The Promised Few: An Epic Sci-Fi Adventure

The Impossible Future #4

by Frank Kennedy

An ancient power grows. An empire makes a desperate gamble. One man sells his soul to rescue the woman he loves. All paths intersect in the saga’s thrilling final chapter …Many months after a stunning turn of events reshaped the Collectorate, Michael Cooper has become a killing machine ready to do anything to find his beloved Samantha, who endures her own struggle 465 light-years away. Michael puts his hope in a staggering new technology with the potential to alter humanity forever.

Across the galaxy, James and Valentin Bouchet have led their people to a new home world, but their paradise is under threat. Tensions rise as James pursues assassins bent on ending his godhood, while Valentin prepares for the inevitable Chancellor invasion. Yet something else may be brewing on Hiebimini, a danger lying in wait for generations.

The Impossible Future arrives as the journey concludes.

427 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 12, 2020

About the author

Frank Kennedy has been writing all his life (the boy who was penning crazy space stories that had the other kids giggling), and now he's taking charge of his career. He is a former journalist (back when people read the news on actual paper), and now teaching English to middle-schoolers (cue the giggling). His work spans all manner of genres, but he is particularly fond of science fiction / alternate history / and bizarre mashups. Expect darkness, tension, and the twists and turns that make great drama. He was that 14-year-old kid who couldn't believe what he was seeing when the Imperial Star Destroyer chased the rebel blockade runner over Tatooine in May 1977, and became lost in awe when the mothership appeared over Devil's Monument that same year.

Reviews

[Elouise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent finish to the series of 4 books as Frank Kennedy puts an ending to the story. It is great as a stand alone read as well. I loved the action, the descriptions of the world and its politics, the descriptions of the people and their traits, and the action. There was plenty of action, after all it is a war time story. There are people, other creatures ( some) and hybrids with some pretty special powers. even immortals who cannot die it seems. The interactions between the groups are interesting as are the types of weapons developed there. Not just your average rifles and cannons. The story follows a couple, a man and a woman. The man is a general soldier at the start, but he becomes much more than that. The woman is someone he has loved since childhood and still seeks to have as his own. The story follows their struggles to become the best they can be and their search for each other through the battles, deceptions and scars of wartime struggles. A truly great story and an exciting read. Keeps the reader engaged right up to the last page. I loved it.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a twist in this book that I never saw coming. Everyone's choices are playing out now; some are turning out perfectly, but not all.
The character arcs are really something to see here. I find that these days, we're cheated out of truly great character arcs more often than not. Kennedy does a phenomenal job of creating characters that grow and change in each book. Are they all perfect? Absolutely not. And the changes are not always in ways one expects. Some are moving to the dark side, some to the light.
But which side is which? I've changed the side I'm rooting for with each book! That's a hallmark of great epic fantasy - the reader changing with the book. Just as the story grows and changes, so do we, the readers.
I'm absolutely dying to know what the ultimate end game of the Inventor is!

I received a free ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreakingly final but fantastic nonetheless

I can't express how incredible this entire series has been. It sounds so silly and corny that a book was so dang good that you can't express it! But it's really hard to find words to say how great this book and the rest of the series is. A fantastic space-opera, with time-y elements (that one is just hard to explain without giving it all away), and a really incredible story too. There's such great storytelling and writing. I never wanted this one to end. The reason for the name of the series is explained very well here, and oh, what a cool idea!

This is just such a great read, it's on my absolute must-read list!! Now on to the prequel, which I can't wait to read, to find out about a mystery man revealed in this book!

[Eric Morgenthaler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Four book series

I just finished reading all four books in this series and need to say that this author deserves more 5-star ratings. The plot is fast moving, with twists and turns you would never expect. Great character development, a beautiful underlying love story, and enough action and adventure to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the series. I look forward to reading more of Kennedy’s writings! An incredible story-teller! Wow!

[Andres Kabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A seemingly effortless stylist, Frank Kennedy now closes off his space opera tetralogy, The Impossible Future, with a stunning finale. Once more following a trio of young Americans thrust into sprawling, space empire of the tyrannical Collectorate, The Promised Few kicks off with kick-ass battle scenes and never slows down. Once more I was captured as I followed the series’ foundational trio, god-like James, irreverent Michael, and steady Samantha hurtle towards their ultimate destinies, their futures mysteriously shaped by the fabulistic Jewels. I relished the thrilling combat, wonderful dialogue, and intricate diplomatic intrigue. This is that rarest type of space opera, one that marries the personal with the vast. The Promised Few is a superb closing volume of a brilliant series. Is there a hint in the closing pages that more books might come out in this wonderful world?