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Astral Prime #7
Parallel Enforcers: Mission 7
They stared too long into the abyss. The abyss is going to do more than just stare back.
They toyed with forces they didn't understand. Now, the inhabitants of Astral Prime are going to pay the price.
Their foray into an alternate universe has not gone unnoticed.
Nor will it go uninvestigated.
While Jace Jarvis attempts to reassemble the pieces of a broken life, a new foe threatens to steal that life away yet again. With Hiroko shepherding a new flock and Cedric guarding the planet below, Astral Prime faces an invasion they might not be able to stop.
They'll have to turn to the unlikeliest of allies if there's any hope to save the station.
They toyed with forces they didn't understand. Now, the inhabitants of Astral Prime are going to pay the price.
Their foray into an alternate universe has not gone unnoticed.
Nor will it go uninvestigated.
While Jace Jarvis attempts to reassemble the pieces of a broken life, a new foe threatens to steal that life away yet again. With Hiroko shepherding a new flock and Cedric guarding the planet below, Astral Prime faces an invasion they might not be able to stop.
They'll have to turn to the unlikeliest of allies if there's any hope to save the station.
148 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2019
1 person is currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
J.S. Morin
193 books616 followersI am a creator of worlds and a destroyer of words. As a fantasy writer, my works range from traditional epics to futuristic fantasy with starships. I have worked as an unpaid Little League pitcher, a cashier, a student library aide, a factory grunt, a cubicle drone, and an engineer--there is some overlap in the last two.
Through it all, though, I was always a storyteller. Eventually I started writing books based on the stray stories in my head, and people kept telling me to write more of them. Now, that's all I do for a living.
I enjoy strategy, worldbuilding, and the fantasy author's privilege to make up words. I am a gamer, a joker, and a thinker of sideways thoughts. But I don't dance, can't sing, and my best artistic efforts fall short of your average notebook doodle. When you read my books, you are seeing me at my best.
My ultimate goal is to be both clever and right at the same time. I have it on good authority that I have yet to achieve it.
Through it all, though, I was always a storyteller. Eventually I started writing books based on the stray stories in my head, and people kept telling me to write more of them. Now, that's all I do for a living.
I enjoy strategy, worldbuilding, and the fantasy author's privilege to make up words. I am a gamer, a joker, and a thinker of sideways thoughts. But I don't dance, can't sing, and my best artistic efforts fall short of your average notebook doodle. When you read my books, you are seeing me at my best.
My ultimate goal is to be both clever and right at the same time. I have it on good authority that I have yet to achieve it.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 7, 2019
The station is still recovering from its last mishap, in which Hiroko dropped them deep into the Astral and they nearly came across something there they should never have met. It was up to Cedric (again), to come and rescue them, and in the process, the station was tossed about like a kids toy in rough seas.
However, this hasn’t gone unnoticed, and whilst Kane’s onboard guests are still trying to work out a way to get back to Shadow Planet, another group of Vaieen decide to visit the station in the meantime, and chaos ensues.
No one is prepared for what happens when 6 Vaieen drop onto the station and decide to go for a walk around the Mall like it is a day at the Zoo, which, for them, it kind of is, and there is no one, apart from the Wizard on Shadow Planet who doesn’t want to leave it in case someone tries to take it while he’s gone, can stop them.
This is where we see the outstanding writing skills of both Morin and Larkin, as they describe the decimation of the stations population at the hands of the Vaieen. It is fascinating to read, as some of those lucky enough to survive contact with the Vaieen tell of how they suffered overwhelming mental input, visual images, that the human mind could not comprehend. And this is in line with how the Vaieen communicate, along a visual bandwidth, rather than with spoken words.
The writing is incredibly powerful, gritty and realistic, and you can see yourself walking through the mayhem of the station, with each of the various characters that describe their desperate attempts to complete specific missions to save the inhabitants on the station, Jace, Cedric, Kendra, and some extras that are on board the station.
This is such an exceptional episode, the desperation of the station staff in trying to work out a method of destroying the Vaieen, Cedric, and his continued battle with his own humanity, Captain Sevigny and the Bangkok and their rather frantic attempts to help those aboard the station. Amongst it all is Kane, watching.
As with all the other books, the character work is just exceptional. Jace Jarvis’ character is outstanding, having gone from the creepy conman running his electronics store, to semi-heroic Husband and Father, with an anxious edge for saving his family at any cost. His character is just so real, so totally believable, especially from a Father of 2 children’s point of view.
Cedric and his continuous battle with humanity is utterly fascinating, and is written with such psychological brilliance, you would think they are seeking guidance. Hiroko and Kendra continue to be somewhat of a mystery, and Kendra is becoming more and more freaky with every book. But this only increases the interest value.
The Black Ocean series was always brilliant, but the spin-offs are making it so much better. Parallel Enforcers has unleashed the Vaieen in a way we didn’t see coming, and it is such a good read, one of the best of the series, Don’t Miss It!!!
However, this hasn’t gone unnoticed, and whilst Kane’s onboard guests are still trying to work out a way to get back to Shadow Planet, another group of Vaieen decide to visit the station in the meantime, and chaos ensues.
No one is prepared for what happens when 6 Vaieen drop onto the station and decide to go for a walk around the Mall like it is a day at the Zoo, which, for them, it kind of is, and there is no one, apart from the Wizard on Shadow Planet who doesn’t want to leave it in case someone tries to take it while he’s gone, can stop them.
This is where we see the outstanding writing skills of both Morin and Larkin, as they describe the decimation of the stations population at the hands of the Vaieen. It is fascinating to read, as some of those lucky enough to survive contact with the Vaieen tell of how they suffered overwhelming mental input, visual images, that the human mind could not comprehend. And this is in line with how the Vaieen communicate, along a visual bandwidth, rather than with spoken words.
The writing is incredibly powerful, gritty and realistic, and you can see yourself walking through the mayhem of the station, with each of the various characters that describe their desperate attempts to complete specific missions to save the inhabitants on the station, Jace, Cedric, Kendra, and some extras that are on board the station.
This is such an exceptional episode, the desperation of the station staff in trying to work out a method of destroying the Vaieen, Cedric, and his continued battle with his own humanity, Captain Sevigny and the Bangkok and their rather frantic attempts to help those aboard the station. Amongst it all is Kane, watching.
As with all the other books, the character work is just exceptional. Jace Jarvis’ character is outstanding, having gone from the creepy conman running his electronics store, to semi-heroic Husband and Father, with an anxious edge for saving his family at any cost. His character is just so real, so totally believable, especially from a Father of 2 children’s point of view.
Cedric and his continuous battle with humanity is utterly fascinating, and is written with such psychological brilliance, you would think they are seeking guidance. Hiroko and Kendra continue to be somewhat of a mystery, and Kendra is becoming more and more freaky with every book. But this only increases the interest value.
The Black Ocean series was always brilliant, but the spin-offs are making it so much better. Parallel Enforcers has unleashed the Vaieen in a way we didn’t see coming, and it is such a good read, one of the best of the series, Don’t Miss It!!!
September 5, 2019
Being the Prime Guardian isn't quite what it's cracked up to be. No vacation time... your girlfriend wants you to at least spend SOME time with her... religious zealots want to worship at the shrine of the vaieen... scientists want to worship at the shrine of technology... and your girl friend wants you to at LEAST spend some time with her...Oh...already said that.
Cedric the Brown isn't exactly loving his new avocation. His former boss recently threw the entire Astral Prime station into another universe and he needed to use every bit of his ability to bring them back. And something was stirred up by their time there. So being the good Guardian that he is...and contrary to multiple warnings from the dutiful AI running the complex Cedric decides to stretch his mind for a look around. And, as all good intentions seem to, bad comes from good and something follows him home. But...it's not a little lost puppy...
This is the 7th book in the Astral Prime spin-off from the original Black Ocean series and authors Jeff Morin and Matt Larkin are pulling out all the stops as they drive the story...and their characters...into more dangerous and life-threatening situations. The strengths of the two authors shine thorough though, as they continue to spin interlocking web after web wrapping the multitude of characters that populate Astral Prime and its surrounds into a tight exciting adventure. Morin and Larkin truly know their characters. And the interesting part is to watch as those same characters swing from where you thought was their norm 180 degrees into someone almost entirely new...and then back again.
The two writers have been building this second set of the story arc as they push it to its ultimate resolution in the next book. But...don't worry...that's not the end of the adventure of the crew of the Astral Prime. Its simply the lead in to the next exciting set of stories coming soon from Jeff and Matt.
Cedric the Brown isn't exactly loving his new avocation. His former boss recently threw the entire Astral Prime station into another universe and he needed to use every bit of his ability to bring them back. And something was stirred up by their time there. So being the good Guardian that he is...and contrary to multiple warnings from the dutiful AI running the complex Cedric decides to stretch his mind for a look around. And, as all good intentions seem to, bad comes from good and something follows him home. But...it's not a little lost puppy...
This is the 7th book in the Astral Prime spin-off from the original Black Ocean series and authors Jeff Morin and Matt Larkin are pulling out all the stops as they drive the story...and their characters...into more dangerous and life-threatening situations. The strengths of the two authors shine thorough though, as they continue to spin interlocking web after web wrapping the multitude of characters that populate Astral Prime and its surrounds into a tight exciting adventure. Morin and Larkin truly know their characters. And the interesting part is to watch as those same characters swing from where you thought was their norm 180 degrees into someone almost entirely new...and then back again.
The two writers have been building this second set of the story arc as they push it to its ultimate resolution in the next book. But...don't worry...that's not the end of the adventure of the crew of the Astral Prime. Its simply the lead in to the next exciting set of stories coming soon from Jeff and Matt.
June 4, 2022
All these ran together and I didn't update. But we find the reason there's multiple earths gotta fight extra-universal aliens and the ancients who created us. In the end sacrifice for the many saves the whole universe.
July 26, 2023
Great book loved the story and the book narration can’t wait to listen to the next one it’s a really great book series I highly recommend it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👍😀📖
June 16, 2024
Things really went off the rails. Cedric and the reincarnated director of Astral Prime are at odds with one another and a Messiah complex begins to take shape.
January 17, 2025
2.5 stars. I am not having fun.
August 13, 2019
Just when things look like stuff on the Astral Prime are starting to settle down, fate has a way of throwing in a monkey wrench.
When Cedric the Brown and company slipped back into our universe through a hole in the barrier between the varieen universe and ours, some varieen slipped back through the hole before Cedric could stop them or close the opening.
They came with two objectives in mind: to wipe out all the sentient beings, not matter what race they are beginning with those on the Astral Prime station and then grabbing control of the Shadow Planet where eons agony of their outposts had been planted.
While not gods, albeit purple ugly ones, they did have remarkable powers and abilities that made them almost, important modifier “almost”, indestructible. These also enabled them to tear the Astral Prime station apart and nothing humans and other sentient beings on the station could do could stop them.
That is until rogue wizard Cedric the Brown puts one of the varieen down but at at tremendous cost to his powers. He then has to decide on whether to stay and fight the purple invaders or go back to the Shadow Planet and defend it against them.
Fate takes a strange turn when the former disgraced Astral Prime engineering chief Roland Kane shows up with a group of new sentient beings, the nishta, who kind of look like hot dogs, first born of the varieen arrive.
You will have to read this fast paced, page turning adventure from the Black Ocean oeuvre to see what happens. It really will be time well spent. And oh yes, as always, things in the Astral Prime galaxy are never simple. Interesting. Exciting. But never simple.
When Cedric the Brown and company slipped back into our universe through a hole in the barrier between the varieen universe and ours, some varieen slipped back through the hole before Cedric could stop them or close the opening.
They came with two objectives in mind: to wipe out all the sentient beings, not matter what race they are beginning with those on the Astral Prime station and then grabbing control of the Shadow Planet where eons agony of their outposts had been planted.
While not gods, albeit purple ugly ones, they did have remarkable powers and abilities that made them almost, important modifier “almost”, indestructible. These also enabled them to tear the Astral Prime station apart and nothing humans and other sentient beings on the station could do could stop them.
That is until rogue wizard Cedric the Brown puts one of the varieen down but at at tremendous cost to his powers. He then has to decide on whether to stay and fight the purple invaders or go back to the Shadow Planet and defend it against them.
Fate takes a strange turn when the former disgraced Astral Prime engineering chief Roland Kane shows up with a group of new sentient beings, the nishta, who kind of look like hot dogs, first born of the varieen arrive.
You will have to read this fast paced, page turning adventure from the Black Ocean oeuvre to see what happens. It really will be time well spent. And oh yes, as always, things in the Astral Prime galaxy are never simple. Interesting. Exciting. But never simple.
August 6, 2019
J.S. Morin and M.A. Larkin are back with a new addition to the fabulous Black Ocean: Astral Prime. I have loved all of the series set in the Black Ocean, each totally unique but sharing this wonderfully creative setting. The books here have been uniformly well-plotted and filled with well-crafted characters, all superbly written. That’s no less true with the latest, Parallel Enforcers: Mission 7 (Black Ocean: Astral Prime). Astral Prime might be facing an invasion threat like no other, but Jace, Cedric and Hiroko - and their allies no matter how unlikely - are up for the task in this exciting thriller of a tale. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises. The book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to highly recommend.
August 6, 2019
The trip across the astral into the vaieen universe has attracted the wrong kind of attention for Astral Prime and Shadow Planet. Beset by a contemptuous sect of militaristic vaieen who view their scientists' experiments (i.e., life in this universe) as vermin to exterminate, our various cast of characters face their most difficult trials yet while Kane and his ghosts seek to take advantage of the situation.
Kendra has her hands full trying to keep as many people alive as possible while battling dark despair; Hiroko must put aside her quest for Truth to safeguard those looking to her for salvation; Zoti must face his violent past and reconcile it with his present; and Jace must balance his duty to his family with his inner hero. Meanwhile, Heather's self-absorption means she continues to fail to see Cedric's sacrifices and feelings despite him breaking his vow to try to save lives, straining his already shaky link to humanity.
Kendra has her hands full trying to keep as many people alive as possible while battling dark despair; Hiroko must put aside her quest for Truth to safeguard those looking to her for salvation; Zoti must face his violent past and reconcile it with his present; and Jace must balance his duty to his family with his inner hero. Meanwhile, Heather's self-absorption means she continues to fail to see Cedric's sacrifices and feelings despite him breaking his vow to try to save lives, straining his already shaky link to humanity.
August 6, 2019
The Vaieen, they are an ancient and powerful alien race who have seamlessly melded science and magic. They seeded intelligent life across the Black Ocean in order to research ways to defeat a powerful foe. The only reason their existence is known is because the crew of the station known as Astral Prime found the Shadow Planet, an ancient Vaieen research outpost. The Astral Prime crew has used Vaieen tech to take their station to another universe, and back. That's the problem. Now the Vaieen know our crew is there. We are like insects to them, and the Vaieen have started swatting. How do you fight back against an enemy with power like a god? This installment in the Astral Prime series brought so many story threads together in one action packed book. You need the books before it for the set-up, but this one is the payoff.
August 27, 2019
While Cedric is barricaded down on Shadow Planet he inadvertently opens a doorway into the other universe and six Vaieen soldiers slip through.
I don't want to spoil anything so I'll just say that their intentions are not so God- like. Hiroko, Zoti, Jace and even Cedric have a force to reckon with and the action never stops.
Of course, Kane and the "ghosts" in his head show up to exploit this opportunity. Which adds to the excitement.
Cedric and the gang on Astral Prime have their work cut out for them if they are going to save the station and Shadow Planet from the evil now stomping around this universe, and from Kane who has now shown his face again to the people of Astral Prime thinking that they now owe him one.
Mission 7 is a winner. A real page turner. Now I'll be chomping at the bit for Mission 8.
I don't want to spoil anything so I'll just say that their intentions are not so God- like. Hiroko, Zoti, Jace and even Cedric have a force to reckon with and the action never stops.
Of course, Kane and the "ghosts" in his head show up to exploit this opportunity. Which adds to the excitement.
Cedric and the gang on Astral Prime have their work cut out for them if they are going to save the station and Shadow Planet from the evil now stomping around this universe, and from Kane who has now shown his face again to the people of Astral Prime thinking that they now owe him one.
Mission 7 is a winner. A real page turner. Now I'll be chomping at the bit for Mission 8.
August 6, 2019
The storm before the storm
It's going down. Life on Astral Prime has never really been "normal", but lately it's been even wilder. And if anyone there tells you they know what's going on, don't trust them. They're definitely lying.
I really enjoyed this one, complete with summer blockbuster levels of action and destruction. The story did a great job of being a semi self-contained episode, while definitely setting things up for a very big finish next book, which I can't wait to read.
It's going down. Life on Astral Prime has never really been "normal", but lately it's been even wilder. And if anyone there tells you they know what's going on, don't trust them. They're definitely lying.
I really enjoyed this one, complete with summer blockbuster levels of action and destruction. The story did a great job of being a semi self-contained episode, while definitely setting things up for a very big finish next book, which I can't wait to read.
August 26, 2019
A can't miss installment of the Astral Prime series! This one is more of a disaster film which, now that we have grown so attached to the characters and their plucky little space station, is difficult to take. But Morin pulls no punches, and the results are harrowing. Long-time readers know the book will end with some sort of success, but as you go along, it grows progressively harder to see what sort of win our heroes could possibly pull out of the hat. Who and what will survive this nightmare?
August 7, 2019
This book picks up with a whole lot more action tons of things are coming to a head and I enjoyed it but it seemed a little too quick for me but I guess that kind of makes sense seeing as how they've been leading up to this as it's gone through. I kind of wish there was a little more depth to what was going on but one could say there was but you got to pull it from the previous stories to get that
August 6, 2019
Lots of action in this installment. Things definitely get messy. More new players coming onto the scene and the balance of power is not so much shifting as spinning about.
It should be interesting to see how this all plays out in the next book
It should be interesting to see how this all plays out in the next book
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews