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The Saga of the Nano Templar #1
Justified
To save a world…
…he must rely on God. After years of fighting for justice with his deadly nanotech, Templar Drin abandons his post, crash landing on a desert world controlled by a tyrannical alien empire. Its inhabitants are forced into slavery, broken where a once-proud race cultivated its lands.
For the first time in Drin's life, he has no backup, no support, none of his brothers.
He stands alone against evil.
Drin must face overwhelming odds to liberate millions of slaves from their captors and bring faith to a downtrodden world. But in his way stands the most dangerous weapon in the galaxy.
Can Drin use his Templar training to survive?
Fans of Star Wars and Warhammer 40K will love Justified, the new military science fiction epic from #1 Bestselling author, Jon Del Arroz. Read today!
…he must rely on God. After years of fighting for justice with his deadly nanotech, Templar Drin abandons his post, crash landing on a desert world controlled by a tyrannical alien empire. Its inhabitants are forced into slavery, broken where a once-proud race cultivated its lands.
For the first time in Drin's life, he has no backup, no support, none of his brothers.
He stands alone against evil.
Drin must face overwhelming odds to liberate millions of slaves from their captors and bring faith to a downtrodden world. But in his way stands the most dangerous weapon in the galaxy.
Can Drin use his Templar training to survive?
Fans of Star Wars and Warhammer 40K will love Justified, the new military science fiction epic from #1 Bestselling author, Jon Del Arroz. Read today!
254 pages, Paperback
First published September 6, 2019
156 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Jon Del Arroz
78 books449 followersJon Del Arroz is a powerhouse in speculative fiction and comics, celebrated as "the leading Hispanic voice in science fiction" by PJ Media, and a #1 Amazon bestselling author whose works resonate with fans craving bold, unapologetic storytelling. His novels, like the swashbuckling steampunk adventure For Steam And Country and the space opera The Stars Entwined, have earned accolades for their fast-paced plots and richly drawn characters. He is a Dragon Award finalist and 2018 CLFA Book of the Year Award winner, as well as N3F Speculative Fiction winner for best graphic novel.
Beyond the page, Jon Del Arroz is a prolific journalist and cultural commentator, with incisive pieces in outlets like The Federalist and Fandom Pulse that tackle the intersections of pop culture, gaming, and politics with fearless clarity. His investigative work and YouTube livestreams have built a loyal following, offering a sharp alternative to mainstream narratives.
Beyond the page, Jon Del Arroz is a prolific journalist and cultural commentator, with incisive pieces in outlets like The Federalist and Fandom Pulse that tackle the intersections of pop culture, gaming, and politics with fearless clarity. His investigative work and YouTube livestreams have built a loyal following, offering a sharp alternative to mainstream narratives.
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September 11, 2019
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Justified (The Saga of the Nano Templar Book 1) by Jon Del Arroz
The accounts of the Christian conquest of Jerusalem usually feature Crusaders approaching the sites sacred to the Prince of Peace by wading through the rivers of blood that reportedly ran in the streets. We moderns have not doubt that the Crusaders must have felt disgusted with their own hypocrisy and repented of their violence as if they could have been made to realize that a multilateral treaty negotiation process was a more workable answer than sieges and battles.
But maybe not. The Crusaders, after all, were fighting to free a city that had been Christian for hundreds of years from an alien power that had violently imposed its novel religion on Christians and their holiest sites.
Jon Del Arroz’s Justified begins with scenes that make the Conquest of Jerusalem seem tame. Population centers are nuked as the righteous forces of the God-Man Yezuah descend upon the almost helpless forces of a planet controlled by their hereditary enemies, the Sekarans.
Drin is among the invading forces. He has been born, bred and trained to be a Nano-Templar, able to wield the nanites in his body to form weapons and shields for the glories of Yezuah. Sekaran warriors fall before his superior skills and technology like wheat before a scythe.
After the battle, Drin begins to question the way of war that he has embraced as his life work. Drin goes AWOL and finds a refuge on a backwater Sekaran world. There he learns that the Sekarans truly are the forces of darkness he had been told they were. They are raiding slavers who deny dignity to any who fall below the aristocracy. Drin discovers that Yezuah’s message of hope resonates with members of the subordinated population.
He also finds that it is necessary to go to war.
This book is “neo-pulp.” It is action-packed and quite a bit of fun. Action propels the story as Drin finds himself moving from danger to danger, extricating himself by his skill, nanites or luck.
The main characters are sympathetic. Drin, of course, easily overcomes his doubts about the virtues of violence as he tries to do honorable battle and teach mercy to his followers. We also meet Anais, a member of a different species, taken by Sekaran slavers to this planet for their lust, which raises the interesting question of how such different species can share the same standards of beauty. Yezuah only knows. Anais moves in the direction of becoming Drin’s love interest in this book and we will have to see how that turns out in later books.
Again, this is a plot-driven story. Del Arroz knows his craft. The writing is economical and effective. There are no substantial gaps in the action. For page-turning fun, I recommend this book without hesitation.
Justified (The Saga of the Nano Templar Book 1) by Jon Del Arroz
The accounts of the Christian conquest of Jerusalem usually feature Crusaders approaching the sites sacred to the Prince of Peace by wading through the rivers of blood that reportedly ran in the streets. We moderns have not doubt that the Crusaders must have felt disgusted with their own hypocrisy and repented of their violence as if they could have been made to realize that a multilateral treaty negotiation process was a more workable answer than sieges and battles.
But maybe not. The Crusaders, after all, were fighting to free a city that had been Christian for hundreds of years from an alien power that had violently imposed its novel religion on Christians and their holiest sites.
Jon Del Arroz’s Justified begins with scenes that make the Conquest of Jerusalem seem tame. Population centers are nuked as the righteous forces of the God-Man Yezuah descend upon the almost helpless forces of a planet controlled by their hereditary enemies, the Sekarans.
Drin is among the invading forces. He has been born, bred and trained to be a Nano-Templar, able to wield the nanites in his body to form weapons and shields for the glories of Yezuah. Sekaran warriors fall before his superior skills and technology like wheat before a scythe.
After the battle, Drin begins to question the way of war that he has embraced as his life work. Drin goes AWOL and finds a refuge on a backwater Sekaran world. There he learns that the Sekarans truly are the forces of darkness he had been told they were. They are raiding slavers who deny dignity to any who fall below the aristocracy. Drin discovers that Yezuah’s message of hope resonates with members of the subordinated population.
He also finds that it is necessary to go to war.
This book is “neo-pulp.” It is action-packed and quite a bit of fun. Action propels the story as Drin finds himself moving from danger to danger, extricating himself by his skill, nanites or luck.
The main characters are sympathetic. Drin, of course, easily overcomes his doubts about the virtues of violence as he tries to do honorable battle and teach mercy to his followers. We also meet Anais, a member of a different species, taken by Sekaran slavers to this planet for their lust, which raises the interesting question of how such different species can share the same standards of beauty. Yezuah only knows. Anais moves in the direction of becoming Drin’s love interest in this book and we will have to see how that turns out in later books.
Again, this is a plot-driven story. Del Arroz knows his craft. The writing is economical and effective. There are no substantial gaps in the action. For page-turning fun, I recommend this book without hesitation.
September 6, 2019
Picture, if you will, a crusading knight. Struck by a sudden war-weariness, he abandons the fight against the infidel and wanders into the desert, finding himself in an enemy-controlled city. There he wrestles with his newfound pacifistic desire while at the same time freeing and converting enough of the enslaved populace to kick off a full-blown revolt.
A mid-20th-century Technicolor epic? A serial novel from some long-lost historical pulp magazine? In fact, this is the general plot of Justified: The Saga of the Nano Templar, the latest novel from the most electrifying Hispanic in science fiction, Jon Del Arroz. Mixing the rather obvious historical allegory with familiar Mil-SF tropes like power armor and space navies, what comes out is a satisfying tale of equal parts derring-do and Christian philosophizing.
Yes, Christian, for despite the book seeming to take place in a galaxy far, far away with no humans whatsoever in it (although as far as I could tell Templar Drin's enemies, the Sekarans, receive no physical description that differentiates them from humans), the religion of the Elorians is basically Christianity. There are, naturally, some altered details - it's oddly Narnian in that respect - but close enough that the tension between "loving your enemy" and "protecting the innocent" echoes all too strongly with the sympathetic reader.
That tension being the main internal conflict for our Nano Templar means that he remains a very static character throughout. This provides an interesting contrast with the book's other viewpoint character, Anais, who goes from leporine party brat to defiant harem slave to revolutionary guerrilla. The nascent romance between her and Drin was, I thought, one of the book's few weak points, as it bounced hard against the Templar's vows of chastity and generally got lost in the more general swirl of Drin's search for meaning and divine goodwill. As for whether he finds it, well, I think the title of the book is a big clue here.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this honest review. This review originally appeared at https://wordsofwonderment.blogspot.co....
A mid-20th-century Technicolor epic? A serial novel from some long-lost historical pulp magazine? In fact, this is the general plot of Justified: The Saga of the Nano Templar, the latest novel from the most electrifying Hispanic in science fiction, Jon Del Arroz. Mixing the rather obvious historical allegory with familiar Mil-SF tropes like power armor and space navies, what comes out is a satisfying tale of equal parts derring-do and Christian philosophizing.
Yes, Christian, for despite the book seeming to take place in a galaxy far, far away with no humans whatsoever in it (although as far as I could tell Templar Drin's enemies, the Sekarans, receive no physical description that differentiates them from humans), the religion of the Elorians is basically Christianity. There are, naturally, some altered details - it's oddly Narnian in that respect - but close enough that the tension between "loving your enemy" and "protecting the innocent" echoes all too strongly with the sympathetic reader.
That tension being the main internal conflict for our Nano Templar means that he remains a very static character throughout. This provides an interesting contrast with the book's other viewpoint character, Anais, who goes from leporine party brat to defiant harem slave to revolutionary guerrilla. The nascent romance between her and Drin was, I thought, one of the book's few weak points, as it bounced hard against the Templar's vows of chastity and generally got lost in the more general swirl of Drin's search for meaning and divine goodwill. As for whether he finds it, well, I think the title of the book is a big clue here.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this honest review. This review originally appeared at https://wordsofwonderment.blogspot.co....
August 29, 2019
Drin is a warrior. More than a warrior, a nanite enhanced Templar of God. He has spent his whole life training for and participating in a holy war. He had done his duty and done it well, without question. But he can do so no longer. God has set a calling on him and Drin turns his back on everything he knows to follow that calling.
Anais has been raised in luxury where the most important decision facing her is where to go clubbing with her friends. Until … the night enemy soldiers kidnap her from her home and take her to a world where she is perceived as nothing more than a commodity—a slave.
The Skree have lived for generations as slaves. But before they were forced into slavery, they had a culture and a world of their own. They dream of freedom and reclaiming their world.
Justified is a fast, action-packed read. I felt drawn to Drin who seeks to serve God and readily places himself between danger and those he would protect, even when the situation may lead to his own death. Does he kill? Yes. He is a trained soldier. But he doesn’t enjoy killing.
Del Arozz does a great job painting the Elorian church as well as their enemies who seek to defeat and dominate all the worlds of the known universe.
Certain actions at one point in the story seemed unreasonable and left me asking, “What?” But other than those specific decisions, the story arc moved forward well.
I would recommend Justified for science fiction and fantasy readers. It is a good mix of space travel, nanite technology, strong warrior heroes, and various races. The theology is well presented, organic, and feels natural within the scope of the story.
Anais has been raised in luxury where the most important decision facing her is where to go clubbing with her friends. Until … the night enemy soldiers kidnap her from her home and take her to a world where she is perceived as nothing more than a commodity—a slave.
The Skree have lived for generations as slaves. But before they were forced into slavery, they had a culture and a world of their own. They dream of freedom and reclaiming their world.
Justified is a fast, action-packed read. I felt drawn to Drin who seeks to serve God and readily places himself between danger and those he would protect, even when the situation may lead to his own death. Does he kill? Yes. He is a trained soldier. But he doesn’t enjoy killing.
Del Arozz does a great job painting the Elorian church as well as their enemies who seek to defeat and dominate all the worlds of the known universe.
Certain actions at one point in the story seemed unreasonable and left me asking, “What?” But other than those specific decisions, the story arc moved forward well.
I would recommend Justified for science fiction and fantasy readers. It is a good mix of space travel, nanite technology, strong warrior heroes, and various races. The theology is well presented, organic, and feels natural within the scope of the story.
September 8, 2019
I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was filled with adventure, danger, excitement and moral decisions that could bring about major changes to entire peoples. We traveled along with Drin, a great Templar Warrior, who, sick of war and the blood and the wasted lives, steals a spaceship and flees to what he hopes will be a better place. A place of peace.
But Drin’s God had a different plan for him. Drin lands on a planet ruled by an enemy he knows well. He is captured and sentenced to death in a stoning pit. But this is not the plan God has for Drin. With his strength and technology Drin escapes the pit. Gathering a few others that were sentenced to death in the same pit they head for safety. And now the plan begins to take shape.
I loved the characters in this fictional tale. They are well developed, and I became quickly invested in their safety. There are many great characters, the description of the world is well done. I think I found sand in my sandwich.
This book is well worth reading. It looks like there is room for more. I hope so!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was filled with adventure, danger, excitement and moral decisions that could bring about major changes to entire peoples. We traveled along with Drin, a great Templar Warrior, who, sick of war and the blood and the wasted lives, steals a spaceship and flees to what he hopes will be a better place. A place of peace.
But Drin’s God had a different plan for him. Drin lands on a planet ruled by an enemy he knows well. He is captured and sentenced to death in a stoning pit. But this is not the plan God has for Drin. With his strength and technology Drin escapes the pit. Gathering a few others that were sentenced to death in the same pit they head for safety. And now the plan begins to take shape.
I loved the characters in this fictional tale. They are well developed, and I became quickly invested in their safety. There are many great characters, the description of the world is well done. I think I found sand in my sandwich.
This book is well worth reading. It looks like there is room for more. I hope so!
September 10, 2019
One of the most enjoyable sci-fi series I have read in a long time. Jon Del Arroz already blew me away with his Baron Von Monacle series and now he comes up with this.
Imagine the Crusades on a galactic scale with a bit of Star Wars flair and CS Lewis' Space Trilogy theology thrown in, except the Templar Knights in this series are far more interesting than the Jedi.
Book 1 is out and the following two will be released in October and November respectively.
Absolutely a must read.
Imagine the Crusades on a galactic scale with a bit of Star Wars flair and CS Lewis' Space Trilogy theology thrown in, except the Templar Knights in this series are far more interesting than the Jedi.
Book 1 is out and the following two will be released in October and November respectively.
Absolutely a must read.
September 6, 2019
Faith-based Science for our times
This book consistently went in directions I was not expecting, and that is enough to make it highly recommended. I am sure everyone is going to talk about the Christian/Muslim allegory, so I won't dwell on that, except to say that I appreciate the portrayal of imams who are not hypocrites. The tale is told from two perspectives-- a knight and a princess. The knight is very much about wanting to do what God wants, and is therefore harder to identify with than the princess, who is driven by what's in her own head. But the evolution of the two characters, again, goes in directions you do not expect and that is truly wonderful. My biggest complaint was that the knight too easily escaped the consequences of his actions, but there is an excerpt from book 2 at the end, amd apparently it starts with that problem being addressed. Looking forward to the rest of book 2 some time in the future!
This book consistently went in directions I was not expecting, and that is enough to make it highly recommended. I am sure everyone is going to talk about the Christian/Muslim allegory, so I won't dwell on that, except to say that I appreciate the portrayal of imams who are not hypocrites. The tale is told from two perspectives-- a knight and a princess. The knight is very much about wanting to do what God wants, and is therefore harder to identify with than the princess, who is driven by what's in her own head. But the evolution of the two characters, again, goes in directions you do not expect and that is truly wonderful. My biggest complaint was that the knight too easily escaped the consequences of his actions, but there is an excerpt from book 2 at the end, amd apparently it starts with that problem being addressed. Looking forward to the rest of book 2 some time in the future!
September 6, 2019
This book was unexpectedly more enjoyable than anticipated, as this isn’t my normal type of book to read. The story drew me in fairly quickly, and it makes for a great science fiction, whether or not you are into stories regarding God and those working to help him. I’ll definitely be continuing on with the series.
August 16, 2019
I just never know where Jon is going to take me in a story, which makes for a nice trip. Pretty solid storytelling here.
September 8, 2019
Drin was a Templar the elite of the Elorians' Army. He dropped on the planet Nemayr where they destroyed what was left of the Sekarans. The destruction on the planet broke Drin's heart with so many people dead in the major cities in ruins he simply couldn't stand it any longer. He ran into a Sekaran battlemage who was forming balls of energy throwing them at Drin disrupting his nanites. The battlemage was killed and Drin was saved by Jellal. In the capital city of Pyus on the planet of Deklyn kicked the door in of Anais's room and took her to another planet. Drin woke up from a horrifying nightmare and couldn't go back to sleep he decided to get up and go for a walk and tried to figure out what God's plan was for him. He didn't believe God wanted him to continue fighting. Decided to flee the ship he took Viper he took off and hyperspace folded into normal space. He discovered they were in Konsin space with five planets the second one being habitable which he headed for before he could move towards the planet the Justicar and they tried to get him to come back which he didn't do. As he ran towards the planet he came upon to capital vessels of the Sekarans the fighters in the Justicar pulled back leaving the system. Drin then crashed on the planet when Anais woke up she was sweat covered in the sheer fabric and noticed that there were at least a dozen other women locked in the room none of them had woken yet. She met an Elorian woman and spoke with her on what was going happen she just wanted to go back home but she didn't even know where she was. She ended up in a stoning pit along with Drin and some Skree. One Skree was killed and everyone else escaped. Now to find out what happens you need to read the rest of the book? It's a well written book. And a very good book...
April 3, 2020
Jon Del Arroz's Saga of the Nano Templar is marketed as "Science Fiction", but "action fiction in space" is nearer the mark, by my estimation. There's relatively little world- or character-building in comparison to much science fiction, nothing "hard" or "technical" about the setting, and the use of nanites and how they're explained brings across more of an urban fantasy/superhero novel feel to the whole business. In a few ways, the closest thing I've read to this is Brandon Sanderson's Reckoners trilogy - but only very loosely, and only because I don't like "superhero" books as a rule.
However, I don't mean to sell this entirely short (though it is a very short, young-adult sort of novel). While no one in this book is human, the author attempts to take the Catholic spirit and historical understanding of the Crusades into space. Drin and the Elorians are clearly the outnumbered, often overwhelmed, but technologically and morally superior Christians; while the Sekarans are clearly an analogy for Islam. Those who have a malformed or deficient understanding of these religions or their history will therefore want to chuck this novel straight out the window as "propaganda": it is very "black and white", so to speak.
It is not propaganda, however, but rather a rather innocent re-placement of Catholic Christianity into a far away space and time. The theology is so simple and the morality here so black-and-white that I certainly would assess this as a YA novel, and wouldn't mind my children reading it as such. Combine this with the simple but high level of action, and you have a story seemingly tailor-made for young Christian men.
This is definitely simplistic and a little heavy-handed for my tastes, but it was refreshing to read something so uncomplicated. I will probably support Silver Empire and Jon del Arroz by purchasing the follow-ups.
However, I don't mean to sell this entirely short (though it is a very short, young-adult sort of novel). While no one in this book is human, the author attempts to take the Catholic spirit and historical understanding of the Crusades into space. Drin and the Elorians are clearly the outnumbered, often overwhelmed, but technologically and morally superior Christians; while the Sekarans are clearly an analogy for Islam. Those who have a malformed or deficient understanding of these religions or their history will therefore want to chuck this novel straight out the window as "propaganda": it is very "black and white", so to speak.
It is not propaganda, however, but rather a rather innocent re-placement of Catholic Christianity into a far away space and time. The theology is so simple and the morality here so black-and-white that I certainly would assess this as a YA novel, and wouldn't mind my children reading it as such. Combine this with the simple but high level of action, and you have a story seemingly tailor-made for young Christian men.
This is definitely simplistic and a little heavy-handed for my tastes, but it was refreshing to read something so uncomplicated. I will probably support Silver Empire and Jon del Arroz by purchasing the follow-ups.
September 2, 2019
This novel makes clear the individual's difficulty in determining what his purpose is and how to accomplish it. Just what does a call from God feel or sound like? How do we know if we hear Him correctly? Drin's soul-searching and prayer rings true to any person of faith trying to live his life the way we are called to. He muddles his way along a path that is not approved by his leaders and manages to use the warrior skills he has been given to lead new disciples to his God, including one who is able to advise him in the Way. For someone who only wants to look at the storyline rather than Drin's personal internal struggles, this is a good military sci-fi story with a single warrior leading a revolution that changes a world. Fans of military sci-fi will find this novel compares well with Daniel Gibb's Echoes of War series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 8, 2019
What a great story. It was fun and exciting to read with the occasional sad moments. It is a good clean read. The characters are well developed and reflect the diversity of the life in the universe. The underlying angst of the hero is one that all of us must face at some point in our lives. The troubles of the other characters parallel many of the troubles found in our own world. The universe building was well conceived and executed. The story is compelling and is one of those "as old as time" arcs. A very good read and I recommend it to all to read. I look forward to the next book in the series and I hope to be able to review it as well.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 7, 2019
Drin is with a futuristic order of Knights Templar. Spaceships and healing nanites instead of horses and healing salves.
Drin walks away from his post when he finds some battles senseless. He feels he is far too good at killing.
Drin finds himself in a situation where he must fight and turn others to his faith, cause and belief system in order to help enslaved folks from infidels who badly mistreated enslaved masses.
If he survives, one day Drin will likely have to face judgment by his own God and his Templar order.
An epic book in this saga!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Drin walks away from his post when he finds some battles senseless. He feels he is far too good at killing.
Drin finds himself in a situation where he must fight and turn others to his faith, cause and belief system in order to help enslaved folks from infidels who badly mistreated enslaved masses.
If he survives, one day Drin will likely have to face judgment by his own God and his Templar order.
An epic book in this saga!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 8, 2019
Good story. At first it seemed to be a man having a crises of faith. It turned out to be a lot more than just that. There is a lot of danger but then again there is always danger when there is a revolt.
Drin taught the people of the planet a lot. Not only to fight but also about his faith. I like it after Drin got on the planet more. I received a complimentary review copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving a honest review.
Drin taught the people of the planet a lot. Not only to fight but also about his faith. I like it after Drin got on the planet more. I received a complimentary review copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving a honest review.
January 7, 2020
At first I didn't know what to expect from this novel. Then I rapidly got into it and really enjoyed the mesh of good science fiction with a religious setting. This novel is like reading about the crusades in the far future and naturally the conflict that differing religions entail. I believe that this novel, the first in the series, will lead to another great installment.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 15, 2019
While the mythos and backstory of this novel was derivative I really enjoyed the rest of the story. The two main characters where relatable and I became invested in the plot. It was a nice quick read, because it was unput-downable. This is all that matters as it was an enjoyable and entertaining story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 5, 2019
A wonderful scifi story to keep you intrigued. This is the first book in I hope many more to come.
November 30, 2024
"My eyes went wide" while reading this book.
I want to be clear that I really like Jon. His cultural commentary, specifically on the woke mind virus, is exceptional. Through said commentary I discovered his love for writing science fiction which is my favorite genre. So, seemingly good dude + science fiction seem like a no-brainer for me.
First off, Jon wrote a book and I have not. Points to him for that alone. Anyone who takes on the creative endeavor to imagine a world for others to absorb in their own mind has my gratitude. I do appreciate Jon's ideas, but his execution really left me wanting. Specifically, I found Jon's descriptions of people, settings and events very "juvenile".
The title of this review, "My eyes went wide...", was for a specific reason. Not only is that descriptor very basic, but he uses it numerous times throughout the book. When I'm reading a book, specifically science fiction which involves concepts that are very foreign to real life, I'm looking for the author to paint a picture in my mind. I'm not looking for a Tolkien-level dissertation that spends three pages describing a door handle, but I am looking for a creative and and imaginative way to tell me what I am not able to physically see. In this book, Jon doesn't do that.
My second issue with the book stemmed from pacing and motivations. I will give it this, the book never really slowed down. However, I did take issue with some characters and their impetus to act. The main templar leaves the order because of "reasons". These reasons happen in the span of a few lines. I would almost like John to spend an entire book on the Elorian's conquests to help justify his decisions. I know this is a delicate balancing act. But this quest was one thing to another without a lot of expectation as to why. The whole thing seemed abrupt.
Lastly, I took this entire review from a three-star down to a two because of the Mary Sue element with Anais. Jon, with as much as you have complained about Rey Skywalker and all of the other Disney girl boss b*******, I can't believe you did the same thing with your book. And the explanation of "her wounds more more concentrated so the nanites could repair it faster" is BS. She did a thing that took a male to do in a quarter of the time without any training. This was exhibited in multiple ways. I wish you had given serious consequences to her actions. For example, when she blasted through the wall, have it kill one of the other onlookers. That way, it tells the reader that she doesn't know s*** about harnessing the power she's been given. Have her kill someone innocent with her new powers to add some weight to her decisions moving forward. Make her understand that with great power comes great responsibility. This creates stakes in a projected growth the character needs to achieve.
In closing, Jon, I like you but I will not be reading the remainder of this series.
I want to be clear that I really like Jon. His cultural commentary, specifically on the woke mind virus, is exceptional. Through said commentary I discovered his love for writing science fiction which is my favorite genre. So, seemingly good dude + science fiction seem like a no-brainer for me.
First off, Jon wrote a book and I have not. Points to him for that alone. Anyone who takes on the creative endeavor to imagine a world for others to absorb in their own mind has my gratitude. I do appreciate Jon's ideas, but his execution really left me wanting. Specifically, I found Jon's descriptions of people, settings and events very "juvenile".
The title of this review, "My eyes went wide...", was for a specific reason. Not only is that descriptor very basic, but he uses it numerous times throughout the book. When I'm reading a book, specifically science fiction which involves concepts that are very foreign to real life, I'm looking for the author to paint a picture in my mind. I'm not looking for a Tolkien-level dissertation that spends three pages describing a door handle, but I am looking for a creative and and imaginative way to tell me what I am not able to physically see. In this book, Jon doesn't do that.
My second issue with the book stemmed from pacing and motivations. I will give it this, the book never really slowed down. However, I did take issue with some characters and their impetus to act. The main templar leaves the order because of "reasons". These reasons happen in the span of a few lines. I would almost like John to spend an entire book on the Elorian's conquests to help justify his decisions. I know this is a delicate balancing act. But this quest was one thing to another without a lot of expectation as to why. The whole thing seemed abrupt.
Lastly, I took this entire review from a three-star down to a two because of the Mary Sue element with Anais. Jon, with as much as you have complained about Rey Skywalker and all of the other Disney girl boss b*******, I can't believe you did the same thing with your book. And the explanation of "her wounds more more concentrated so the nanites could repair it faster" is BS. She did a thing that took a male to do in a quarter of the time without any training. This was exhibited in multiple ways. I wish you had given serious consequences to her actions. For example, when she blasted through the wall, have it kill one of the other onlookers. That way, it tells the reader that she doesn't know s*** about harnessing the power she's been given. Have her kill someone innocent with her new powers to add some weight to her decisions moving forward. Make her understand that with great power comes great responsibility. This creates stakes in a projected growth the character needs to achieve.
In closing, Jon, I like you but I will not be reading the remainder of this series.
March 3, 2021
This book, while well-written, was hard for me to read, and harder to give an objective opinion of.
The story is a re-imagining, of sorts, of the crusades, but set at a time which must be thousands of years in the future, after Earth has apparently been all but forgotten. Apparently, Christians and Muslims are still killing each other as they were in centuries past, though they no longer call each other by those terms in this story.
When I first started reading, I was incredibly turned-off by the slaver-race our protags encountered. The author seems to have been attempting to recreate the attitudes, cultures, and traditions of the original Crusaders and their Muslim opponents, and I happen to despise both. Initially, I wasn't entirely sure I cared who won what battles.
The author managed to create juuuuust enough thrill and tension about the consequences of ending up a slave girl in a slaver town to make me hold my breath a few times, without getting graphic or really following through. So, don't expect pervy, sadistic S&M scenes, in case you're wondering.
In the end, this was a story of two different individuals attempting to find their way and--though I am a deist and am deeply suspicious of organized religion of any kind--I can't fault the actions of our Templar protag as he leans on his faith to find his way through every challenge. Our female protag, likewise, stumbles at every turn, but still manages to find herself at the end, practically through trial and error.
It was a cool story, and I'm kinda looking forward to seeing the next book...despite myself, lol.
The story is a re-imagining, of sorts, of the crusades, but set at a time which must be thousands of years in the future, after Earth has apparently been all but forgotten. Apparently, Christians and Muslims are still killing each other as they were in centuries past, though they no longer call each other by those terms in this story.
When I first started reading, I was incredibly turned-off by the slaver-race our protags encountered. The author seems to have been attempting to recreate the attitudes, cultures, and traditions of the original Crusaders and their Muslim opponents, and I happen to despise both. Initially, I wasn't entirely sure I cared who won what battles.
The author managed to create juuuuust enough thrill and tension about the consequences of ending up a slave girl in a slaver town to make me hold my breath a few times, without getting graphic or really following through. So, don't expect pervy, sadistic S&M scenes, in case you're wondering.
In the end, this was a story of two different individuals attempting to find their way and--though I am a deist and am deeply suspicious of organized religion of any kind--I can't fault the actions of our Templar protag as he leans on his faith to find his way through every challenge. Our female protag, likewise, stumbles at every turn, but still manages to find herself at the end, practically through trial and error.
It was a cool story, and I'm kinda looking forward to seeing the next book...despite myself, lol.
February 13, 2025
Mixed.
Somewhat Dunish in the setting and theme, and I think I was not in the mood for that at the moment. I did like how the technology had downsides. Nanotech sometimes becomes handy wavey, but I applaud the author in doing that well. There was damage that could be repaired, but there was also pain for the MC (and potential death for those around without the nanites). That's the kind of stakes that are important when you make a teched-up character.
Overall kind of mid. However, I kept reading the preview chapter for the next book to see what happened to Drin, so clearly I liked the character and wanted more. 🤷♂️
Somewhat Dunish in the setting and theme, and I think I was not in the mood for that at the moment. I did like how the technology had downsides. Nanotech sometimes becomes handy wavey, but I applaud the author in doing that well. There was damage that could be repaired, but there was also pain for the MC (and potential death for those around without the nanites). That's the kind of stakes that are important when you make a teched-up character.
Overall kind of mid. However, I kept reading the preview chapter for the next book to see what happened to Drin, so clearly I liked the character and wanted more. 🤷♂️
February 16, 2025
Jon Del Arroz can write. This is the first book of his that I have read, and it certainly won't be the last. Usually when I read action scenes my eyes get a little glassy and I can't wait for it to be over. The pacing in this book was super fast and the action scenes were the perfect balance of engaging and length. I'm surprised how much I liked this. Great beginning to what I anticipate will be an excellent trilogy.
March 31, 2025
I really enjoyed the concept of Templar Knights in space and the story was good. My biggest issue was with how flat the dialogue felt. Dialogue is one of the most difficult parts to get right during the writing process. I’m hoping that book 2 and 3 of the trilogy will continue the story and improve the dialogue of the characters.
July 5, 2025
This book was Fantastic!! I love the characters and the world building was amazing. This is a Sci-fi reimagining of the crusades.. I will be reading the rest of the trilogy..I want to try more of this author's books.. This is what I have been looking for... Great story telling and a good Christian story..
May 29, 2024
Enjoyable
Sets the stage. Sure to pay off later in the series.
Gave it 3 out of 5. Felt like it was missing something to really hook me into the story. I just couldn't figure out what that something was.
Still an enjoyable read.
Sets the stage. Sure to pay off later in the series.
Gave it 3 out of 5. Felt like it was missing something to really hook me into the story. I just couldn't figure out what that something was.
Still an enjoyable read.
October 7, 2024
Definitely worth the read!
If you are looking for a great science fiction themed book that your kids can safely read and enjoy, as well as adults, this is great for that. Engaging, interesting characters, and a nice break from our crazy reality we live in today.
If you are looking for a great science fiction themed book that your kids can safely read and enjoy, as well as adults, this is great for that. Engaging, interesting characters, and a nice break from our crazy reality we live in today.
July 18, 2020
Great read
Interesting view of a Christian like faith. A good action packed SiFi story. I plan on reading the next in the series.
Interesting view of a Christian like faith. A good action packed SiFi story. I plan on reading the next in the series.
October 8, 2021
Clean Fun Read!
Very well done Christian Sci Fi with a strong moral foundation with an excellent story, well written, and a fun, enjoyable read with lots of action.
Very well done Christian Sci Fi with a strong moral foundation with an excellent story, well written, and a fun, enjoyable read with lots of action.
September 15, 2024
Fun and non-stop action space Opera as a quick-read, read it on my flight and bought the second book as soon as I landed.
April 5, 2025
Fun scifi with a nanotech side. Pretty easy to read and story that moves well.
August 18, 2025
Interesting Take
It’s what Star Wars should have been. I think this series has potential to advance. I hope to see more of the author’s work
It’s what Star Wars should have been. I think this series has potential to advance. I hope to see more of the author’s work
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