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Blood on the Stars #14
The Last Stand
The Invasion of the Highborn.
The mysterious enemy has come, and Tyler Barron and his allies prepare for the final battle, the desperate struggle to save the Rim. Barron’s spacers are ready to fight, as always, but this time they know little of the enemy, and they face technology far beyond their own.
They will fight to the end if necessary, battle with their final breaths to hold back the deadly enemy. They will stand alongside their old enemies, the Hegemony, united for one massive battle, one all out effort to stop the Highborn.
But, even as they prepare to make a stand, they will learn exactly what they are facing, who the Highborn truly are and where they came from…and they will discover that nothing is truly as they’d believed. From the legends of the old empire to the desperate struggle for the future, everything is about to change.
The Last Stand is book 14 of the Blood on the Stars series. Blood on the Stars will continue with book 15, Empire's Ashes.
Blood on the Stars
Book 1 - Duel in the Dark
Book 2 - Call to Arms
Book 3 - Ruins of Empire
Book 4 - Echoes of Glory
Book 5 - Cauldron of Fire
Book 6 - Dauntless
Book 7 - The White Fleet
Book 8 - Black Dawn
Book 9 - Invasion
Book 10 - Nightfall
Book 11 - The Grand Alliance
Book 12 - The Colossus
Book 13 – The Others
Book 14 – The Last Stand
The mysterious enemy has come, and Tyler Barron and his allies prepare for the final battle, the desperate struggle to save the Rim. Barron’s spacers are ready to fight, as always, but this time they know little of the enemy, and they face technology far beyond their own.
They will fight to the end if necessary, battle with their final breaths to hold back the deadly enemy. They will stand alongside their old enemies, the Hegemony, united for one massive battle, one all out effort to stop the Highborn.
But, even as they prepare to make a stand, they will learn exactly what they are facing, who the Highborn truly are and where they came from…and they will discover that nothing is truly as they’d believed. From the legends of the old empire to the desperate struggle for the future, everything is about to change.
The Last Stand is book 14 of the Blood on the Stars series. Blood on the Stars will continue with book 15, Empire's Ashes.
Blood on the Stars
Book 1 - Duel in the Dark
Book 2 - Call to Arms
Book 3 - Ruins of Empire
Book 4 - Echoes of Glory
Book 5 - Cauldron of Fire
Book 6 - Dauntless
Book 7 - The White Fleet
Book 8 - Black Dawn
Book 9 - Invasion
Book 10 - Nightfall
Book 11 - The Grand Alliance
Book 12 - The Colossus
Book 13 – The Others
Book 14 – The Last Stand
289 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 21, 2019
739 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
November 7, 2019
Rinse and repeat -spoilers
Alas this book suffers from the same issues that plagued the previous instalment - superfluous words that make this longer than it should, laughable world design (certain advanced civilisations still have secret police & pensions) and overall repetition (it's the same meet new enemy, be outclassed by enemy, use fighters to surprise enemy that hasn't seen them before, take horrendous fighter losses, barely survive the battles, lose a world to the enemy, enemy thinks themselves as gods just like the Hegemony, enemy then builds own fighters, but enemy is actually fighting another war on another front just like the Hegemony were prepping to fight the Highborn whilst fighting the Rim human's). The amount of text in this book that I skipped over was extremely high and I STILL knew what was going on. I think this will be the last for me , maybe if I'm quite bored I'll pick up the next.
Alas this book suffers from the same issues that plagued the previous instalment - superfluous words that make this longer than it should, laughable world design (certain advanced civilisations still have secret police & pensions) and overall repetition (it's the same meet new enemy, be outclassed by enemy, use fighters to surprise enemy that hasn't seen them before, take horrendous fighter losses, barely survive the battles, lose a world to the enemy, enemy thinks themselves as gods just like the Hegemony, enemy then builds own fighters, but enemy is actually fighting another war on another front just like the Hegemony were prepping to fight the Highborn whilst fighting the Rim human's). The amount of text in this book that I skipped over was extremely high and I STILL knew what was going on. I think this will be the last for me , maybe if I'm quite bored I'll pick up the next.
November 3, 2019
Probably the worst of the series
Honestly this book was not great, it felt like a repeat of the battle over megara when Tyler was forced to retreat. Or when Clint fought over Dannith. Or insert any of the similar desperate battles that have been narrated. I've generally loved the books up to this point, but since they've been coming out on a more rapid release schedule, they feel half baked and as if they're recycling a lot of material. I'd still have given it three or four stars because I enjoy the story, but there were a distracting number of typos. I hope the next book is better.
Honestly this book was not great, it felt like a repeat of the battle over megara when Tyler was forced to retreat. Or when Clint fought over Dannith. Or insert any of the similar desperate battles that have been narrated. I've generally loved the books up to this point, but since they've been coming out on a more rapid release schedule, they feel half baked and as if they're recycling a lot of material. I'd still have given it three or four stars because I enjoy the story, but there were a distracting number of typos. I hope the next book is better.
May 5, 2021
I'm Done. Nothing but endless dialog.
Suddenly the main character is a whiny drunk and after 50 pages of mostly endless dialog, I just can't generate enough intrest to continue reading. Skipping around to keep several parallel story lines moving has also contributed to my inability to continue reading this series. This was bad enough with two, but we are now up to at least 6 different groups that might one day merge. Oh well, it just wore me out switching back and forth.
Suddenly the main character is a whiny drunk and after 50 pages of mostly endless dialog, I just can't generate enough intrest to continue reading. Skipping around to keep several parallel story lines moving has also contributed to my inability to continue reading this series. This was bad enough with two, but we are now up to at least 6 different groups that might one day merge. Oh well, it just wore me out switching back and forth.
October 10, 2019
This story is probably the best that I have had the pleasure to read in this series. THERE IS A PROBLEM, HOWEVER. Sorry for shouting. The editing, spell checking and unbelievably poor grammar makes it oddly hard to read at times. Wrong tense, wrong meaning, wrong plurals. I sure wish I was a lot less disgusted with that
October 24, 2019
Same old same old
Finally tired of the series - baddies will finally in another 5 or six books be defeated and then another set will appear for another 8 to 12 books in this book it turns out the baddies are fighting a long battle againsy something even worse than them! More recycling of battles over and over bah humbug
Finally tired of the series - baddies will finally in another 5 or six books be defeated and then another set will appear for another 8 to 12 books in this book it turns out the baddies are fighting a long battle againsy something even worse than them! More recycling of battles over and over bah humbug
June 5, 2022
The war against the Others - also known as the Highborn - is in full swing and the very capital planet of the Hegemony is directly threatened by their invasion. Meanwhile, Andi - recognizing the term 'Highborn' from prospected material back when she was scoured the Badlands for old tech - pulls out the data chips that contain a pre-Cataclysm history, hunting for information as to who and what the Highborn are. On the Rim, the Union civil war comes to a head.
December 14, 2022
It’s all getting a little predictable and ‘samey’ - to the point that it’s hard to invest in the characters any more when all the jeopardy feels fake. It gets tiring to hear one of the main protagonists proclaim their conviction that “This time, I know I’m not coming back” - when you know they will (and usually how).
It has the side effect of making them uncharacteristically whiney, as they consistently consider every obstacle a corporeal threat - even when the solution is obvious.
All said and done, we have a competent, if oft told, tale, that provides some pleasant distraction due to its undemanding plot, and frequent callbacks to ensure you never lose your place. Remember, Battleships come first, and fighters are expendable!!!
It has the side effect of making them uncharacteristically whiney, as they consistently consider every obstacle a corporeal threat - even when the solution is obvious.
All said and done, we have a competent, if oft told, tale, that provides some pleasant distraction due to its undemanding plot, and frequent callbacks to ensure you never lose your place. Remember, Battleships come first, and fighters are expendable!!!
August 5, 2020
Horrible editing but good story line
(EDITED) Let me start by saying I have loved this series. I am not quite sure what happened with this book if Jay Allan used an artificial device to write it or if it wasn't edited or if he has somebody else now writing the books for him but the number of errors is exceedingly large. Numerous errors in who is where and which person did want. It's just unbearable and I'm only halfway through the book. Admirals Stockton does something and then suddenly on the next page they say Admiral Barron did it. I'll take back the Fritzie thing but I'll replace it with this, EVERYTHING can not feel "like a punch to the gut". Did you get access to some weak A.I. algorithm, feed or all the preceding books and then get it to write this? I'm not even sure I can finish the book. Such a shame.
(EDITED) Let me start by saying I have loved this series. I am not quite sure what happened with this book if Jay Allan used an artificial device to write it or if it wasn't edited or if he has somebody else now writing the books for him but the number of errors is exceedingly large. Numerous errors in who is where and which person did want. It's just unbearable and I'm only halfway through the book. Admirals Stockton does something and then suddenly on the next page they say Admiral Barron did it. I'll take back the Fritzie thing but I'll replace it with this, EVERYTHING can not feel "like a punch to the gut". Did you get access to some weak A.I. algorithm, feed or all the preceding books and then get it to write this? I'm not even sure I can finish the book. Such a shame.
May 30, 2020
Unlikely allies
A strange turn of events results in the alliance of previous enemy's to fight an even more dangerous foe. Jay Allan's Blood on the Stars series continues with more battles and more unexpected twists and turns. I found the ending less than satisfying as future prospects are bleak for our favorite characters and I hope the follow up books will give us something to cheer.
A strange turn of events results in the alliance of previous enemy's to fight an even more dangerous foe. Jay Allan's Blood on the Stars series continues with more battles and more unexpected twists and turns. I found the ending less than satisfying as future prospects are bleak for our favorite characters and I hope the follow up books will give us something to cheer.
June 15, 2021
Less invention compared to some of the other books in the series but still highly enjoyable. Lots of bloodletting and main characters going to meet their writer. No one is safe as we head for the home straight of this epic series.
Its a shame about the Union, they really elevated espionage to a fine art. I think they may have one last card to play - though it might be wiser to leave the table and get a beer.
Its a shame about the Union, they really elevated espionage to a fine art. I think they may have one last card to play - though it might be wiser to leave the table and get a beer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2020
Highborn have returned!
This series is getting good! Admiral Barron has to be getting tired of constant war. If you enjoy reading futuristic science fiction you really enjoy reading Jay Allan. He is a master of science fiction. This series has been extremely interesting to read. Love the book and the series!
This series is getting good! Admiral Barron has to be getting tired of constant war. If you enjoy reading futuristic science fiction you really enjoy reading Jay Allan. He is a master of science fiction. This series has been extremely interesting to read. Love the book and the series!
September 20, 2020
Imperial History revealed!
The battle to stop the Highborn has started with an alliance of humanity's best warriors in a battle that may be a final victory Of a horrible defeat. Tyler and his war tested battle proven team in a struggle to save the rim from slavery or death has begun.
The battle to stop the Highborn has started with an alliance of humanity's best warriors in a battle that may be a final victory Of a horrible defeat. Tyler and his war tested battle proven team in a struggle to save the rim from slavery or death has begun.
June 17, 2021
It continues
Cannot believe I am still reading this series. Intense battles, new pact, losses, and a twist at the end. Characters are so well developed, so when one is lost, it is sad. Lots of interpersonal relationships and how they are intertwined. On to book 15. Just have to find out how “ the pact” gets out of this one.
Cannot believe I am still reading this series. Intense battles, new pact, losses, and a twist at the end. Characters are so well developed, so when one is lost, it is sad. Lots of interpersonal relationships and how they are intertwined. On to book 15. Just have to find out how “ the pact” gets out of this one.
September 5, 2023
Excellent novel - but....!
This is the 14th book of the series I have read - I have been happy to be reading them but I am concerned that the quality of the editing and quality control are diminishing. Poor word choices and errors detract from the enjoyment gained from the story line. This will be my last 5 rating if this trend continues.
This is the 14th book of the series I have read - I have been happy to be reading them but I am concerned that the quality of the editing and quality control are diminishing. Poor word choices and errors detract from the enjoyment gained from the story line. This will be my last 5 rating if this trend continues.
March 8, 2022
Good yarn
I worthy continuation of the series. But it could be greatly improved by cutting out about 2/3 of the redundant self pity and reiteration of how bad the tactical situation is
I worthy continuation of the series. But it could be greatly improved by cutting out about 2/3 of the redundant self pity and reiteration of how bad the tactical situation is
February 22, 2025
Becoming turgid …
So much repetition in these books now that they are becoming hard to read. The annoying paradox of wanting to know where the series ends balanced against the frustration of having to read and re-read the same things over and over again.
So much repetition in these books now that they are becoming hard to read. The annoying paradox of wanting to know where the series ends balanced against the frustration of having to read and re-read the same things over and over again.
March 9, 2020
3 to 3.5 stars, I did enjoy it but it is mostly a setup book for the series to continue with a new enemy.
March 18, 2020
Another great read from Jay Allan. Lots of action, adventure and suspense.
April 11, 2020
Too much filler material. The only way to read the book is skipping complete paragraphs.
April 25, 2020
Blood on the stars book 14
Another great read with the usual unusual twists and turns. All the guys are back with an ending leaving you wanting the next chapter.
Another great read with the usual unusual twists and turns. All the guys are back with an ending leaving you wanting the next chapter.
Read
February 15, 2021Not bad
Not bad. Flow was well and not many surviving impossible situation moments. Raised more questions about the direction of the story.
Not bad. Flow was well and not many surviving impossible situation moments. Raised more questions about the direction of the story.
October 15, 2021
It's just great
I really like this series. Each book adds a new layer to a detailed and beautiful but war torn universe.
I really like this series. Each book adds a new layer to a detailed and beautiful but war torn universe.
August 8, 2025
Too Many rehashes
This book could be short er without all the rehashing of past events over and over again. This tends to have the reader skip read.
This book could be short er without all the rehashing of past events over and over again. This tends to have the reader skip read.
February 16, 2020
Entertaining but nothing new
The author simply uses the same plots of other books in series but villians are bigger and nastier but the hero's prevail enough to justify another book! Still the book is well written and a relaxing read.
The author simply uses the same plots of other books in series but villians are bigger and nastier but the hero's prevail enough to justify another book! Still the book is well written and a relaxing read.
October 28, 2019
If anyone should be tired of war, then it should be the Confederation and Fleet Admiral Tyler Barron! Having to continually fight off the Union and then going to Palatia and fight those guys, the younger Captain Tyler Barron certainly learned his trade by fire, literally. Fortunately, he has survived and become the most competent Fleet Admiral to exist in the history of the Confederation, even surpassing his Grandfather. Now, it looks like it’s time to die!
After having survived the war with the Hegemony, Fleet Admiral Barron finds himself allied with his former enemies. While the Confederation didn’t actually win the war with the Hegemony, they did gain a gigantic starship in taking the Colossus away from the Hegemony as a war prize. Yet, even that huge and powerful warship won’t help in this coming battle. The Highborn are the new enemy and they are superior in every way to even the Hegemony. That puts the Confederation on the third tier of advancement behind both of these civilizations. Yet, as allies, the Hegemony has freely shared much of their tech with the Confederation. They know it will be needed in the coming conflict with the Highborn.
The Highborn are an unknown enemy. They have been around before, but it was in the very distant past and no one living now knows anything about them. Andi Barron, the former Andi LaFarge, but now wife of the famous Fleet Admiral Barron, is on Megara, capital of the Confederation. She’s with their newly born daughter this time staying out of harms way, for awhile anyway. She had found in her previous life as a Badlands scrounger a set of memory chips. These chips had been in a folder entitled, “Highborn”, which didn’t mean anything to her at the time. Yet, now that the same name has come up as their deadly enemy, Andi needs to find those chips and see what they contain. Hopefully it will be something to assist her husband and his allies in the new war. But, those chips are in ancient Empire and badly damaged. She has to enlist one of her old friends to see if she can recover any useable data and then get that information out to Tyler. See might just be going back into harms way after all.
The Highborn commander has started this war on his own initiative. He’s not done as well as his highers wanted so they sent some additional assets to him, but that’s all he’s going to get. Still, his fleet is now massive; far deadlier than the combined fleets of the Confederation and the Hegemony. The Highborn ships have a strange force field that prevent good target locks and they seem to make their ships fade in and out of existance. They are also huge warships, even larger than the Hegemony battleships which already dwarfed the Confeds largest warship. And now, that fleet is headed for Calpharon.
Fleet Admiral Barron doesn’t believe that his forces and those of the Hegemony can defeat the Highborn in this battle. But, he doesn’t know if his counterpart, Commander Chronos of the Hegemony, has the courage to withdraw and fight another day if things go really bad. Chronos has children and his superior, Akella, on Calpharon and he won’t abandon them. So what does that mean for this alliance. Is this the final battle? Will Fleet Admrial Barron stay and fight to the last warship? Why would he when he could withdraw and go back to Confederations space and rebuild. Except, no matter what Barron does, the Highborn will eventually turn towards Confederation space and then end that civilization for good.
There are some significant deaths in this battle. Characters we’ve been with for a long time, finally run out of time, or so it seems. Another great story, but it’s not over yet!
After having survived the war with the Hegemony, Fleet Admiral Barron finds himself allied with his former enemies. While the Confederation didn’t actually win the war with the Hegemony, they did gain a gigantic starship in taking the Colossus away from the Hegemony as a war prize. Yet, even that huge and powerful warship won’t help in this coming battle. The Highborn are the new enemy and they are superior in every way to even the Hegemony. That puts the Confederation on the third tier of advancement behind both of these civilizations. Yet, as allies, the Hegemony has freely shared much of their tech with the Confederation. They know it will be needed in the coming conflict with the Highborn.
The Highborn are an unknown enemy. They have been around before, but it was in the very distant past and no one living now knows anything about them. Andi Barron, the former Andi LaFarge, but now wife of the famous Fleet Admiral Barron, is on Megara, capital of the Confederation. She’s with their newly born daughter this time staying out of harms way, for awhile anyway. She had found in her previous life as a Badlands scrounger a set of memory chips. These chips had been in a folder entitled, “Highborn”, which didn’t mean anything to her at the time. Yet, now that the same name has come up as their deadly enemy, Andi needs to find those chips and see what they contain. Hopefully it will be something to assist her husband and his allies in the new war. But, those chips are in ancient Empire and badly damaged. She has to enlist one of her old friends to see if she can recover any useable data and then get that information out to Tyler. See might just be going back into harms way after all.
The Highborn commander has started this war on his own initiative. He’s not done as well as his highers wanted so they sent some additional assets to him, but that’s all he’s going to get. Still, his fleet is now massive; far deadlier than the combined fleets of the Confederation and the Hegemony. The Highborn ships have a strange force field that prevent good target locks and they seem to make their ships fade in and out of existance. They are also huge warships, even larger than the Hegemony battleships which already dwarfed the Confeds largest warship. And now, that fleet is headed for Calpharon.
Fleet Admiral Barron doesn’t believe that his forces and those of the Hegemony can defeat the Highborn in this battle. But, he doesn’t know if his counterpart, Commander Chronos of the Hegemony, has the courage to withdraw and fight another day if things go really bad. Chronos has children and his superior, Akella, on Calpharon and he won’t abandon them. So what does that mean for this alliance. Is this the final battle? Will Fleet Admrial Barron stay and fight to the last warship? Why would he when he could withdraw and go back to Confederations space and rebuild. Except, no matter what Barron does, the Highborn will eventually turn towards Confederation space and then end that civilization for good.
There are some significant deaths in this battle. Characters we’ve been with for a long time, finally run out of time, or so it seems. Another great story, but it’s not over yet!
February 13, 2020
Holy crap
I was wondering what could happen next and had an inkling of some things but not the one big shocker!
I was wondering what could happen next and had an inkling of some things but not the one big shocker!
January 21, 2020
Great story but tedious
This is a fantastic story line. Only downside is that it should have been 3 fulfilling books instead of 14 teasers packed with repetition to create extra pages.
This is a fantastic story line. Only downside is that it should have been 3 fulfilling books instead of 14 teasers packed with repetition to create extra pages.
October 7, 2019
Not done yet, are we?
As a long addicted scifi (particularly military scifi) reader I am having trouble, even now, finding good, gripping stories with all the complex supporting infrastructure that makes a good book (imho). I keep finding I have already read much of what's out there. Certainly your work is what I consider a good book.
From a selfish perspective I find the only real issue with your writing is that it is YOUR work (i.e. You are only one guy) and this directly translates into when the next installment will be released into the wild.
I am most interested in this war between the high born (a.k.a. "The Others") and THEIR others. Lot's of opportunity there... and I too have wondered if there is some kind of a causal relationship between the challenges a society faces and overcomes and its entropy.
Stay well my friend and keep that electronic notepad with you 24/7.
Pete
As a long addicted scifi (particularly military scifi) reader I am having trouble, even now, finding good, gripping stories with all the complex supporting infrastructure that makes a good book (imho). I keep finding I have already read much of what's out there. Certainly your work is what I consider a good book.
From a selfish perspective I find the only real issue with your writing is that it is YOUR work (i.e. You are only one guy) and this directly translates into when the next installment will be released into the wild.
I am most interested in this war between the high born (a.k.a. "The Others") and THEIR others. Lot's of opportunity there... and I too have wondered if there is some kind of a causal relationship between the challenges a society faces and overcomes and its entropy.
Stay well my friend and keep that electronic notepad with you 24/7.
Pete
October 11, 2019
The Last Stand brings to conclusion the war between the Rim dwellers and the Imperial forces.
Led by the Highborn, the Imperial forces outnumber and outclass the Rim forces of the Hegemony, Vian Tulus’s Palatian fleets , Union and Confederation forces led by Admiral Tyler Barron. Although the Imperial forces are better equipped, better trained and better armed than Admiral Barron's troops and their battleships are stronger, faster, their weaponry more accurate, more powerful and longer ranged than any ship in Barron's fleet, the fleet lined up against the Imperials would give as well as it got for a while, but . . .
The action and characters in this series are soberingly realistic. Battle scenes are less glory, more gory, and bring to life the struggles fought. The characters have real feelings and doubts, bravado and fear. Excellent storyline! A truly remarkable read. I recommend it to all.
Led by the Highborn, the Imperial forces outnumber and outclass the Rim forces of the Hegemony, Vian Tulus’s Palatian fleets , Union and Confederation forces led by Admiral Tyler Barron. Although the Imperial forces are better equipped, better trained and better armed than Admiral Barron's troops and their battleships are stronger, faster, their weaponry more accurate, more powerful and longer ranged than any ship in Barron's fleet, the fleet lined up against the Imperials would give as well as it got for a while, but . . .
The action and characters in this series are soberingly realistic. Battle scenes are less glory, more gory, and bring to life the struggles fought. The characters have real feelings and doubts, bravado and fear. Excellent storyline! A truly remarkable read. I recommend it to all.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews