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Katie Kincaid #1
Katie Kincaid Candidate
It's the 24th century. Humanity is about to take its first steps to the stars.
Katie Kincaid, a young Belter girl, intends to take part in that adventure.
She wants to make a difference.
She has more than a few obstacles in her way.
It's going to be interesting.
Katie Kincaid, a young Belter girl, intends to take part in that adventure.
She wants to make a difference.
She has more than a few obstacles in her way.
It's going to be interesting.
223 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2020
355 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
February 15, 2023
If you need something to pass the time, this isn’t a bad choice. If you like “ONE PERSON AGAINST THE ODDS” stories.
The subsequent books in the series are better than this one, we do see Katie learning and growing up a bit. The writing generally improves.
In the first few books the author hasn’t got a feel for the size of the solar system, so don’t be surprised at a few “hang on a minute“ moments.
The subsequent books in the series are better than this one, we do see Katie learning and growing up a bit. The writing generally improves.
In the first few books the author hasn’t got a feel for the size of the solar system, so don’t be surprised at a few “hang on a minute“ moments.
January 9, 2024
When male authors write female leads problems. That boxy alien writing where they lack shape to female characters. She's highly capable and there's reason behind it but no joy most of the time. When there's joy it feels like a robot learning a new thing instead of a funmental part of her. It's a rather frustrating book where you think the villian who is suppose to be the smart one starts off doing dumb things and keeps going dumber and dumber. And there's this you can get away with it moment where he actually says yeah i should have done this and that and then doubles down into more dumb. Which is hard to carry because it has Muli POV (of mostly male characters) saying kinda dumb things there self
I had to stop reading at one point
this is a soft 3 of a book. It's not bad perse it's just the female is written so poorly. Weirdly, the best written female in this book is the history teacher. But she had 0 POV.
The clunky female writing reminds me of kris longknife but without that touch which pulls out the series in the correct direction. If you drop in a male lead it would actually work better. But you'd still be stuck with emotional robot learning new things.
I had to stop reading at one point
this is a soft 3 of a book. It's not bad perse it's just the female is written so poorly. Weirdly, the best written female in this book is the history teacher. But she had 0 POV.
The clunky female writing reminds me of kris longknife but without that touch which pulls out the series in the correct direction. If you drop in a male lead it would actually work better. But you'd still be stuck with emotional robot learning new things.
December 11, 2021
Aardvark, Andrew Van. Katie Kinkaid: Candidate. Katie Kinkaid No. 1. Kindle, 2020.
Should we hope that the author of the Katie Kinkaid series is using a nom de plume? If he is, should we shake our heads at his taste? No happy option. If I weren’t such a sucker for space academy coming-of-age stories, the author’s name alone would have encouraged me to let this one stay unread in the bowels of Amazon. But I do have this unfortunate addiction, and I was surprised to find it was not as cheaply comic as the author’s name. Katie Kinkaid is a bright 15-year-old living in the asteroid who needs a recommendation to enter the space academy. But there is a lot of classism even in the belt, and Katie does not belong to one of the established families, Worse, her parents are from Earth and are not competent miners. In fact, Katie has been singlehandedly maintaining their ship and keeping them solvent. A local boy would like her to stay home in the belt, but she dreams of a career in the space force. She thinks FTL is right around the corner. She wants to lead the way. There is, of course, a straight line between this series, Robert Heinlein, and C. S. Forester. But as I said, I am a sucker for the genre. 3.5 stars.
Should we hope that the author of the Katie Kinkaid series is using a nom de plume? If he is, should we shake our heads at his taste? No happy option. If I weren’t such a sucker for space academy coming-of-age stories, the author’s name alone would have encouraged me to let this one stay unread in the bowels of Amazon. But I do have this unfortunate addiction, and I was surprised to find it was not as cheaply comic as the author’s name. Katie Kinkaid is a bright 15-year-old living in the asteroid who needs a recommendation to enter the space academy. But there is a lot of classism even in the belt, and Katie does not belong to one of the established families, Worse, her parents are from Earth and are not competent miners. In fact, Katie has been singlehandedly maintaining their ship and keeping them solvent. A local boy would like her to stay home in the belt, but she dreams of a career in the space force. She thinks FTL is right around the corner. She wants to lead the way. There is, of course, a straight line between this series, Robert Heinlein, and C. S. Forester. But as I said, I am a sucker for the genre. 3.5 stars.
July 22, 2021
The start of the book was quite interesting, but it didn’t take long for me to feel the author was trying too hard to explain everything. Overall it wasn’t a bad story, although it felt a bit contrived at times and Commander Tretyak wasn’t really believable. He wasn’t capable of being in charge of a public toilet never mind an officer in an elite Space force.
If possible I would have given 2.5 stars, but as I will try the next book, I have given it 3 stars.
If possible I would have given 2.5 stars, but as I will try the next book, I have given it 3 stars.
April 15, 2022
Trite and boring
The short of it is that I was looking for a fun space opera and this is not it. There just isn't much good or memorable about the book.
The writing style is consistently a letdown. Besides the occasional typos, missing words and awkward sentences, the author just consistently avoids depicting conflict. Whenever conflict does arise, our heroine immediately and effortlessly overcomes it in a few sentences. Her success is never in doubt.
The characters are overall part of some bizarre group mind. Each is distinguished from the heroine by one and only one thing. For everything that's not their distinctive feature, they all think the same thoughts in the exact same words to the point of repeating large chunks of paragraphs from different PoVs.
The wordlbuilding is equally uninspired and tedious. As usual for the poorly written space operas, the future is just 20th century American suburban culture. However little sense it makes, our 24th-century space-born-and-raised teenagers are talking about train wrecks and eating burgers, fries and milkshakes. No one under 40 nowadays talks like this so it makes these teenagers from the future sounds like elderly curmudgeons.
More generally, I honestly have absolutely no idea what happened in the world in the four centuries that have passed. What are the important factions, what are people dreaming about or working on. None of that is ever examined or even hinted at.
Flat characters, non-existent world building and lazy unevocative writing.
The short of it is that I was looking for a fun space opera and this is not it. There just isn't much good or memorable about the book.
The writing style is consistently a letdown. Besides the occasional typos, missing words and awkward sentences, the author just consistently avoids depicting conflict. Whenever conflict does arise, our heroine immediately and effortlessly overcomes it in a few sentences. Her success is never in doubt.
The characters are overall part of some bizarre group mind. Each is distinguished from the heroine by one and only one thing. For everything that's not their distinctive feature, they all think the same thoughts in the exact same words to the point of repeating large chunks of paragraphs from different PoVs.
The wordlbuilding is equally uninspired and tedious. As usual for the poorly written space operas, the future is just 20th century American suburban culture. However little sense it makes, our 24th-century space-born-and-raised teenagers are talking about train wrecks and eating burgers, fries and milkshakes. No one under 40 nowadays talks like this so it makes these teenagers from the future sounds like elderly curmudgeons.
More generally, I honestly have absolutely no idea what happened in the world in the four centuries that have passed. What are the important factions, what are people dreaming about or working on. None of that is ever examined or even hinted at.
Flat characters, non-existent world building and lazy unevocative writing.
August 21, 2023
Review of books 1 to 6 in the series:
This series started pretty poorly. I almost dumped it after the first two books which was at best two stars. But I did like the story and, as one can deduce by the fact that I read all six books published so far in about a weeks time, it is pretty light and hence fast reading.
Since I did slug through all six books one can also deduce that the series improved from the first books.
The books are somewhat amateurish. Especially the first one which struggles quite a bit. The author is, as far as I can see, an indie author that has written two series for a total of nine books so far. A fact that is rather apparent from the book cover which is not only somewhat lacking but also blatantly appropriates the Eagle spacecraft from Space: 1999. I wonder if that design is copyrighted or not actually.
The story is what kept me reading. Young girl fights to get into the rather smallish space navy of Earth, slugs through the naval academy, rises in ranks and so on. All while fighting politics, prejudice, pirates etc. etc.
I could do without the bullshit politics but the rest is quite nice and the books do improve. Books three to five did manage to get a three star rating while the sixth and last one (so far) got itself up to four stars.
The author tries to blend naval action, dialog and discussions. Sometime too much of latter. When Kate gets to do the naval stuff the story is a good one. Pretty soon pirates are introduced and slowly the plots weaves the pirates together into conspiracies and actual alien enemies.
An interesting thing with these books is that, when Katie joins the navy it is all non-FTL. No zipping around the galaxy at warp speeds.
I quite like how Katie advances through the ranks, gain friends and kicks ass. The action is quite good and the science part of the fiction is fairly plausible.
These books are not great, some of them are not even good, but overall I enjoyed the series.
This series started pretty poorly. I almost dumped it after the first two books which was at best two stars. But I did like the story and, as one can deduce by the fact that I read all six books published so far in about a weeks time, it is pretty light and hence fast reading.
Since I did slug through all six books one can also deduce that the series improved from the first books.
The books are somewhat amateurish. Especially the first one which struggles quite a bit. The author is, as far as I can see, an indie author that has written two series for a total of nine books so far. A fact that is rather apparent from the book cover which is not only somewhat lacking but also blatantly appropriates the Eagle spacecraft from Space: 1999. I wonder if that design is copyrighted or not actually.
The story is what kept me reading. Young girl fights to get into the rather smallish space navy of Earth, slugs through the naval academy, rises in ranks and so on. All while fighting politics, prejudice, pirates etc. etc.
I could do without the bullshit politics but the rest is quite nice and the books do improve. Books three to five did manage to get a three star rating while the sixth and last one (so far) got itself up to four stars.
The author tries to blend naval action, dialog and discussions. Sometime too much of latter. When Kate gets to do the naval stuff the story is a good one. Pretty soon pirates are introduced and slowly the plots weaves the pirates together into conspiracies and actual alien enemies.
An interesting thing with these books is that, when Katie joins the navy it is all non-FTL. No zipping around the galaxy at warp speeds.
I quite like how Katie advances through the ranks, gain friends and kicks ass. The action is quite good and the science part of the fiction is fairly plausible.
These books are not great, some of them are not even good, but overall I enjoyed the series.
April 1, 2022
Mostly OK
While the story location is set in the Earth’s solar system and there are sci-fi elements included, the storyline seems more involved with the local society and the social aspects of this space community and its members. Katie initially appears as a very intelligent, precocious 15 year old. This book is more about her personal struggles to conform to unrealized social norms and Katie’s struggle to fit in as she grows up. Be prepared for lots of detail on some very non-technical subjects. Katie does learn, but social skills come very slow for her.
After investing time and energy in completing book 1, I continued into book 2. The storyline does not compel the reader to continue, rather it cajoles.
While the story location is set in the Earth’s solar system and there are sci-fi elements included, the storyline seems more involved with the local society and the social aspects of this space community and its members. Katie initially appears as a very intelligent, precocious 15 year old. This book is more about her personal struggles to conform to unrealized social norms and Katie’s struggle to fit in as she grows up. Be prepared for lots of detail on some very non-technical subjects. Katie does learn, but social skills come very slow for her.
After investing time and energy in completing book 1, I continued into book 2. The storyline does not compel the reader to continue, rather it cajoles.
December 21, 2021
Sort of an updated Podkayne of Mars
Considering I read Podkayne of Mars by Robert Heinline when I 10 or 11and I turn 70 this year it's a bit vague but still similar. The main protagonist being a young girl with somewhat the same situations of not fitting into social situations. It was amusing as is this one and not anything like I had read before. That being The Hardy Boys mysteries and stories with dogs or horses in them. I doubt that any youngsters nowadays will be surprised by living in space but tha was not a concept that was common back then. Anyway I enjoyed both of them and I think you will enjoy this one too. So give it a read.
Considering I read Podkayne of Mars by Robert Heinline when I 10 or 11and I turn 70 this year it's a bit vague but still similar. The main protagonist being a young girl with somewhat the same situations of not fitting into social situations. It was amusing as is this one and not anything like I had read before. That being The Hardy Boys mysteries and stories with dogs or horses in them. I doubt that any youngsters nowadays will be surprised by living in space but tha was not a concept that was common back then. Anyway I enjoyed both of them and I think you will enjoy this one too. So give it a read.
February 19, 2022
Excellently Crafted Story
The main character is sympathetic and appealing from the very start. She gets in trouble several times and it’s not entirely her fault but it’s often due to her inquisitive nature and her sense of right and wrong. The only thing that kept me thinking she was going to get killed this time was the number of pages left in the book.
It does appear that English is not the author’s first language, so the fact that there are occasional sentences with an essential word omitted is understandable and the quality of the storytelling overcomes that minor glitch.
The main character is sympathetic and appealing from the very start. She gets in trouble several times and it’s not entirely her fault but it’s often due to her inquisitive nature and her sense of right and wrong. The only thing that kept me thinking she was going to get killed this time was the number of pages left in the book.
It does appear that English is not the author’s first language, so the fact that there are occasional sentences with an essential word omitted is understandable and the quality of the storytelling overcomes that minor glitch.
May 22, 2022
if Nancy Drew has Asperger’s meets Hanna in Space
Following a relatively short period in a 15 year old girls life, book one was entertaining. There were times when reading the story was difficult due to obvious typos, and what I believe was an attempt at a short hand conversational style intended to show cultural deviation. Unfortunately it was subtle enough, it could have just been additional typos. It reads like YA, but this could be as simple as the author not wanting to split focus from the main character by fleshing out the adults perspectives in greater detail. I don’t know that the author ever considered writing for a particular audience.
Following a relatively short period in a 15 year old girls life, book one was entertaining. There were times when reading the story was difficult due to obvious typos, and what I believe was an attempt at a short hand conversational style intended to show cultural deviation. Unfortunately it was subtle enough, it could have just been additional typos. It reads like YA, but this could be as simple as the author not wanting to split focus from the main character by fleshing out the adults perspectives in greater detail. I don’t know that the author ever considered writing for a particular audience.
November 11, 2022
Good story, horrible awful, very bad editing
The story if a young girl coming of age and growing up to meet hers goals was decent. The story is severely hampered by run on sentences, occasional improper use of words, poorly constructed sentences, etc. I often had to reread sentences 2 or 3 times to figure out what was being said. Sometimes completely incorrect words in a sentence. All this made it cumbersome to read. I'll give the next installment a try, but may not continue if the editing is as bad as it was in this book. My suggestion, find someone, anyone, to help edit. Maybe get some beta readers that can help.
The story if a young girl coming of age and growing up to meet hers goals was decent. The story is severely hampered by run on sentences, occasional improper use of words, poorly constructed sentences, etc. I often had to reread sentences 2 or 3 times to figure out what was being said. Sometimes completely incorrect words in a sentence. All this made it cumbersome to read. I'll give the next installment a try, but may not continue if the editing is as bad as it was in this book. My suggestion, find someone, anyone, to help edit. Maybe get some beta readers that can help.
February 24, 2022
Engaging story marred by clumsy editing
I’m enjoying the storyline so far but it’s hard to keep reading smoothly when I keep running into “clangs”. Imagine trying to read with someone standing behind you with a big hammer and a steel plate. Every so often he takes a whack with the hammer. That’s a clang. So is a clumsy sentence, a misused word, or even a typo (after the tenth one). You CAN read it, but it’s tougher than it needs to be. This author needs a better editor and proofreader.
I’m enjoying the storyline so far but it’s hard to keep reading smoothly when I keep running into “clangs”. Imagine trying to read with someone standing behind you with a big hammer and a steel plate. Every so often he takes a whack with the hammer. That’s a clang. So is a clumsy sentence, a misused word, or even a typo (after the tenth one). You CAN read it, but it’s tougher than it needs to be. This author needs a better editor and proofreader.
December 24, 2023
Good
It was an OK read. It wasn't the most entertaining, but equally, I didn't get bored. What I did get really annoyed with was the fact that the author can't seem to use words like The, I, If, It, at the start of a sentence. I found this interrupted the flow while I read. By the end of the book, I was screaming: IT was Katie's idea, THE world has changed, I'M not happy, etc. IT'S lazy writing, it's one thing to have a character speak that way, but all the characters and the narrative did too.
It was an OK read. It wasn't the most entertaining, but equally, I didn't get bored. What I did get really annoyed with was the fact that the author can't seem to use words like The, I, If, It, at the start of a sentence. I found this interrupted the flow while I read. By the end of the book, I was screaming: IT was Katie's idea, THE world has changed, I'M not happy, etc. IT'S lazy writing, it's one thing to have a character speak that way, but all the characters and the narrative did too.
December 16, 2024
Pretty decent coming of age sci-fi for a 15 year old spacer girl
Shes smart and determined to get into the Spacd force academy but faces a few obstacles that turn into very large obstacles. Being tenacious she perseveres, until thecrug gets pullled out ftom under her.
I especially enjoyed the thoughts on socialization and how scions of well connected families develop social networks that are difficult to breach despite well intentioned regulations that supposedly provide a level field, but dont.
Shes smart and determined to get into the Spacd force academy but faces a few obstacles that turn into very large obstacles. Being tenacious she perseveres, until thecrug gets pullled out ftom under her.
I especially enjoyed the thoughts on socialization and how scions of well connected families develop social networks that are difficult to breach despite well intentioned regulations that supposedly provide a level field, but dont.
June 12, 2022
First of a series that hopefully will be as good as David Webber (Honor Harrington) or John Scalzi (Old Man's War) in following a career. Although this story had some feeling of a YA novel, the characters were presented as complete humans with flaws, strengths and who changed over the course of action. The grammar and typo issues were noticeable but not particularly significant. The story's trauma started small and grew along with the reactions of those involved.
March 30, 2025
Nostalgic and wistful at the end.
Career military personnel give up a lot for their professional careers. Oh sure, they still have their very personal drives and passions, however, the politics motivating their decisions keeps them at some distance from everyone. Personally, it's a lonely life. I won't judge them, it's a conscious decision on their part. All I can do is respect them for their choices and personal sacrifices.
Career military personnel give up a lot for their professional careers. Oh sure, they still have their very personal drives and passions, however, the politics motivating their decisions keeps them at some distance from everyone. Personally, it's a lonely life. I won't judge them, it's a conscious decision on their part. All I can do is respect them for their choices and personal sacrifices.
April 18, 2025
2.5 stars. I finished it, so I guess that's a positive. Overall, it's a pretty unimaginative story about a young girl's difficulties trying to fulfill her dream of attending Earth's Space Academy. The story was uninspired and the telling of it replete with poor grammar/typos. The world building was virtually non-existant; we know little about how Earth and it's solar colonies came to be "united" or how they operate, thus making the MC's bland story a grey blob on a grey background.
May 2, 2025
This is the first book in the series by Andrew van Aardvark. I would classify it as cozy science fiction. It is essentially a coming-of-age story about a determined young woman named Katie who wants to join the space patrol. My takeaway is that it just barely qualifies as science fiction. Change a few words and it could be a current day story about joining the Coast Guard. On the plus side, it was entertaining.
July 31, 2025
Nice military sci-fi series, the author did very good job on the science part.
The worst thing about the series is that there is minimal description of the ships and weapons and battles were underwhelming, to say the least. Just a description of the fleets and the outcome. Feels like watching a strategy game where you roll the dice and see the results. Pity for the work done on the rest of the writing.
The worst thing about the series is that there is minimal description of the ships and weapons and battles were underwhelming, to say the least. Just a description of the fleets and the outcome. Feels like watching a strategy game where you roll the dice and see the results. Pity for the work done on the rest of the writing.
August 17, 2025
thoroughly enjoyable
I downloaded this without any great expectations. The title cover and blurb did not look inspiring. Boy I was wrong. The writing is excellent, the story was intriguing and exciting, the characters totally believable. The character of Katie is fully fleshed and fascinating. I imagine she could be a pain in the ass, it through the story she had opportunity to learn. I can’t wait to see how she’s goes in the academy. God help the Space Force!
I downloaded this without any great expectations. The title cover and blurb did not look inspiring. Boy I was wrong. The writing is excellent, the story was intriguing and exciting, the characters totally believable. The character of Katie is fully fleshed and fascinating. I imagine she could be a pain in the ass, it through the story she had opportunity to learn. I can’t wait to see how she’s goes in the academy. God help the Space Force!
June 27, 2021
Better than I expected. A protagonist no afraid of being exceptional. A young Honor Herrington but set in an earlier time before humanity has gained FTL travel. (though there are hints that will change during the course of the series. Normally I'd say the ~200 page volumes are overpriced at 3.99 but in this case the quality can be said to be worth it.
July 30, 2021
Wordy
Start it out as a 5 star book. Drop to a 4 star book quickly. Then immediately dropped down to a 2 star or a 1 star book very very whodi whodi whodi yakety yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah. What could be said in 1 paragraph took Chapter after chapter After chapter From multiple points of you .
Start it out as a 5 star book. Drop to a 4 star book quickly. Then immediately dropped down to a 2 star or a 1 star book very very whodi whodi whodi yakety yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah. What could be said in 1 paragraph took Chapter after chapter After chapter From multiple points of you .
November 8, 2021
Excellent reading.
This was the first book that I have read by this author and I highly recommend it. The character development is very good. The action and events that surround Katie pace the book and keep the reader involved and entertained. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
This was the first book that I have read by this author and I highly recommend it. The character development is very good. The action and events that surround Katie pace the book and keep the reader involved and entertained. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
March 26, 2022
a good tale about a girl
I especially liked the realism of what happened to Katie and how she went about learning different life lessons. The descriptions of what happened to her were very realistic and real life situations. I could see all of this happening to a modern day Air Force academy cadet.
I especially liked the realism of what happened to Katie and how she went about learning different life lessons. The descriptions of what happened to her were very realistic and real life situations. I could see all of this happening to a modern day Air Force academy cadet.
December 3, 2023
Candidate Entry!!!
It is a good start.
The character is interesting and looks to he able to hold their own.
I would say, i hope this solitary, genius gets some friends and develops a good support option. Remember "Humans" are Social beings. We don't develop properly in a vacuum.
Let's hope this is not Joan-of-Arc (minus the religious overtones) future telling.
It is a good start.
The character is interesting and looks to he able to hold their own.
I would say, i hope this solitary, genius gets some friends and develops a good support option. Remember "Humans" are Social beings. We don't develop properly in a vacuum.
Let's hope this is not Joan-of-Arc (minus the religious overtones) future telling.
January 10, 2024
Good start
The story was good, and I am looking forward to seeing Katie develop more as a person and into an adult. For the story, I would give 4 ☆. However, it gets 3 for the grammer. I am sorry, but I had to put this book down several times because I was frustrated with how it reads. It does not flow but rather bumps along, and it affected my overall enjoyment of the book.
The story was good, and I am looking forward to seeing Katie develop more as a person and into an adult. For the story, I would give 4 ☆. However, it gets 3 for the grammer. I am sorry, but I had to put this book down several times because I was frustrated with how it reads. It does not flow but rather bumps along, and it affected my overall enjoyment of the book.
November 25, 2020
Good story!
Coming of age tale, another girl who is a genius and a pain in the ankle. (P.I.T.A.) Another fine acronym I recently learned goes on the toe end of your slippers. T.G.I.F. Toes go in first. Now, if this is K.K. One, is there a two yet?
Coming of age tale, another girl who is a genius and a pain in the ankle. (P.I.T.A.) Another fine acronym I recently learned goes on the toe end of your slippers. T.G.I.F. Toes go in first. Now, if this is K.K. One, is there a two yet?
February 13, 2021
Frustrating
The author portrayed the main character as a bumbling idiot obviously not intentionally but that’s how it came off. It’s started getting a little better at the end so I’ll try the next book so we’ll just see how it goes.
The author portrayed the main character as a bumbling idiot obviously not intentionally but that’s how it came off. It’s started getting a little better at the end so I’ll try the next book so we’ll just see how it goes.
October 24, 2021
Enjoyable sci fi adventure
Although Katie is only 15, Candidate doesn't read like a YA novel. The world building is believable, the good supporting characters are likeable and fallible, and the story is fascinating.
Although Katie is only 15, Candidate doesn't read like a YA novel. The world building is believable, the good supporting characters are likeable and fallible, and the story is fascinating.
January 10, 2022
Very exciting.
This space opera at its best. Very original and well thought out. A young teenage girl who is mature for her age and very intelligent has more harrowing experiences than most people do in their entire life. Kept me up till 6 in the morning!
This space opera at its best. Very original and well thought out. A young teenage girl who is mature for her age and very intelligent has more harrowing experiences than most people do in their entire life. Kept me up till 6 in the morning!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews