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The Messenger #8
Heaven's Door
Dash and the Realm are done playing defense. Now, they’ll take the war to the Golden.
With new, more lethal weapons being added at every turn, the Forge goes into motion, advancing across the galactic arm in furious combat, leaving wreckage in the wake.
But that wreckage has a purpose, and so does Dash. Until now, the war has been Golden allies throwing themselves in front of the Realm weapons, but that’s all about to change.
When the Realm captures an alien ship, the pilot is not an enemy- rather, it’s an ally, if Dash can build a bond with the race, known as the Rin-ti. Ancient enemies of the Golden, the Rin-ti have only one favor to ask—free their people from Golden control, and reduce the local Golden fleets to rubble.
If Dash can do that, he’ll have everything he needs to build a fleet that can challenge the Golden in their own territory. But first, he’ll need to win, and to do so, he’ll need all hands on deck for a fight that will change history.
With new, more lethal weapons being added at every turn, the Forge goes into motion, advancing across the galactic arm in furious combat, leaving wreckage in the wake.
But that wreckage has a purpose, and so does Dash. Until now, the war has been Golden allies throwing themselves in front of the Realm weapons, but that’s all about to change.
When the Realm captures an alien ship, the pilot is not an enemy- rather, it’s an ally, if Dash can build a bond with the race, known as the Rin-ti. Ancient enemies of the Golden, the Rin-ti have only one favor to ask—free their people from Golden control, and reduce the local Golden fleets to rubble.
If Dash can do that, he’ll have everything he needs to build a fleet that can challenge the Golden in their own territory. But first, he’ll need to win, and to do so, he’ll need all hands on deck for a fight that will change history.
- GenresScience Fiction
259 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 25, 2020
313 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
J.N. Chaney
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 29, 2022
In the eighth installment of J.N. Chaney and Terry Maggert’s The Messenger series, Newton “Dash” Sawyer and the Cygnus Realm that he leads intend to take their war to the enemies of all life, the Golden, with their operating base, the Forge, constantly cranking out new and upgraded weaponry. The book focuses on his attempted alliance with the alien race Rin-ti, who yearn to be free from Golden control. The novel begins proper with Dash exploring a jungle planet and salvaging a probe, after which he seeks help from the Telorum Syndicate, headed by an Overseer who is initially hostile towards the Cygnus Realm’s fleet.
Dash eventually meets with Bercale, leader of the Telorum Syndicate, with their anti-missiles proving useful in whatever battles erupt throughout the book. However, indicators of sabotage within the Forge abound, and Dash discovers a substation within the Forge, with minesweepers suggested to deal with whatever mines the enemy lays. The Cygnus Alliance soon meets a serpentine race known as the Rin-ti, who are at war with the militant Waunsik, with a subgroup of the Rin-ti known as Far-Flung allied with the Golden. Towards the end of the novel, upgrades to Dash’s mech, the Archetype, become possible.
Overall, book eight of the series proves to be just as enjoyable as its precursors, with plentiful science-fiction mythos and actions in the form of well-described battles, references to Old Earth sometimes coming within the text. There are occasional stylistic issues within the story such as a few inconsistent capitalizations of “the” before the location known as Three Fangs, and those who have played various sci-fi-centric videogames will likely note the somewhat-derivative nature of the plotline. Regardless, things such as the book description before the primary text get readers up to speed with the literary franchise, and I definitely wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
Dash eventually meets with Bercale, leader of the Telorum Syndicate, with their anti-missiles proving useful in whatever battles erupt throughout the book. However, indicators of sabotage within the Forge abound, and Dash discovers a substation within the Forge, with minesweepers suggested to deal with whatever mines the enemy lays. The Cygnus Alliance soon meets a serpentine race known as the Rin-ti, who are at war with the militant Waunsik, with a subgroup of the Rin-ti known as Far-Flung allied with the Golden. Towards the end of the novel, upgrades to Dash’s mech, the Archetype, become possible.
Overall, book eight of the series proves to be just as enjoyable as its precursors, with plentiful science-fiction mythos and actions in the form of well-described battles, references to Old Earth sometimes coming within the text. There are occasional stylistic issues within the story such as a few inconsistent capitalizations of “the” before the location known as Three Fangs, and those who have played various sci-fi-centric videogames will likely note the somewhat-derivative nature of the plotline. Regardless, things such as the book description before the primary text get readers up to speed with the literary franchise, and I definitely wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
May 5, 2020
Impressive
Yes. This is good vs evil fighting still in book 8. Is the storyline stagnant? Not on your life! Every exciting book of the series has the characters confronting the present challenges while new and imaginative challenges are artfully intertwined keeping the storyline fresh. It’s like a carpenter trying to do renovations on an old house. The crack in the wall he/she knows needs to be fixed leads to termite damage, which leads to joist replacement, which requires heavier footings, etc. Dash and company face a constant uphill struggle to secure their safety while fighting technologically advanced foes and trying to bring on new allies! Simple! Right!
Yes. This is good vs evil fighting still in book 8. Is the storyline stagnant? Not on your life! Every exciting book of the series has the characters confronting the present challenges while new and imaginative challenges are artfully intertwined keeping the storyline fresh. It’s like a carpenter trying to do renovations on an old house. The crack in the wall he/she knows needs to be fixed leads to termite damage, which leads to joist replacement, which requires heavier footings, etc. Dash and company face a constant uphill struggle to secure their safety while fighting technologically advanced foes and trying to bring on new allies! Simple! Right!
March 18, 2022
Dash and the growing team is now a power. The Golden are getting chased. Dash or better said "The Messenger" is taking care of business. They come across a new race the Rin-Ti they are fairly advanced and they find that Dash and the Cygnus Realm are going to be a great ally.
As they push towards the Core of the galaxy in pursuit of the Golden and its allies they encounter more and more interesting things.
As they push towards the Core of the galaxy in pursuit of the Golden and its allies they encounter more and more interesting things.
May 13, 2020
Another Great Addition to the Series
These authors are good and consistently so. This is a great series for those who enjoyed Star Wars or Battlestar Galactica or any of the other epic Sci-fi novels. This has been a very welcome escape from reality during this stay-at-home period.
These authors are good and consistently so. This is a great series for those who enjoyed Star Wars or Battlestar Galactica or any of the other epic Sci-fi novels. This has been a very welcome escape from reality during this stay-at-home period.
August 9, 2020
Robert's Review and Comments
Oh, you went there you Far-Flung and Golden wretches. Now you are going to pay the piper for your misdeeds. Dash and the people of Cygnus Realm with Allies are coming. You have made too many mistakes, the gauntlet has been thrown down. Thanks for a GoodRead.
Oh, you went there you Far-Flung and Golden wretches. Now you are going to pay the piper for your misdeeds. Dash and the people of Cygnus Realm with Allies are coming. You have made too many mistakes, the gauntlet has been thrown down. Thanks for a GoodRead.
November 14, 2020
Heavens Door. J.N. Chaney. Terry Maggert
The battle against the Golden and the minions that fight for them continues. Losses occur, but Dash and his followers appear to be gaining more followers and winning the battles. But, the fight is far from over. Another excellent read in this series. Enjoyed immensely!!!
The battle against the Golden and the minions that fight for them continues. Losses occur, but Dash and his followers appear to be gaining more followers and winning the battles. But, the fight is far from over. Another excellent read in this series. Enjoyed immensely!!!
August 3, 2022
The temperature is rising
Only halfway through the series and the pace is picking up with battles coming thick and fast throughout the book. Challenging times as Dash and his team have to grow their numbers which brings with it questions of trust.
Worryingly, I can't help but feel that the loss of a big name is not far away. .....
Onto book 9
Only halfway through the series and the pace is picking up with battles coming thick and fast throughout the book. Challenging times as Dash and his team have to grow their numbers which brings with it questions of trust.
Worryingly, I can't help but feel that the loss of a big name is not far away. .....
Onto book 9
May 8, 2020
As usual another can't put down once you start. Can't wait for book 9.
Keep up the excellent books to read. Now on to some other reading material from J N chaney. To ever sees this O highly recommend you to check out the any of Cheney's books they're great.
Keep up the excellent books to read. Now on to some other reading material from J N chaney. To ever sees this O highly recommend you to check out the any of Cheney's books they're great.
June 24, 2020
Just finished book 8, heading into book 9. Full speed ahead.
You often find in a series that they wilt a bit as they progress. NOT THIS ONE! It has not stopped getting better and better. Book 9, here I come!
You often find in a series that they wilt a bit as they progress. NOT THIS ONE! It has not stopped getting better and better. Book 9, here I come!
August 1, 2020
Still enjoying the series
This story has weathered well and the characters have become well rounded people.
All round good fun.
Keep up the great work!
This story has weathered well and the characters have become well rounded people.
All round good fun.
Keep up the great work!
August 15, 2021
Great read
This book started out slowly but got very intense very quickly. This was the first time that they were going to the core
This book started out slowly but got very intense very quickly. This was the first time that they were going to the core
June 28, 2023
Another fun book in the series. I notice every so often editing mistakes. Being told the same thing in the same chapter about information we already had. Other than that these are such a fun series.
February 28, 2025
Great as always
JN Chaney and Terry Maggert hit another home run. The books just keep getting better. Another page turner and amazing read. Can't wait to see what happens next.
JN Chaney and Terry Maggert hit another home run. The books just keep getting better. Another page turner and amazing read. Can't wait to see what happens next.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews