What do you think?
Rate this book
Valkyrie
Like a dropship burning through the atmosphere to deliver Marines in a hellish combat zone, Lucas Marcum's debut military science fiction novel will take you to the edge of your seat! Several hundred years from now, brutal combat between humanity and a deadly alien species drags the non-combatants of the Valkyrie medevacs into a fight for their lives. "The Valkyries are coming!", no matter how hot the Landing Zone, have become words to live by. On the planet nicknamed "Desolation", no quarter is given after the enemy slaughters the men and women of the 378th Forward Resuscitation Team, the front line medics that risk their lives to drag casualties back from the brink of death. The only survivors, Flight Nurse Captain Elizabeth Suarez and Combat Medic Sergeant Brian Agawa, find themselves trapped behind enemy lines, fighting to survive. Overhead, the 17th Spaceborne drop in and start mayhem only paratroopers can cause, and the Second Armored Cav counterattacks, their heavy tanks rolling hot into enemy lines. As word spreads of the destruction of the hospital, "Remember the Valkyries!" becomes a cry of vengeance for the Earth troopers. Follow the Valkyries as the war against the Elia progresses from planet to planet, each a different version of hellacious warfare.
- GenresScience Fiction
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 27, 2019
70 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 9, 2019
Wow, what an impressive first novel by Lucas Marcum. He's written a story full of action, filled with compelling, interesting characters, and done it in such a way that you immediately want to read more of their story in the next book.
Elise, Brian and Elizabeth are the only survivors of a Valkyrie crew, attached to the 378th Forward Resuscitation Team. They are the Medevac Search and Rescue crews flying for a MASH field hospital. But the Valkyries are more than just medevac ships. They come armed with auto cannons and las-cannon miniguns as well as with armed drones that can act as gunship support.
After their hospital gets over-run and everyone wiped out by the Elai, the humanoid shark-toothed aliens the United Earth Alliance is fighting, the three get reassigned to another hospital on a different planet. After rescuing a group of special forces troops, and evacuating some wounded Ghurkas, their hospital gets destroyed once again in an earthquake caused by the space navy using orbital kinetic strikes against the enemy.
Assigned to support a Marine firebase, in a supposedly "safe" area, the Elai once again prove that not only are they capable of fighting the humans on equal terms, they very nearly win! Only the efforts of Elise, Brian and Elizabeth, with the assistance of several hundred Marines, manage to defeat them. The book ends with the three contemplating their lives, and what will come next, as the Navy ships out. I am looking forward to the next book already.
Elise, Brian and Elizabeth are the only survivors of a Valkyrie crew, attached to the 378th Forward Resuscitation Team. They are the Medevac Search and Rescue crews flying for a MASH field hospital. But the Valkyries are more than just medevac ships. They come armed with auto cannons and las-cannon miniguns as well as with armed drones that can act as gunship support.
After their hospital gets over-run and everyone wiped out by the Elai, the humanoid shark-toothed aliens the United Earth Alliance is fighting, the three get reassigned to another hospital on a different planet. After rescuing a group of special forces troops, and evacuating some wounded Ghurkas, their hospital gets destroyed once again in an earthquake caused by the space navy using orbital kinetic strikes against the enemy.
Assigned to support a Marine firebase, in a supposedly "safe" area, the Elai once again prove that not only are they capable of fighting the humans on equal terms, they very nearly win! Only the efforts of Elise, Brian and Elizabeth, with the assistance of several hundred Marines, manage to defeat them. The book ends with the three contemplating their lives, and what will come next, as the Navy ships out. I am looking forward to the next book already.
February 8, 2019
Good read
Lots of good action with a well developed ambiance. The characters are like able and gritty with all your favorite military cliches. Definitely take the time to give it a read.
Lots of good action with a well developed ambiance. The characters are like able and gritty with all your favorite military cliches. Definitely take the time to give it a read.
November 28, 2021
Overall: 8.8/10
Story: 7/10
- A solid but slightly generic overall story, but with a very nice twist on the main characters' point of view. The world building is cool but maybe 30% more backstory on the world/setting would have been nice
Pacing: 10/10
- Story pacing really doesn't get a whole lot better. It ebbs and flows in a comfortable manor so you are never overwhelmed by too much action, but never bored by too much "downtime".
Dialogue: 9/10
Well written, believable, and enjoyable.
Characters: 8/10
- The two main characters are fantastically written, but I would have liked a touch more character development and backstory on them.
Misc: 10/10
- I read a metric ton of Mil Sci-Fi and this is the first novel I have read from a medic's point of view. It is new, refreshing and such a nice change from the bog standard "Spec ops superman" or "Chosen one" storylines Mil Sci-Fi is known for.
Story: 7/10
- A solid but slightly generic overall story, but with a very nice twist on the main characters' point of view. The world building is cool but maybe 30% more backstory on the world/setting would have been nice
Pacing: 10/10
- Story pacing really doesn't get a whole lot better. It ebbs and flows in a comfortable manor so you are never overwhelmed by too much action, but never bored by too much "downtime".
Dialogue: 9/10
Well written, believable, and enjoyable.
Characters: 8/10
- The two main characters are fantastically written, but I would have liked a touch more character development and backstory on them.
Misc: 10/10
- I read a metric ton of Mil Sci-Fi and this is the first novel I have read from a medic's point of view. It is new, refreshing and such a nice change from the bog standard "Spec ops superman" or "Chosen one" storylines Mil Sci-Fi is known for.
February 22, 2019
Different and better than most
I gave the book a 2 star at first because of a certain lack in the style but comparing the book to hundreds of others, there was no way not to rate it a three. With a small change in the writing this could easily be a four star read.
This is a very nice extrapolation of what air-ground combat might look like in an interstellar conflict. A lot of the military tech is already being studied, prototyped or developed. It was a good job of blending these weapons into the tactics that would optimize their effectiveness.
The organization of the Earth forces is based on current usage and his extrapolation of that organization was great. The diversity of units organized by nationality was a refreshing change from the all U.S. model used by a lot of bad writers. The story actually being built around the experiences of support unit personnel was unexpected and a much needed change from the rest. Ammunition doesn't suddenly appear or never run out. Artillery fire is actually delivered by people not by the gods of fire support. Having a landing force dealing with the uncertainty of the outcome of its naval units engaging in battle against their opposite numbers was a nice touch. I liked that he described some of the cost of winning a battle. He didn't write a first person shooter, as warfare.
Unfortunately the characters were OK but really were underdeveloped. It was hard to overlook since it was a story of the unrelenting combat involving the main characters. Since these were support personnel, it would have added much needed depth to what is a story of the emotional toll of combat on troops who are actually non-combatants.
There is too much character posturing and a serious nonchalance regarding what should feel like a set of truly horrific experiences. The stereotypes included a pilot losing her legs and considers her no longer having to shave them a blessing. The hospital pilots aren't nearly freaked out enough at having to fly close air support. The sense of desperation when cooks, clerks and orderlies are trying to stop enemy armor from breaking into their support base is missing. We're told that it's a desperate fight and its obviously a desperate fight but I didn't feel it. There's an inadequate connection to the characters.
He adds good things to the background (actual tactical realities, clearly described operational failures, a multinational global military, etc.) of his story and reflects the current experiences of women in combat (from U.S. transport companies in Iraq through Soviet communications platoons at Stalingrad). I want to see how the war progresses but with more of an emotional connection to the characters.
I gave the book a 2 star at first because of a certain lack in the style but comparing the book to hundreds of others, there was no way not to rate it a three. With a small change in the writing this could easily be a four star read.
This is a very nice extrapolation of what air-ground combat might look like in an interstellar conflict. A lot of the military tech is already being studied, prototyped or developed. It was a good job of blending these weapons into the tactics that would optimize their effectiveness.
The organization of the Earth forces is based on current usage and his extrapolation of that organization was great. The diversity of units organized by nationality was a refreshing change from the all U.S. model used by a lot of bad writers. The story actually being built around the experiences of support unit personnel was unexpected and a much needed change from the rest. Ammunition doesn't suddenly appear or never run out. Artillery fire is actually delivered by people not by the gods of fire support. Having a landing force dealing with the uncertainty of the outcome of its naval units engaging in battle against their opposite numbers was a nice touch. I liked that he described some of the cost of winning a battle. He didn't write a first person shooter, as warfare.
Unfortunately the characters were OK but really were underdeveloped. It was hard to overlook since it was a story of the unrelenting combat involving the main characters. Since these were support personnel, it would have added much needed depth to what is a story of the emotional toll of combat on troops who are actually non-combatants.
There is too much character posturing and a serious nonchalance regarding what should feel like a set of truly horrific experiences. The stereotypes included a pilot losing her legs and considers her no longer having to shave them a blessing. The hospital pilots aren't nearly freaked out enough at having to fly close air support. The sense of desperation when cooks, clerks and orderlies are trying to stop enemy armor from breaking into their support base is missing. We're told that it's a desperate fight and its obviously a desperate fight but I didn't feel it. There's an inadequate connection to the characters.
He adds good things to the background (actual tactical realities, clearly described operational failures, a multinational global military, etc.) of his story and reflects the current experiences of women in combat (from U.S. transport companies in Iraq through Soviet communications platoons at Stalingrad). I want to see how the war progresses but with more of an emotional connection to the characters.
February 17, 2019
Valkyrie Elai Book 1
This is an outstanding first book from this author. A great premise: Earth Alliance soldiers and airman against a technically inferior alien enemy. SURPRISE? the shark faced enemy is thought to be an apex predator on their home planet and they seem ready to dig and fight the humans. You get spaceship combat, ground combat and some Combat Search and Rescue medics caught in the crossfire. The Valkyries are both ground and airship MEDEVAC specialists. (Think Air Force 'Pedros' in Afghanistan) Armed Helos, PJ medics and Combat Surgical Hospital on the ground...Through a military blunder, a Ground hospital site is overrun by the Elai, when the Senior Alliance general drops the 348th Hospital into a combat zone with no security forces and only sidearms when the enemy swarms. The story follows two survivors of the hospital massacre as they bounce around the ground fight, being combat medical professionals and becoming combat infantry vets.
This is an outstanding first book from this author. A great premise: Earth Alliance soldiers and airman against a technically inferior alien enemy. SURPRISE? the shark faced enemy is thought to be an apex predator on their home planet and they seem ready to dig and fight the humans. You get spaceship combat, ground combat and some Combat Search and Rescue medics caught in the crossfire. The Valkyries are both ground and airship MEDEVAC specialists. (Think Air Force 'Pedros' in Afghanistan) Armed Helos, PJ medics and Combat Surgical Hospital on the ground...Through a military blunder, a Ground hospital site is overrun by the Elai, when the Senior Alliance general drops the 348th Hospital into a combat zone with no security forces and only sidearms when the enemy swarms. The story follows two survivors of the hospital massacre as they bounce around the ground fight, being combat medical professionals and becoming combat infantry vets.
July 14, 2019
Combat fighting an alien civilization
Valkyrie tells the story of some awesome Marines and their unit that fight aboard an aircraft that is designated search and rescue. The group unfortunately encounters severe hostile forces and is greatly reduced in number. However the Valkyrie spirit lives on and survives to fight again another day. The story focuses on lots of military tactics and includes a hospital unit that travels with the troops. The action is fast, there are lots of engagements, and serious consequences. The true marine spirit shines through. The language is typical military and not for everyone. If you like military explorers then this book will keep your interest completely.
Valkyrie tells the story of some awesome Marines and their unit that fight aboard an aircraft that is designated search and rescue. The group unfortunately encounters severe hostile forces and is greatly reduced in number. However the Valkyrie spirit lives on and survives to fight again another day. The story focuses on lots of military tactics and includes a hospital unit that travels with the troops. The action is fast, there are lots of engagements, and serious consequences. The true marine spirit shines through. The language is typical military and not for everyone. If you like military explorers then this book will keep your interest completely.
August 7, 2024
Military Heavy, But Good!
This was suggested by a co-worker who knows the author. I decided to give it a try. It is heavy in military references, but I, as a civilian, can follow along. I try to see what the authors describe in their books. Having no experience, this was a bit more difficult other than depending on poor war movies and my dad's stories about boot camp. Does it have problems? Yes, the grammar police would have a fit. But I think that this is a very well written book that covers the horror of the battle field and the friendship (and more) that develops in military groups. If allowed to. And I love the background. The author did a nice job. Thank you.
This was suggested by a co-worker who knows the author. I decided to give it a try. It is heavy in military references, but I, as a civilian, can follow along. I try to see what the authors describe in their books. Having no experience, this was a bit more difficult other than depending on poor war movies and my dad's stories about boot camp. Does it have problems? Yes, the grammar police would have a fit. But I think that this is a very well written book that covers the horror of the battle field and the friendship (and more) that develops in military groups. If allowed to. And I love the background. The author did a nice job. Thank you.
July 25, 2023
Great story
The story was very well told, exciting and gritty military action through and through. Some editing and formatting errors. The format errors only show when using dark mode (text color changes, probably artifacts from comments used in Google docs or word). The editing errors were just a few autocorrect mistakes, or places where the sentence structure was changed during rewrites, and the old structure wasn't deleted. Nothing too bad.
You could definitely tell the author knew exactly how military hospitals and search and rescue flights work.
The story was very well told, exciting and gritty military action through and through. Some editing and formatting errors. The format errors only show when using dark mode (text color changes, probably artifacts from comments used in Google docs or word). The editing errors were just a few autocorrect mistakes, or places where the sentence structure was changed during rewrites, and the old structure wasn't deleted. Nothing too bad.
You could definitely tell the author knew exactly how military hospitals and search and rescue flights work.
August 5, 2022
Well.. This is another bad one. Where do I start ?
There is no world-building .. none.
There is some fighting on planet 1 vs aliens, next we move to planet 2 fighting same aliens with a bonus: some mystery ruins that .. remain an useless mystery.
We don't find out why humans fight with the Elai aliens, how is life in 2245..
There is no character development but there is a lot of " Copy ..", " Roger.." and " Over and out".
At least that damn ruins could have been more interesting ..
There is no world-building .. none.
There is some fighting on planet 1 vs aliens, next we move to planet 2 fighting same aliens with a bonus: some mystery ruins that .. remain an useless mystery.
We don't find out why humans fight with the Elai aliens, how is life in 2245..
There is no character development but there is a lot of " Copy ..", " Roger.." and " Over and out".
At least that damn ruins could have been more interesting ..
May 15, 2019
This was a first book for Lucas Marcum, and he did a great job with it. Wonderfully descriptive battle scenes from multiple perspectives (humans only). Definitely looking forward to his sophomore work due out later this year.
July 2, 2019
Holy S###!
I wasn't expecting this! One long battle as a book, if you like fights this is for you, you get to catch your breath every now and then, looking forward to the next book!
I wasn't expecting this! One long battle as a book, if you like fights this is for you, you get to catch your breath every now and then, looking forward to the next book!
December 31, 2019
Brutally realistic
That's truly military sci-fi that depicts crystal-clear the brutally of the war. It's realistic, it's gritty and it's as good as it gets.
Hell, i bought the second installment while i was just in the middle of the first.
That's truly military sci-fi that depicts crystal-clear the brutally of the war. It's realistic, it's gritty and it's as good as it gets.
Hell, i bought the second installment while i was just in the middle of the first.
October 29, 2023
I really enjoyed this book, mainly for all the military action. There wasn’t a whole lot of character development as of yet but perhaps in the next book. Would have given 4 stars except for the lack of proof reading. I had to keep going back and rereading sentences to make sense of them.
April 8, 2019
Well Done
Gripping novel, awesome characters and a compelling alien enemy. Surprising elements of the Elai as well. All in all, liked it a lot.
Gripping novel, awesome characters and a compelling alien enemy. Surprising elements of the Elai as well. All in all, liked it a lot.
April 26, 2019
Eager for the next in this series
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I will certainly be on the lookout for more awesome work by author Lucas Marcum
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I will certainly be on the lookout for more awesome work by author Lucas Marcum
November 19, 2019
Very very good
Likeable characters, well written story and terminology,a great setting and this book captures the emotions quite well. A great MSF book.
Likeable characters, well written story and terminology,a great setting and this book captures the emotions quite well. A great MSF book.
January 21, 2020
Good story!!
Lots of reasonable action. Good characters, believable in what they do. I like the enemy, they could be great allies.
Lots of reasonable action. Good characters, believable in what they do. I like the enemy, they could be great allies.
January 31, 2020
Really good military sci fi. Engaging characters.. lots of action.. well written... well balanced.
July 10, 2024
Good read
I have long felt that the military sci-fi genre was missing a good combat medic/ search and rescue story- and this one really hits the spot.
I have long felt that the military sci-fi genre was missing a good combat medic/ search and rescue story- and this one really hits the spot.
August 31, 2019
Characters so realistic, you bleed when they do.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews