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Ziva Payvan #3
Ronan
"This has never been our fight. But whether we like it or not, it is now."
Nearly three months have passed since the assassination of Ikaro Tachi, but for some, the incident has had a lasting effect. Years of trust and reliance have been compromised. Betrayal and secrets have created wounds that may never fully heal.
Ziva Payvan is no stranger to the concept of keeping—and uncovering—secrets. But when she swore to fulfill the final wishes of a dying friend, she never expected that task to include exposing one of the biggest and longest-kept secrets in the galaxy.
A new threat has been looming on the horizon, one nobody ever saw coming. Strategic attacks by the mysterious entity known as Ronan are leaving the Haphezian military stunned and crippled, and a member of Ziva's own squad has been captured. The rest of the team must join forces with old allies and enemies alike in order to reveal the endgame of this new adversary. But the closer Ziva gets to uncovering Ronan's intentions, the closer she comes to jeopardizing a secret of her own, one she has killed to keep. Her choice becomes simple: protect herself as she has always done, or make a personal sacrifice to protect everything she holds dear.
Nearly three months have passed since the assassination of Ikaro Tachi, but for some, the incident has had a lasting effect. Years of trust and reliance have been compromised. Betrayal and secrets have created wounds that may never fully heal.
Ziva Payvan is no stranger to the concept of keeping—and uncovering—secrets. But when she swore to fulfill the final wishes of a dying friend, she never expected that task to include exposing one of the biggest and longest-kept secrets in the galaxy.
A new threat has been looming on the horizon, one nobody ever saw coming. Strategic attacks by the mysterious entity known as Ronan are leaving the Haphezian military stunned and crippled, and a member of Ziva's own squad has been captured. The rest of the team must join forces with old allies and enemies alike in order to reveal the endgame of this new adversary. But the closer Ziva gets to uncovering Ronan's intentions, the closer she comes to jeopardizing a secret of her own, one she has killed to keep. Her choice becomes simple: protect herself as she has always done, or make a personal sacrifice to protect everything she holds dear.
Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2015
8 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
E.J. Fisch
11 books122 followersEJ Fisch is a long-time action junkie and fan of the science fiction genre. She’ll readily admit that she has a vivid imagination, which can be both a blessing and a curse. She has been writing as a hobby since junior high and began publishing in the spring of 2014. They say write what you like to read, so her Ziva Payvan series combines her two favorite genres—space opera and spy thriller—and has been lauded for its grit, compelling character development, and many twists and turns.
When she’s not busy writing or working her day job as a data analyst in the medical field, she enjoys listening to music, working on concept art, reading, gaming, and spending time with her animals. She currently resides in southern Oregon.
Visit www.ejfisch.com or subscribe to the Updates From EJ newsletter to stay up to date on the progress of her work. Catch the occasional writing excerpt, view concept art, and more!
Have questions? Comments? Thoughts about characters or plot points? Drop a note on the website, here on Goodreads, or email at ej@ejfisch.com!
When she’s not busy writing or working her day job as a data analyst in the medical field, she enjoys listening to music, working on concept art, reading, gaming, and spending time with her animals. She currently resides in southern Oregon.
Visit www.ejfisch.com or subscribe to the Updates From EJ newsletter to stay up to date on the progress of her work. Catch the occasional writing excerpt, view concept art, and more!
Have questions? Comments? Thoughts about characters or plot points? Drop a note on the website, here on Goodreads, or email at ej@ejfisch.com!
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 22, 2016
I'm coming back tmro to do this review justice but for now:
OMG.
Edited:
For the record, I woke up this morning still traumatized by how good this book is. Let me ramble for a second: This book is the poster child for why readers should trust authors. See, I gave the first two books four stars each. That's still a damn good rating for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed them, but I guess I felt that they lacked a little bit of depth that would have taken them to that fifth star. This book makes me want to go back and re-rate the whole series with fives. What Fisch did was create a damn brilliant story with huge world-altering stakes *but told through these smaller, more personal stories*. Guys, I don't think you appreciate how smart the writing is here. In the first two books, yes the stakes were big, but Fisch is more concerned with telling these character's stories than doing a lot of world building. In Ronan, the character's stories that we've been following for two books are suddenly the vehicle for the giant world stuff. It's a simple thing to say, but it's so hard to write properly and she did it SO WELL.
I'm so impressed. As with all of the Ziva books, the pace is fast and the people are badass. Ziva's story and [REDACTED] have really imprinted her on me somehow. The somewhat frustrating character development of Aroska in book one is completely justified through the events in Ronan. Everything just comes together so well and it's super satisfying. Without the context of the first two books, this story would not have been as powerful as it was. Absolutely five stars here and I'd give it a sixth if I could because of how clever the writing is.
OMG.
Edited:
For the record, I woke up this morning still traumatized by how good this book is. Let me ramble for a second: This book is the poster child for why readers should trust authors. See, I gave the first two books four stars each. That's still a damn good rating for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed them, but I guess I felt that they lacked a little bit of depth that would have taken them to that fifth star. This book makes me want to go back and re-rate the whole series with fives. What Fisch did was create a damn brilliant story with huge world-altering stakes *but told through these smaller, more personal stories*. Guys, I don't think you appreciate how smart the writing is here. In the first two books, yes the stakes were big, but Fisch is more concerned with telling these character's stories than doing a lot of world building. In Ronan, the character's stories that we've been following for two books are suddenly the vehicle for the giant world stuff. It's a simple thing to say, but it's so hard to write properly and she did it SO WELL.
I'm so impressed. As with all of the Ziva books, the pace is fast and the people are badass. Ziva's story and [REDACTED] have really imprinted her on me somehow. The somewhat frustrating character development of Aroska in book one is completely justified through the events in Ronan. Everything just comes together so well and it's super satisfying. Without the context of the first two books, this story would not have been as powerful as it was. Absolutely five stars here and I'd give it a sixth if I could because of how clever the writing is.
September 2, 2015
Thrilling yet deeply emotional and satisfying conclusion
Against the backdrop of an epic, galaxy-spanning crisis, RONAN weaves together the story and character threads from DAKITI and NEXUS into a thrilling yet deeply emotional and satisfying conclusion.
RONAN is Fisch’s most ambitious book to date, and it doesn’t disappoint. Take all the mysteries of DAKITI and the character development of NEXUS and add in an interstellar war and a resistance movement that wants to upend entire civilizations, and you have a sweeping thriller-turned-space opera on a scale we haven’t seen before in this series.
Yet for all its grand scope, Fisch again manages to tell the most personal of stories. As families, children and those closest of allies, squadmates, are threatened, Ziva and Aroska each must come face-to-face with their darkest demons and decide just how much they’re willing to sacrifice so that others—and each other—might survive.
The character arcs that have stretched across all three books are brought to their culmination with depth, nuance and emotion that feels inherently true to the characters. I hope we see further books in this series in the future, but if not, this is a thoroughly satisfying conclusion, and a worthy one.
Against the backdrop of an epic, galaxy-spanning crisis, RONAN weaves together the story and character threads from DAKITI and NEXUS into a thrilling yet deeply emotional and satisfying conclusion.
RONAN is Fisch’s most ambitious book to date, and it doesn’t disappoint. Take all the mysteries of DAKITI and the character development of NEXUS and add in an interstellar war and a resistance movement that wants to upend entire civilizations, and you have a sweeping thriller-turned-space opera on a scale we haven’t seen before in this series.
Yet for all its grand scope, Fisch again manages to tell the most personal of stories. As families, children and those closest of allies, squadmates, are threatened, Ziva and Aroska each must come face-to-face with their darkest demons and decide just how much they’re willing to sacrifice so that others—and each other—might survive.
The character arcs that have stretched across all three books are brought to their culmination with depth, nuance and emotion that feels inherently true to the characters. I hope we see further books in this series in the future, but if not, this is a thoroughly satisfying conclusion, and a worthy one.
May 23, 2019
This is a solid ending to this series. There are twists and turns, but the threats are clear, and the various battles, both literal and political, are well developed. There is love here among the assassins.
Not stand-alone, you must start at the beginning.
Not stand-alone, you must start at the beginning.
September 13, 2015
*Throws things*
*throws all the things*
*except the Kindle*
Haphezian Time: 10.08!
This is evil. So very evil.....See you Space Cowgirl.
For now.
You know you've found something special when you care about the characters that much.
I do solemnly swear by the Precious that I will endorse this madness to everyone.
Do you love sci fi? New worlds? Great Characters? Interesting cultures? Complex villains? Big damned heroes?
Then get this series and never look back.
*throws all the things*
*except the Kindle*
Haphezian Time: 10.08!
This is evil. So very evil.....See you Space Cowgirl.
For now.
You know you've found something special when you care about the characters that much.
I do solemnly swear by the Precious that I will endorse this madness to everyone.
Do you love sci fi? New worlds? Great Characters? Interesting cultures? Complex villains? Big damned heroes?
Then get this series and never look back.
April 5, 2022
I really enjoyed reviewing the first two books in this series so it was a given that I would review this one as well.
Admittedly, it's been awhile since I read the other books, so I had forgotten a lot of the details of everything. But I did love how things started big and got bigger. The plot just kept upping the anti in a way that the previous two books hadn't. It seemed like the entire final third was all about gigantic plot points, with character deaths and destruction. If the mission on Dakiti from the first book was a lot to take in, I don't think you're prepared for the ending of this book.
Romantic that I am, I also loved the growing dynamic between Ziva and Aroska. There's some real character development between the two of them and their general dynamic is so adorable. There were several times when they would sarcastically quote each other and I had the biggest grin on my face because of it. It's not the most flowery or overt of romances, but it suits the characters well.
I was still a little loss at times with the worldbuilding, especially as this book dealt with several different groups of people in battle. But once I simplified it in my head (for example "cyborg people that don't really like protagonist people but like don't hate them") the actual movements between them were easier to follow.
The only real negative critique I would have, and it wasn't enough to take a star, was the repetitive of information given. A lot of the book is about figuring out who or what Ronan is. But the book actually reveals it multiple times. Other pieces of information, about the anatagonist's plans for example, will also be revealed repeatedly. I'm not sure if the author really wanted to make sure the reader remembered those parts or got caught up in the realism of having each character receive. But I did find myself thinking "Yeah, I know" more than once.
As for the ending... THAT ENDING. Obviously, I don't want to spoil anything, but whoooo I was on the edge of my seat. The actual big thing with Ronan wasn't even the biggest part for me, it was Ziva herself and all the actions she took. And the very last bit of it had even more notable twists that I wasn't expecting. It was great character growth and a great way to end a trilogy... except not really. xD
If you enjoyed the previous books, you're definitely going to love this one.
Admittedly, it's been awhile since I read the other books, so I had forgotten a lot of the details of everything. But I did love how things started big and got bigger. The plot just kept upping the anti in a way that the previous two books hadn't. It seemed like the entire final third was all about gigantic plot points, with character deaths and destruction. If the mission on Dakiti from the first book was a lot to take in, I don't think you're prepared for the ending of this book.
Romantic that I am, I also loved the growing dynamic between Ziva and Aroska. There's some real character development between the two of them and their general dynamic is so adorable. There were several times when they would sarcastically quote each other and I had the biggest grin on my face because of it. It's not the most flowery or overt of romances, but it suits the characters well.
I was still a little loss at times with the worldbuilding, especially as this book dealt with several different groups of people in battle. But once I simplified it in my head (for example "cyborg people that don't really like protagonist people but like don't hate them") the actual movements between them were easier to follow.
The only real negative critique I would have, and it wasn't enough to take a star, was the repetitive of information given. A lot of the book is about figuring out who or what Ronan is. But the book actually reveals it multiple times. Other pieces of information, about the anatagonist's plans for example, will also be revealed repeatedly. I'm not sure if the author really wanted to make sure the reader remembered those parts or got caught up in the realism of having each character receive. But I did find myself thinking "Yeah, I know" more than once.
As for the ending... THAT ENDING. Obviously, I don't want to spoil anything, but whoooo I was on the edge of my seat. The actual big thing with Ronan wasn't even the biggest part for me, it was Ziva herself and all the actions she took. And the very last bit of it had even more notable twists that I wasn't expecting. It was great character growth and a great way to end a trilogy... except not really. xD
If you enjoyed the previous books, you're definitely going to love this one.
September 18, 2020
A wonderfully exciting set of books. If I had a Daughter I would name her Ziva!
September 1, 2015
When it comes to series, an author’s job becomes increasingly difficult with each subsequent novel. Everything from previous books must be carefully woven into the new story, from characters to relationships to various plot threads. The stakes are higher than ever before, and it can be challenging to pull off an ending that satisfies readers and makes sense for the story. Simply put, there’s a lot of potential for a fantastic story. There is also a lot of potential for things to go wrong.
Fortunately, in Ronan, things go very right. The story picks up right after the events in Nexus, with Ziva recovering from her wounds and on trial. Things quickly take a turn for the worst as a new enemy threatens not just Ziva and the main cast, but the entire Haphezian race. As with Fisch’s previous books, the story is fast-paced and action-packed, but it’s the characters and the relationships between them that make the series great. Several familiar faces return to this story, but the new characters introduced were some of my favorites. The relationship between Ziva and Aroska is, of course, as complicated as ever, with each one being forced to trust the other more and more as secrets are revealed and vulnerabilities exposed. My favorite part of the story, however, was the ending. It’s rare to find a series that pulls off such a good ending, and doubtless, there will be some people disappointed by the way things play out in the last few pages of Ronan. I found that the ending was very appropriate for the characters and story, however, and could not have been more satisfied. This series is definitely a must-read for anyone who love space opera, science fiction, or just wants a good story with strong characters.
Fortunately, in Ronan, things go very right. The story picks up right after the events in Nexus, with Ziva recovering from her wounds and on trial. Things quickly take a turn for the worst as a new enemy threatens not just Ziva and the main cast, but the entire Haphezian race. As with Fisch’s previous books, the story is fast-paced and action-packed, but it’s the characters and the relationships between them that make the series great. Several familiar faces return to this story, but the new characters introduced were some of my favorites. The relationship between Ziva and Aroska is, of course, as complicated as ever, with each one being forced to trust the other more and more as secrets are revealed and vulnerabilities exposed. My favorite part of the story, however, was the ending. It’s rare to find a series that pulls off such a good ending, and doubtless, there will be some people disappointed by the way things play out in the last few pages of Ronan. I found that the ending was very appropriate for the characters and story, however, and could not have been more satisfied. This series is definitely a must-read for anyone who love space opera, science fiction, or just wants a good story with strong characters.
February 9, 2016
Just leaped from finishing the book to writing this review. Everything is fresh and the adrenaline still pumping from a stunning conclusion to the Ziva Payvan trilogy! My mind is racing faster than I can type! Fisch has once again exceeded my expectations and managed to stun me with her brilliantly crafted characters and plot twists! I can honestly say that I was taken by surprise more than once, and especially in the final chapters! Fisch's ability to keep me guessing and draw me deep into the story is incredible.
I was impressed by her improvement in NEXUS (the second installment) and even more impressed to see how far she'd come since then! RONAN is a masterpiece of thrilling sci-fi elements like firefights & aliens & spaceships & space battles!! But not only that - it is also home to engaging, three-dimensional characters that have grown so much over the course of three wonderful books! The way Fisch is able to capture their emotions and tie their individual character arcs into the overarching story, is simply amazing. My emotions are deeply invested in the characters she has created - they are people first, which is something that I value highly in fiction.
The ending was thrilling and incredibly well-written. I absolutely devoured the final chapters - the build-up was incredible, the tension was high, and every single character had a personal stake in the outcome! It was a magnificent conclusion to a magnificent series, and I love that it left things open without leaving it incomplete. It could end here, or there could be another installment coming our way! I for one would be thrilled to read more about all the characters I have come to love!
Thank you. It's been real.
I was impressed by her improvement in NEXUS (the second installment) and even more impressed to see how far she'd come since then! RONAN is a masterpiece of thrilling sci-fi elements like firefights & aliens & spaceships & space battles!! But not only that - it is also home to engaging, three-dimensional characters that have grown so much over the course of three wonderful books! The way Fisch is able to capture their emotions and tie their individual character arcs into the overarching story, is simply amazing. My emotions are deeply invested in the characters she has created - they are people first, which is something that I value highly in fiction.
The ending was thrilling and incredibly well-written. I absolutely devoured the final chapters - the build-up was incredible, the tension was high, and every single character had a personal stake in the outcome! It was a magnificent conclusion to a magnificent series, and I love that it left things open without leaving it incomplete. It could end here, or there could be another installment coming our way! I for one would be thrilled to read more about all the characters I have come to love!
Thank you. It's been real.
September 11, 2015
I really loved this series and I hate to see it end. For me, it was the characters that really made the series although I enjoyed the story as well, especially all of the action and the military aspects. In this 3rd book several of the underlying threads throughout the story get tied together and the reader gets a little deeper look at a few of the main characters. The interaction between the characters and some of the underlying emotions were very well written. I was especially impressed with how this author can write a sense of romance into the story without actually diverting into big romantic interludes. I appreciated that subtlety and I can only imagine how hard it is to write implied feelings without a lot of accompanying action. For me, that gave the emotion that much more impact. I enjoyed seeing the development in even some of the lesser characters (Emeri in particular). In my opinion the character writing was the real strength in this series. I struggled more with the reasoning behind things at some points along the way but that just may be my own desire to want even more. I wanted to know the why's behind some of the actions (like why was Zinni chosen by the resistance?) Alas, I guess there's only so much you can fit into a story without it getting too bogged down. It's a good thing to always leave the reader wanting more. And in this case, I'd love more. I can't wait to see what is next from this author.
February 13, 2016
This was the story I've been waiting for the entire trilogy. Ziva and Aroska are at odds with the rest of society as usual. Facing impossible odds and insurmountable circumstances. Finally the nostia is explained in more detail and the resistance it out in full force. This was a fantastic end to the Payvan trilogy. Ronan is unmasked and the fate of Haphez is at stake.
The beginnings of the trilogy were good, but the conclusion was great. There is a lot more action involved in the latest installment. Will the Alpha squad be victorious? Will Haphez be saved? Will the Federation remain ignorant of the fringe planets? Read more to find out.
The beginnings of the trilogy were good, but the conclusion was great. There is a lot more action involved in the latest installment. Will the Alpha squad be victorious? Will Haphez be saved? Will the Federation remain ignorant of the fringe planets? Read more to find out.
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Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Ronan-Audi...
Chirp: https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks...
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/...
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/audiobook/...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7rvow1w...
Also available in ebook, paperback, and hardcover. Find it at your favorite retailer!
books2read.com/ronan
May 24, 2016
That was one hell of an ending.
November 19, 2016
I enjoyed this so much! While the first book was sort of a sci-fi military horror and the second book crime mystery, the third book tied everything together nicely in an exciting space-war drama. Loved it. I really grew attached to the main characters and I am looking forward to seeing what the author does next!
September 7, 2024
Truths revealed and the action is continuous.
June 9, 2016
Excellent series
I really enjoyed the trilogy, even if it did not have the ending I wanted. It was well done, such that I will check periodically to see if the author decided to add one more adventure to her trilogy!
I really enjoyed the trilogy, even if it did not have the ending I wanted. It was well done, such that I will check periodically to see if the author decided to add one more adventure to her trilogy!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews