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The Blood Service #1
The Blood Service
Wrongly Convicted. Sentenced To Life. His Only Hope Lies In Service.
Aaron Havenes is serving hard labor in the colonies for a crime he didn’t commit. The last thing he wants to do is defend the Empire that chained him as a child. But when Aaron’s only friends are lured into the army with empty promises, Aaron vows to protect them at any cost, even if that means fighting monsters on behalf of a power that he loathes.
To glory-seeking Colonel Riley, convicted criminals aren’t worth the air they breathe: perfect cannon fodder. Aaron and his friends are being sent out to die in place of those ‘too valuable’ to lose.
But Aaron is set to defy all expectations. Death would be simpler, because victory means becoming a pawn for politicians and generals as they seek to further their own ambitions.
And the creatures in the mountains have plans of their own…
Aaron Havenes is serving hard labor in the colonies for a crime he didn’t commit. The last thing he wants to do is defend the Empire that chained him as a child. But when Aaron’s only friends are lured into the army with empty promises, Aaron vows to protect them at any cost, even if that means fighting monsters on behalf of a power that he loathes.
To glory-seeking Colonel Riley, convicted criminals aren’t worth the air they breathe: perfect cannon fodder. Aaron and his friends are being sent out to die in place of those ‘too valuable’ to lose.
But Aaron is set to defy all expectations. Death would be simpler, because victory means becoming a pawn for politicians and generals as they seek to further their own ambitions.
And the creatures in the mountains have plans of their own…
- GenresScience Fiction
ebook
First published March 30, 2020
228 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 13, 2022
An interesting, exciting story.
Good characters, great action and interesting human/alien interaction.
Up for #2
Good characters, great action and interesting human/alien interaction.
Up for #2
October 6, 2020
A new author to me requested I review his book and so I’ve done so and I’m not disappointed. I will admit that it did take awhile to get into this book. The political and social concepts on mining colony world HR-2056 or “Vanguard” if you were of the Empire and finally, “Hellmouth”, if you were a local citizen. If that didn’t confuse the people enough, then the fact that their current military contingent, led by Colonel Marcus Riley, had just announced their eminent pullout!
The Empire had problems else where and was recalling all of its troops. That included those now providing protection to this colony. The people were doomed and they knew it! While this planet had been supposedly “cleansed" when initially discovered and subsequently settled, it was not safe. The original inhabitants, the Jergad, had just burrowed deep into the dusty soil and remained there until such time as their strength recovered. It had by now and they were the things of nightmares for the colonist. The Empire’s troops were supposed to be the sole protection from these planetary demons who attacked relentlessly and killed all they came upon! Without these troops, the colonist would exist only a short time before the native inhabitants reclaimed their world.
The monsters of the night came from underground. They could be killed, but not without great effort. That effort involved trained, skilled and highly armed Imperial troops. The normal citizen was busy trying to make a life for his family on this dusty mining world and it was not his or her job to fight. So, it was imperative that Colonial Governor Christopher Dedria came to Colonel Riley to first demand he and his troops stay and then to beg them to do so. Colonel Marcus Riley was not without some sympathy for the colonist. He was driven to obey the orders given to him from the Empire, but he felt that he might delay his departure if some other arrangements could be made.
Colonel Riley wanted the colony to use its own people to defend themselves. While he knew that trying to make an army out of mining colonist wasn’t going to be easy, he knew that they had the manpower. That manpower was the Capitals. These were the indentured and convicted miners used in the pits to do the hard labor. They were not considered worth much and certainly not valued by the colonist or Colonel Riley. Yet, he thought they would make excellent cannon-fodder while attempting to put up some resistance against the Jergad. Col. Riley was willing to delay his departure for a while to train some of these “volunteer” Capitals into something resembling soldiers, but he didn’t see them lasting very long after his departure.
This is where Aaron Havenes comes into the scene. He’s a Capital convicted of murder. He claims it was self-defense except it was against a police officer, a corrupt one at that, so his testimony wasn’t given any credence. He now labored with the knowledge that he was worthless and had nothing much to look forward to but death. He became a “volunteer” soldier, but he knew he wasn’t much of one. He didn’t know what he would do when he encountered his first Jergad. That encounter provided something much different than he or anyone else expected! The Jergad spoke to him!
As I mentioned, the story takes awhile to get into. Explaining the situation of the Capitals is a little confusing and there’s not a whole lot of action in the first several chapters. In fact, there’s not much fighting in the entire book, just a few skirmishes here and there and for only a short time. This is more of a “how you feeling” or “how’s that work” kind of book. Lot of mind games going on by Colonel Riley who turns out not to be much of a protector for the colony.
How this story develops in the next book will be interesting and I might just read it eventually. This was a good story, but nothing real dynamic or hugely exciting, in my humble opinion!
The Empire had problems else where and was recalling all of its troops. That included those now providing protection to this colony. The people were doomed and they knew it! While this planet had been supposedly “cleansed" when initially discovered and subsequently settled, it was not safe. The original inhabitants, the Jergad, had just burrowed deep into the dusty soil and remained there until such time as their strength recovered. It had by now and they were the things of nightmares for the colonist. The Empire’s troops were supposed to be the sole protection from these planetary demons who attacked relentlessly and killed all they came upon! Without these troops, the colonist would exist only a short time before the native inhabitants reclaimed their world.
The monsters of the night came from underground. They could be killed, but not without great effort. That effort involved trained, skilled and highly armed Imperial troops. The normal citizen was busy trying to make a life for his family on this dusty mining world and it was not his or her job to fight. So, it was imperative that Colonial Governor Christopher Dedria came to Colonel Riley to first demand he and his troops stay and then to beg them to do so. Colonel Marcus Riley was not without some sympathy for the colonist. He was driven to obey the orders given to him from the Empire, but he felt that he might delay his departure if some other arrangements could be made.
Colonel Riley wanted the colony to use its own people to defend themselves. While he knew that trying to make an army out of mining colonist wasn’t going to be easy, he knew that they had the manpower. That manpower was the Capitals. These were the indentured and convicted miners used in the pits to do the hard labor. They were not considered worth much and certainly not valued by the colonist or Colonel Riley. Yet, he thought they would make excellent cannon-fodder while attempting to put up some resistance against the Jergad. Col. Riley was willing to delay his departure for a while to train some of these “volunteer” Capitals into something resembling soldiers, but he didn’t see them lasting very long after his departure.
This is where Aaron Havenes comes into the scene. He’s a Capital convicted of murder. He claims it was self-defense except it was against a police officer, a corrupt one at that, so his testimony wasn’t given any credence. He now labored with the knowledge that he was worthless and had nothing much to look forward to but death. He became a “volunteer” soldier, but he knew he wasn’t much of one. He didn’t know what he would do when he encountered his first Jergad. That encounter provided something much different than he or anyone else expected! The Jergad spoke to him!
As I mentioned, the story takes awhile to get into. Explaining the situation of the Capitals is a little confusing and there’s not a whole lot of action in the first several chapters. In fact, there’s not much fighting in the entire book, just a few skirmishes here and there and for only a short time. This is more of a “how you feeling” or “how’s that work” kind of book. Lot of mind games going on by Colonel Riley who turns out not to be much of a protector for the colony.
How this story develops in the next book will be interesting and I might just read it eventually. This was a good story, but nothing real dynamic or hugely exciting, in my humble opinion!
March 26, 2022
Received as an audio review copy from Story Origin, this is an honest review. This beautifully haunting and poignant adventure is brimming with snarky that leaving you laughing and serious dialogue that brings you back to the darker narrative brought to life wondrously by the author himself, Allen Ivers. The characters Aaron Havenes and Colonel Riley are two individuals that provide unique viewpoints from their positions of the story: Aaron a wrongly convicted criminal trying to survive the insane sentence handed down while Riley's sour view of people like Aaron enables him to use those individuals like mindless puppets. This adds a deep thought provoking story thread to an already rocketing adventure that's worth every moment of listening. Highly recommended.
August 2, 2021
Get ready for gore
I'd have given this a solid 4 stars, if not for all of the blasphemy peppered throughout. It's possible to have a kicking book without that. Especially since 99% of the characters here don't profess or practice any religion whatsoever.
It's an okay military sci fi novel, with lots of action, gore, & adventure.
I'd have given this a solid 4 stars, if not for all of the blasphemy peppered throughout. It's possible to have a kicking book without that. Especially since 99% of the characters here don't profess or practice any religion whatsoever.
It's an okay military sci fi novel, with lots of action, gore, & adventure.
June 5, 2022
Great read
This is the first book that I've read by this author & I'll definitely be buying more. It was such a great read. The empire is vast & the mining colony is a mote in it. They didn't know that there was intelligent life on it, they thought they were monsters.
Who are the real monsters?
This is the first book that I've read by this author & I'll definitely be buying more. It was such a great read. The empire is vast & the mining colony is a mote in it. They didn't know that there was intelligent life on it, they thought they were monsters.
Who are the real monsters?
February 3, 2024
Reminds me of my favorite movie
Not a lot, but just a little where some of the enemy’s blood get in the hero’s mouth and he becomes part of the hive mind and can reset the day with his death. No reset here which is much better. Story has lots of blood (which I love) a great plot that makes sense, characters that die one at a time. Good read.
Not a lot, but just a little where some of the enemy’s blood get in the hero’s mouth and he becomes part of the hive mind and can reset the day with his death. No reset here which is much better. Story has lots of blood (which I love) a great plot that makes sense, characters that die one at a time. Good read.
March 16, 2021
An interesting storyline
This book has an interesting storyline but in my opinion it needs to go through editing again. It is hard to follow because it’s doesn’t have a continuous flow to it because of the misleading grammar. It has great potential because of the storyline.
This book has an interesting storyline but in my opinion it needs to go through editing again. It is hard to follow because it’s doesn’t have a continuous flow to it because of the misleading grammar. It has great potential because of the storyline.
October 30, 2021
Book 1
Book 1 was an interesting read and did not flow at all. The plot was okay, but jumped around a lot and was sometimes confusing. There are so many characters that it is hard at times to follow what is going on. I'm not sure if I will read the 2nd book or not.
Book 1 was an interesting read and did not flow at all. The plot was okay, but jumped around a lot and was sometimes confusing. There are so many characters that it is hard at times to follow what is going on. I'm not sure if I will read the 2nd book or not.
July 12, 2022
Allen Ivers writes a good story, the main character is awesome, and the story is action packed and the plot moved at a good pace. Audio Version: I don't typically enjoy stories narrated by the authors but Allen Ivers does a good job with his characters, emotions, and overall narration.
July 26, 2022
Awesome fun
A bit dark lots of twist in terms of very great military scifi I start of a great series A must read for all saifi fans that look for Books that are unique fun with lots of challenges and a lot of unexpected twists and turns Definitely a must read
A bit dark lots of twist in terms of very great military scifi I start of a great series A must read for all saifi fans that look for Books that are unique fun with lots of challenges and a lot of unexpected twists and turns Definitely a must read
February 18, 2024
Hostile Worlds
Allen Ivers has presented an encounter with an incumbent alien species as humanity mines rare and valuable resources. Prisoner slave mining labour are tasked to defend the mining outpost.
Allen Ivers has presented an encounter with an incumbent alien species as humanity mines rare and valuable resources. Prisoner slave mining labour are tasked to defend the mining outpost.
November 26, 2021
Great sci-fi story
This was about land the aliens had it so humans gased them but they returned so the military recruited prisoners and the trouble starts.
This was about land the aliens had it so humans gased them but they returned so the military recruited prisoners and the trouble starts.
June 2, 2022
Loved it. Fast-paced and feel-good storyline.
What is it about? I'm no writer ... read the free chapters and/or summary. ;-)
5 stars, nough said.
What is it about? I'm no writer ... read the free chapters and/or summary. ;-)
5 stars, nough said.
July 17, 2023
Amazing
I liked everything in this book, the story,the pace, the way it developed and the end, perhaps we should say, the new begining, thanks for this Adventure.
I liked everything in this book, the story,the pace, the way it developed and the end, perhaps we should say, the new begining, thanks for this Adventure.
August 30, 2024
Full of epic world building from the start, full dearing do, adventure from the very beginning and action! :D
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews