrator is new to me and I really enjoyed her work. She has a good pace, a nice voice and the characters are distinguishable.
I must say I thought about DNFing about half way through. The pace is painfully slow. Ao much so that the blurb basically tell you the whole story, it took about 40% until something other than what's in the blurb, to happened. And even so, it's not very important to the story, although it was fun.
But I'm happy I continue because the story pickup the pace after 60% and became very interesting, as well as the characters. I'm curious about what's gonna happen next!
The narrator is new to me and I really enjoyed her work. She has a good pace, a nice voice and the characters are distinguishable.
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