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You’re 17 and lucky. You just made Cadet. But there’s no time to celebrate, because only the best make Marine. Failures face the Cull…

Five centuries ago, Earth sold a million children into alien slavery. Now their descendants want their freedom back!

2565 A.D. When seventeen-year old Marine Cadet, Arun McEwan, forges an unlikely friendship with an alien scribe, he crashes into a world of treachery and conspiracy. How can he possibly survive three more years until graduation when every day brings a new deadly threat?

But survive he must because his new alien allies show him glimpses of his destiny — a vision of a better future that only he can forge.

A dream called the Human Legion.

Join the Legion! With over 150,000 copies sold so far, the Legion still needs YOU to join the fight for freedom. Enlist today!

482 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 7, 2014

310 people are currently reading
258 people want to read

About the author

Tim C. Taylor

96 books127 followers

JOIN THE LEGION! The Human Legion has sold over 200,000 copies, but is still recruiting for new readers. Visit humanlegion.com today and join the Legion for exclusive book downloads to start your journey into the worlds of the Human Legion, The Four Horsemen Universe, Revenge Squad and Sleeping Legion. Or you can sign up directly here.


Tim C. Taylor lives with his family in an ancient village in England. When he was an impressionable boy, between 1977 and 1978, he encountered several mind-altering substances: 2000AD, Star Wars, Blake's 7, and Dungeons & Dragons. Consequently, he now writes science fiction novels for a living.

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5 stars
230 (27%)
4 stars
278 (33%)
3 stars
222 (26%)
2 stars
68 (8%)
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30 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
Profile Image for Charles  van Buren.
1,910 reviews307 followers
November 21, 2021
A mixed bag

I have mixed feelings about this one. The main character is simply unappealing. The explanations that he is drugged and brainwashed by his superiors explains some things but still leaves him an unappealing character. Some of the writing is tedious, drawn out and very dull. Other portions, particularly action scenes, are quite good. Some things are not really explained. Others are over explained - how many times do I need an explanation of how the combat suits remove solid waste? That explanation and others have definite sexual overtones which I do not need in my sci-fi. The premise is interesting enough that I may try volume two. My memory of Battle of Cairo by the same author is favorable.
Profile Image for Tony Hisgett.
3,007 reviews36 followers
May 21, 2022
There is an all action start to the book, but half-a-dozen chapters later I was beginning to lose interest as the annoying main character 'Arun' seemed controlled by his hormones and the main storyline appeared to be about his "Mating Prong". I can only presume this was written for intellectually disadvantaged adolescents.
Unfortunately it doesn’t get any better, at times it just drags and at others it doesn’t make a lot of sense. In the end I had to admit defeat and just accept I was never going to like this book..
Profile Image for Melissa Bryan.
203 reviews3 followers
January 16, 2015
Marine Cadet (The Human Legion Book 1)
Tim C Taylor

I didn't get halfway thru the first chapter before I was hooked and on an adventure like no other I have ever taken.

Mr. Tim C Taylor has a way of writing that flows smoothly and seamless. Then every so often he places a bomb. He places them with the expertise of a seasoned author, which just sinks the hook deeper. He has a great since of timing, you never know when you will be laughing or cringing, you will be reading alone in the middle of a shoot out and he throws in something so funny and not expected that it makes you love the adventure even more. Or he can go in the opposite direction and the story will have the characters setting around just talking with their team and BOOM something really horrific happens and Mr. Taylor doesn't skip a beat it is seamless...smooth.

He has taken the proud Marines, twisted and re-modeled them into a futuristic Branch for the conquering allies, that rule earth. They breed the human race into super Marines (fighting machines). What a concept...what a story.

The pace is fast and moves at a good click. Which is in my opinion is good because I couldn't get enough of it. I enjoyed the way Mr. Taylor has put a great balance of war/fighting and personal insight into the characters and showed the camaraderie of the Marines themselves. It takes place around the year 2566 and we see what Earth has turned into. It is all orchestrated into this action packed science fiction series.

You can't go wrong picking this book up for a read and if you get hooked, like I did, I hear Book 2, Indigo Squad (The Human Legion Book 2) is now out. I for one, am very glad this is an ongoing series, I'm enjoying the adventure. You can also join the Human Legion on-line and get updates and communications from and for the Indigo Squad. You get the the inside scoop.

Thank you Mr Taylor for another great adventure that is just starting and giving me the time of my life in space.
Profile Image for John Davies.
608 reviews15 followers
July 5, 2019
Well, thank god that's over. Tim C. Taylor's first book in the Human Legion series is a struggle to get through, simply because of the main character. He's a whiny ass teenage cadet Marine, who seems to go out of his way to make things awkward for his squad, and continually gets them all into trouble, even if it's not always his fault. They hate his guts.

I really, really hope that the writing improves, because Tim's 4HU story was absolutely brilliant, so that's why I'm not completely writing this series off and will persevere with it.

The entire book is basically a set up for the coming conflict. Humans are slaves, to be trained as Marines to fight for their masters. No-one cares if they live or die, and so if a Marine looks like they might fail to be good enough, then they and their squad mates get executed in something called the Cull.

Arun, the main character, almost gets both himself and several others of his squad executed a couple of times, mainly because his genetically enhanced and modified body does strange things under the effects of the combat stimulant drugs the marines take.

There is little or hardly any action until the last quarter (or less) of the book, and that's pretty much the only good thing about the book. The action sequences seem plausible, and are easy to follow, and you almost start to hope Arun is going to finally start acting like a proper Marine.

There's an underlying plot that presumably will be revealed in future books to look forward to.
465 reviews4 followers
February 19, 2015
2.4 stars. An okay premise and okay scenarios, but the story tends to drag at times. The author could do alot with this story line by a little streamlining.
491 reviews25 followers
May 22, 2017
Mixed Bag of a Mediocre Book

"Marine Cadet (The .Human Legion Book 1)," authored by Mr. Tim C. Taylor, is a mixed bag of a mediocre book. At times it is plodding, downright boring, bordering on YA, and at other points, pretty entertaining.

The story takes place in the 26th century, five centuries after Earth's president (sic), negotiated the apparent end to an alien conquest of humanity, by selling one million children into slavery to the aliens. The offspring of those sent into bondage, have been genetically manipulated, brainwashed into subservience, fully robbed of their humanity and liberties, and transformed into millions of disposable, lowest caste drones (marines, spacecraft crews, support minions, etc.) for the "White Knight" alien overlords, and their multi-species empire. A new marine recruit, "Arun," enters boot camp, discovers he is not quite like his peers, and embarks on surviving, thriving, while being a square peg in a round hole.

Many themes and aspects of the Roman Empire legions and auxiliaries, historical marine units, the Czech Legion of WW I, Heinlein's "Starship Troopers," Herbert's "Dune," and other sources, are strung together by the author to create his storyline. Some of it works, some doesn't. Mr. Taylor's apparent first foray into publishing a book, is erratic. It reads as a teen or YA story in parts, while in other, it is not. There is a decent storyline somewhere beneath the author's amateurish writing. The failure of having a competent editor is, as with the majority of most indie authors, the salient issue. The world building, grand story arc, can easily get out of control, and fully sublimate the underlying good story. "Marine Cadet," teeters on that edge.

"Marine Cadet," is narrowly recommended, given a generous 3 stars, and was fully read via Kindle Unlimited.
Profile Image for Deacon Gray.
120 reviews
March 2, 2020
Arun, never knew his parents only just knows of his brother, who is out there somewhere doing battle for the elite White Knights, and alien race who currently sponsors them within the galactic universe. Unfortunately, the only thing humans are good at is war, and then only for cannon fodder.

The histories tell them that they were given to the Aliens, to help secure Humanities place. But now, they are a long way from humanities home, and a long way from being anything a human would recognize as human. Gene edited, species modification, and strict training where the lowest performing are culled, they must become the best to survive, and depend on each other to win. But what will the feature hold?

This novel by Tim C Taylor is an early effort and future efforts obviously were significantly better. While this novel has some great concepts and the plot moves along well enough to keep us engaged there are some significant issues for me in the novel that I can only hope resolve down the line.

The protagonist isn't likable, he is whiny, self centered, and generally not a team player. He is supposed to be a brilliant tactician but we are just told that he is one, and that he wins because of it, but I am not sure the writer knows how to show us why he is consider so brilliant.

I might give this series a try in the future, but there are too many better novels out there right now to get into it.
Profile Image for Jarryd Kalideen.
390 reviews7 followers
April 17, 2021
Well

I've read Mr Taylor's work in the Four Horsemen Universe and felt it brilliant. But this book, I don't know. It feels quite disjointed. A pet peeve of mine is the use of new explicitive words, it sounds epically cheese and childish. Just use the cuss words we all know. It takes around 70% before anything really happens in this story, the protagonist is unlikeable & an idiot. None of the other characters have any solid foundation, I don't care for any of them. The premise is good, the story promises intrigue and action but the execution fails. Maybe, just maybe I'll give the second book a chance.
Profile Image for Night Runner.
1,551 reviews36 followers
January 25, 2024
I do like this story but parts did drive me a bit nuts. It seems like our H just couldn't win through most of the story. I understand that this is laying the groundwork for the series but it just seems unlikely that this H would be successful. I am also not much of a fan of love triangles as it makes the MC seem weak. Chase or settle seems to be his thought process. I will listen to the next installment of the series.
Profile Image for Nigel Frankcom.
398 reviews4 followers
October 10, 2021
riveting…

A great book, easily worth its 5 stars..

I’m reminded of Orson Scott Card and his Ender series, particularly the Speaker for the Dead.. there are no direct similarities, it’s the feeling I got from reading them.. I’m very curious to see how things progress..

Excellent, great read and great fun!
Profile Image for Steven Reneau.
74 reviews2 followers
March 27, 2025
As prequels go, this one rocks!

Okay, first, we understand Arun a little better now. But, now we have more questions. We know who the good guys are (although, there may yet be surprises), but who the frakk are the bad guys? What's their motivation? What's the endgame? Reading on, in search if those answers.

Profile Image for Ann Zdunczyk.
1,162 reviews5 followers
May 17, 2018
So much going on

This one is fast pasted and you never know what to expect. Children designed to be Marines from birth by Alien masters. Earth has been taken over but it is a myth to the humans of today. What is to come I can’t wait to find out!!!
Profile Image for Tony Fecteau.
1,530 reviews7 followers
February 16, 2019
A really good book but I left with lots of questions. How did the Marine's end up as they are now? Arun is not quite a troublemaker, but seems to attract trouble. The characters are not too complex but we can see them becoming more complex as they live to go on to the next fight.
21 reviews
August 6, 2017
Good book. I am getting tougher in my reviews, especially with space operas. This is one of the better ones. Even though the author is all over the place.
Profile Image for allan graham.
98 reviews2 followers
August 23, 2018
3.5 stars

I loved the first couple of chapter's, after that was feeling lost and disjointed. Will try book two but not holding out much hope
Profile Image for derek callaghan.
4 reviews
July 13, 2019
Fresh ideas

At last a new angle on space marine's can't wait to start the next book
I have read thousands of books this is well worth a read
Profile Image for Robin.
83 reviews2 followers
April 2, 2023
Fun reading!!

I enjoyed the first book in Human League series. This is an interesting take on the space opera genre. It is well worth the read.
Profile Image for Jim.
1,233 reviews50 followers
January 21, 2015
This one is kind of strange. Apparently, Earth has been invaded a long time ago. The alien conquerors were very powerful and Earth Humans didn't have much of a defense. So, instead of wiping out humanity, the aliens set them up to be cultivated as slave warriors! Now Marines are trained from childhood until they reach late teens. Then they go out in space to fight wars for the Master Race, who are known as the White Knights. Most Marines wind up dying and that's considered good.

It seems like Humans have lost the will to be free. These Marines don't seem to understand that they could be free if they made the effort to do so. One Marine seems to have the guts to try and fight the system. Now if only he could convince his squad, platoon and company to fight with him. Instead, he and the entire Battalion might be culled at the end of the year. Culled means killed because the masters think you're not good for anything and there are too many Marines anyway.

Cadet Arun McEwen is the only Marine that seems different from the rest. Even some of the other alien slaves seem to know that McEwen is different, and some treat him that way some times. Yet, Arun doesn't really think or know why he would be different and doesn't really want to be. He also has no idea of what it means to be free but he knows it would have to be better than being a slave.

This is a strange book. It's mostly about kids rowing up in a military school with terrible overseers. Don't expect to read about some exciting, rip-roaring Marine fighting because it really ain't going to happen in this book. Oh, there is some fighting but remember this kids are only 17 and don't really know what they are doing.

It is science fiction and the story is good enough that I've already bought the next book! You probably will enjoy this also.
Profile Image for Nigel Edwards.
Author 54 books9 followers
January 17, 2015
I'm not especially good at writing reviews, so this will be as brief as any I've given in the past.

I must first admit that I know Tim Taylor. He is a good friend of mine - but, that said, we both attend the NSFWG writer's workshop together and are quite content to pick holes in each other's work when we think it's justified!

The Human Legion series of books, beginning with Marine Cadet, is one of Tim's best works to date. It is SF written in the best of traditional traditions, a solid read, well written and with an excellent plot. You can think back (if you are old enough!) to E.E. 'Doc' Smith and his Lensman series. The style of Taylor's book is not dissimilar, but the author updates that style to bring the language used to a much more modern standard.

Buy yourself a copy (it's been riding high in the Amazon charts since it's recent publication. You will be joining 10's of thousands of other SF buffs who've done so.
Profile Image for Brian Turner.
707 reviews12 followers
October 19, 2021
Humans have been turned into the lowest class of beings in the galaxy. They are now bred as cannon fodder, being taught to fight as Marines for their various overlords.

Arun McEwan is one of those marines, and the book is described from his point of view. A fair amount of bad luck seems to follow him around, losing the respect of his team mates but gaining allies in other places.

As hints and clues point him towards what is being done to the humans, he starts to think of a Human Legion, which fights for its own honour.

Similar to Starship Troopers or the Dirigent Mercenary Corps series by Rick Shelley (or just about any military sci fi/marines books), this starts at the boot camp level and explains the way things operate.
The background is interesting, and the chapters flow nicely to keep you turning the page. The characters are well done, their attitudes changing as their bodies and minds are adapted to change from cadets to full fledged marines.
Profile Image for Hutch Morzaria.
57 reviews15 followers
July 3, 2015
By itself I probably wouldn’t recommend this book. There are others that have the same or similar themes that are written better and have more interesting characters and content. However taken as a whole – as part of a larger series which this is, yes I’d probably get it. Especially if you can grab it for free as I did on Kindle Unlimited (well not really free, but you know what I mean). It’s good enough to get you through to the end and books 2 and 3 are definitely more action packed.

Read my full review on my blog here.
Profile Image for Stephan Myers.
89 reviews
August 15, 2016
Fun read

This is the first boom in the series but can still stand on its own. The book describes the trials and tribulations of a young marine recruit in a post contact alien legion setting. Earth has met et and they have enslaved earth. For a semblance of freedom earth is required to sign over a portion of its children to serve as space marines. And the cadets just hope they can survive the training. The story is very descriptive but moves right along. It has several humerus parts but with plenty of action thrown in.
Profile Image for Andrew Rose.
337 reviews5 followers
January 18, 2015
Intriguing beginning

While this book does cover some of the same ground of basic that so many others have done it manages to be different by focusing more on the personality than drilling and also by the alieness of the situation. The Marines are slaves but until it is rubbed n their faces don't acknowledge that and the layered depth of the conspiracy has yet to be revealed. If you liked Starship Troopers or John Ringo checkout this series and see where it goes.
Profile Image for Gregoire.
1,097 reviews45 followers
September 15, 2015
point positif

j'ai aimé les aliens ce qu'on devine de l'histoire

point négatif

trop de longueurs ... les turpitudes et autres fantasmes d'adolescent amoureux de Arun ça va un moment Pour faire un bon livre d'actions il n'en faut pas trop et l'accumulation des sévices et tortures n'atteignent plus l'effet désiré

c'est dommage car l'auteur a de l'imagination à revendre

je suivrai au moins le 2e de la série voir si l'auteur s'améliore
Profile Image for Jim Kratzok.
1,070 reviews3 followers
November 4, 2015
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book and was very pleasantly surprised by the story, writing quality, and the characters who I began to really like. In fact, after reading this book, I went online and bought the next 3 books in the series and am looking forward to the remainder of the series being completed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews

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