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The Surrender Game: The Guardian War Chronicles Vol I
The Exterior. A dangerous area of space filled with pirates, exiles, smugglers, con-artists and mercenaries. A dystopian post-apocalyptic region where the wealthy reside in comfort at Jericho City, while the rest of the population are fighting daily for survival.
An evil, as old as time itself, has reawakened after hibernating for thousands of years. An evil hungry for power, ready to hunt, conquer, and destroy all who oppose them. Surrender to the light, or perish.
She’s a wealthy, brash, no nonsense, greedy, gambling, alcoholic vapor addict. The only thing standing between evil, and their cosmic crusade of supreme dominance is Liberty Bell, the High Intendant of the Truckstop One fueling station. When a fragment of an ancient device, once thought to be nothing more than a myth, is delivered to her during a routine business day, she is unwillingly thrust into a game of cat and mouse. The fate of not only the Exterior at stake but the entirety of the universe hangs in the balance. The conflict has begun, and the enemy is coming to her truckstop to reclaim the final piece to continue their mission of conquest. How do you combat a foe who knows what you’re going to do before you do it? To battle the Guardians, and their vast empire of light, she’ll need to embrace the darkness. Come join the High Intendant as she engages in a war, spanning time and space. The Guardian War.
An evil, as old as time itself, has reawakened after hibernating for thousands of years. An evil hungry for power, ready to hunt, conquer, and destroy all who oppose them. Surrender to the light, or perish.
She’s a wealthy, brash, no nonsense, greedy, gambling, alcoholic vapor addict. The only thing standing between evil, and their cosmic crusade of supreme dominance is Liberty Bell, the High Intendant of the Truckstop One fueling station. When a fragment of an ancient device, once thought to be nothing more than a myth, is delivered to her during a routine business day, she is unwillingly thrust into a game of cat and mouse. The fate of not only the Exterior at stake but the entirety of the universe hangs in the balance. The conflict has begun, and the enemy is coming to her truckstop to reclaim the final piece to continue their mission of conquest. How do you combat a foe who knows what you’re going to do before you do it? To battle the Guardians, and their vast empire of light, she’ll need to embrace the darkness. Come join the High Intendant as she engages in a war, spanning time and space. The Guardian War.
- GenresScience Fiction
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 25, 2020
5 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 7, 2024
I took a chance on a sci-fi book I saw on TikTok. I have no regrets.
The story line was effortless to get into and was written in a way that made it easy to understand the new and interesting sci-fi elements. There is some pretty cool technology in this book and a drink I wouldn’t mind tasting! With interesting character development, I’d definitely like to learn more character backstories. There is a little undertone of love interest and I hope that can be continued more openly in later books because I am allll for it.
I definitely enjoyed the action in the later chapters. There are some rather shocking moments and many violent ends. I found myself shouting “No!” And on one occasion “No!….Oh, Thank God……wtf?! Noooooo!” Well played, Mr. Morang. Leading me into a false sense of security just to pull the rug out from underneath me on the next page. I appreciate it when an author can shock me. Riddled with twists and turns, this book will keep you guessing. Ending on somewhat of a cliffhanger, I am certainly looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Overall rating: 4.5/5
The story line was effortless to get into and was written in a way that made it easy to understand the new and interesting sci-fi elements. There is some pretty cool technology in this book and a drink I wouldn’t mind tasting! With interesting character development, I’d definitely like to learn more character backstories. There is a little undertone of love interest and I hope that can be continued more openly in later books because I am allll for it.
I definitely enjoyed the action in the later chapters. There are some rather shocking moments and many violent ends. I found myself shouting “No!” And on one occasion “No!….Oh, Thank God……wtf?! Noooooo!” Well played, Mr. Morang. Leading me into a false sense of security just to pull the rug out from underneath me on the next page. I appreciate it when an author can shock me. Riddled with twists and turns, this book will keep you guessing. Ending on somewhat of a cliffhanger, I am certainly looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Overall rating: 4.5/5
October 17, 2023
This awesome sci-fi story is full of action from beginning to end. From the indominable spirit of the protagonist, Liberty, to the constant oppressive presence of the evil Guardians, The Surrender game is a pressure cooker of personal battles, physical battles, and anxious moments keeping the dramatic impetus racing like the slug of a rail gun across the decks of Truckstop One and beyond.
June 19, 2023
Category Ratings are based on a 10 point scale, mathematically formulated into a 1/2 star and whole star rating.
Characters: 8
I cannot say enough just how much I love Liberty Bell and the cast of supporting characters. Well written, great interactions. It is very rare that I am presented with a female character that is male written that I literally see myself in. The tragedy, the responsibility, the desire to achieve in a male dominated world. I struggled to understand my own gender expression, the fact that I was deemed too masculine for society more often than not, but still desiring to be respected as a woman. Liberty wants to be respected and treated as an equal and she manages to get that, with a cast of supporting characters who don't just support the plot, but support her. Because they trust her, they believe in her, they follow her. Because she earned it and they gave her the chance to prove she could.
Atmosphere: 7.8
I literally felt like I was inside Truck Stop One. I could smell the trale. I could hear the shots. I felt the heart racing, the palpitation, the taste of fear, worry, and responsibility. I walked the halls and floors with Liberty. If I close my eyes, I can see the seediness of certain halls, the opulence of others. Can feel the squish of liquids beneath my boots. Okay. I'll stop there.
Writing: 8.3
The pacing of everything was real time. It takes 15 minutes to get from point A to point B? You're reading for 15 minutes to get from point A to point B. In first person, it was powerful, impactful, and believable. Those weren't Liberty's boots on the ground, I was with her, in her, by her side. Her thoughts were my thoughts.
Plot: 9.1
I do not care that the final chapter worked for the plot.
I do not care that the final chapter was required for future books' existence.
That final chapter had me pissed.
Then I went back and was reminded of Chapter 18.
And then I got more mad.
But... If it wasn't good, if it wasn't so important, if it wasn't so believable, I wouldn't have cared enough to be mad. So I can be mad all I want, spitting mad, seeing red mad. And the plot gets a 9.1 because of it.
Intrigue: 9
Ebooks are hard for me these days. But I could not stop. "Just one more chapter..." applied the whole way through. I didn't get a whole lot of sleep at night this week.
Logic: 8.2
Even when Libby didn't say why she was doing something, you know she had a good reason. You trust her the way her crew trusts her. even when she makes the hard calls, you don't question why.
Enjoyment: 10
I bought the entirety of published works in this world after reading this on KU. I did an unboxing video and literally teared up talking about Liberty Bell. I aspire to be more like her, to be a leader others look up to, to lead my team, my colleagues, my 'crew' in a manner that garners as much respect as what Libby gets. I'm blown away when I do and have a hard time believing it. My favorite book and character of all time has always been my top and there were no others until this year. I have to have a Top 3 now.
Formula Says: High 4.5 Rounded to 5.
Characters: 8
I cannot say enough just how much I love Liberty Bell and the cast of supporting characters. Well written, great interactions. It is very rare that I am presented with a female character that is male written that I literally see myself in. The tragedy, the responsibility, the desire to achieve in a male dominated world. I struggled to understand my own gender expression, the fact that I was deemed too masculine for society more often than not, but still desiring to be respected as a woman. Liberty wants to be respected and treated as an equal and she manages to get that, with a cast of supporting characters who don't just support the plot, but support her. Because they trust her, they believe in her, they follow her. Because she earned it and they gave her the chance to prove she could.
Atmosphere: 7.8
I literally felt like I was inside Truck Stop One. I could smell the trale. I could hear the shots. I felt the heart racing, the palpitation, the taste of fear, worry, and responsibility. I walked the halls and floors with Liberty. If I close my eyes, I can see the seediness of certain halls, the opulence of others. Can feel the squish of liquids beneath my boots. Okay. I'll stop there.
Writing: 8.3
The pacing of everything was real time. It takes 15 minutes to get from point A to point B? You're reading for 15 minutes to get from point A to point B. In first person, it was powerful, impactful, and believable. Those weren't Liberty's boots on the ground, I was with her, in her, by her side. Her thoughts were my thoughts.
Plot: 9.1
I do not care that the final chapter worked for the plot.
I do not care that the final chapter was required for future books' existence.
That final chapter had me pissed.
Then I went back and was reminded of Chapter 18.
And then I got more mad.
But... If it wasn't good, if it wasn't so important, if it wasn't so believable, I wouldn't have cared enough to be mad. So I can be mad all I want, spitting mad, seeing red mad. And the plot gets a 9.1 because of it.
Intrigue: 9
Ebooks are hard for me these days. But I could not stop. "Just one more chapter..." applied the whole way through. I didn't get a whole lot of sleep at night this week.
Logic: 8.2
Even when Libby didn't say why she was doing something, you know she had a good reason. You trust her the way her crew trusts her. even when she makes the hard calls, you don't question why.
Enjoyment: 10
I bought the entirety of published works in this world after reading this on KU. I did an unboxing video and literally teared up talking about Liberty Bell. I aspire to be more like her, to be a leader others look up to, to lead my team, my colleagues, my 'crew' in a manner that garners as much respect as what Libby gets. I'm blown away when I do and have a hard time believing it. My favorite book and character of all time has always been my top and there were no others until this year. I have to have a Top 3 now.
Formula Says: High 4.5 Rounded to 5.
February 7, 2023
Feb 6th A truly immersive rollercoaster ride that keeps you guessing till the end. A cast of characters that are so well rounded in depth it is too easy to forget they're fictional.
Liberty is an absolute power house of a Main Character. If you're looking for a leading lady like Katniss Everdeen and Zoey Redbird; all grown up, or like Emma Swan and Starbuck, Liberty Bell is likely to be your new favorite.
If you want Battlestar Galactica vibes in the most unique way HIGHLY recommend this book move to the top of your tbr immediately! So good I rushed over to amazon to purchase the sequel the second I learned it was available. Seriously, you don't want to miss out on this epic story and its series.
Liberty is an absolute power house of a Main Character. If you're looking for a leading lady like Katniss Everdeen and Zoey Redbird; all grown up, or like Emma Swan and Starbuck, Liberty Bell is likely to be your new favorite.
If you want Battlestar Galactica vibes in the most unique way HIGHLY recommend this book move to the top of your tbr immediately! So good I rushed over to amazon to purchase the sequel the second I learned it was available. Seriously, you don't want to miss out on this epic story and its series.
December 4, 2020
Awesome book, keeps you reading
The end killed me. I am so curious about what happens next. What a crazy ride, finished it in two days.
The end killed me. I am so curious about what happens next. What a crazy ride, finished it in two days.
April 21, 2023
A huge eff off to Morang and *the* book that simultaneously toyed with my emotions and left me panting for more. Have you ever encountered an author that is so good at their craft that you ended up hating them? No? Welp, read this book and let me know how much you loathe Jeremy at the end.
From the first page of the Surrender Game I became an addict - pacing back and forth until I got my next hit of action, over-whelming emotions while coming down from the high, withdrawals when I didn't know when or where my next score would come.
Yeah, yeah... Morang did a fantastic freaking job with creating a world that transported you to a different time, a different place, and he even did a stupidly good job at bringing to life characters that I guarantee all of us wish we could be more like... but this dude decided that along the way he should break hearts, shatter our hopes, and then bring us back from the brink of an emotional break with some soothing words that were supposed to just make everything better. Well, Jeremy, you sure know how to toy with us.
If you aren't a sci-fi fan just go ahead and ignore that thought. YOU(yes, you in front of the screen that's curiously reading reviews like it's your day job).. you need this stupid book. You're going to find yourself cheering for the kicka** MC, Liberty Bell. You may get all swoony over a 3 foot tall potato farmer named Gethar that has a love that makes even the darkest hearts go pitter patter. Maybe a sexy hunk of a protector is more your style? If so, Tyreel is going to absolutely knock your socks off. The side characters are a whole vibe with their sketchy lifestyles and their devotion to who and what they care about.
Jeremy may have effed with my emotions, he may have written a book that had me feeling some sort of way, and he definitely left me cussing at him more times than I'd like to say, but he also created something beautiful(I'll deny I ever said that if he asks, so don't try to go tell on me).
Morang created another world, another time, all around Truck Stop One. The Truck Stop is made for all of the weirdos, all of us morally grey souls, all of us that just don't quite fit in - without judgement, the Truck Stop is where we belong. So, raises your glasses of trale for a toast to the man that can absolutely mess with my emotions any time he wants. Thanks for writing something for all of us. Now, please kindly go to your corner and think about all of the chaos you've caused. (grumble, grumble).
From the first page of the Surrender Game I became an addict - pacing back and forth until I got my next hit of action, over-whelming emotions while coming down from the high, withdrawals when I didn't know when or where my next score would come.
Yeah, yeah... Morang did a fantastic freaking job with creating a world that transported you to a different time, a different place, and he even did a stupidly good job at bringing to life characters that I guarantee all of us wish we could be more like... but this dude decided that along the way he should break hearts, shatter our hopes, and then bring us back from the brink of an emotional break with some soothing words that were supposed to just make everything better. Well, Jeremy, you sure know how to toy with us.
If you aren't a sci-fi fan just go ahead and ignore that thought. YOU(yes, you in front of the screen that's curiously reading reviews like it's your day job).. you need this stupid book. You're going to find yourself cheering for the kicka** MC, Liberty Bell. You may get all swoony over a 3 foot tall potato farmer named Gethar that has a love that makes even the darkest hearts go pitter patter. Maybe a sexy hunk of a protector is more your style? If so, Tyreel is going to absolutely knock your socks off. The side characters are a whole vibe with their sketchy lifestyles and their devotion to who and what they care about.
Jeremy may have effed with my emotions, he may have written a book that had me feeling some sort of way, and he definitely left me cussing at him more times than I'd like to say, but he also created something beautiful(I'll deny I ever said that if he asks, so don't try to go tell on me).
Morang created another world, another time, all around Truck Stop One. The Truck Stop is made for all of the weirdos, all of us morally grey souls, all of us that just don't quite fit in - without judgement, the Truck Stop is where we belong. So, raises your glasses of trale for a toast to the man that can absolutely mess with my emotions any time he wants. Thanks for writing something for all of us. Now, please kindly go to your corner and think about all of the chaos you've caused. (grumble, grumble).
January 8, 2024
Jeremy Morang's "The Surrender Game" has catapulted me into an exhilarating and immersive journey through the cosmos, where Liberty Bell and Tyreel take center stage as the dynamic defenders of Truckstop One. This sci-fi masterpiece effortlessly weaves a tapestry of intrigue, suspense, and action that had me hooked from the very first page.
The world-building is nothing short of extraordinary. Morang's vivid imagination crafts a universe teeming with diverse species, advanced technologies, and political intricacies. Truckstop One emerges as a captivating hub of civilization, and Liberty Bell, its high intendent, radiates strength and resilience. Tyreel, her right-hand man, complements her character perfectly, creating a duo that is as compelling as it is endearing.
The plot is a rollercoaster of twists and turns, seamlessly blending political machinations with heart-stopping action sequences. The looming threat of the Guardians adds a layer of tension that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. Morang's ability to balance intricate details with a fast-paced narrative is commendable, ensuring that every chapter leaves you hungry for more.
Morang's writing style is both eloquent and accessible, making "The Surrender Game" a joy to read. The dialogue is sharp, the descriptions are evocative, and the pacing is impeccable. The author's passion for the genre shines through every page, creating an immersive experience for readers of all backgrounds.
In conclusion, "The Surrender Game" is a tour de force in the sci-fi genre. Jeremy Morang has crafted a captivating universe filled with compelling characters and an intricate plot that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the Guardian War Chronicles. A five-star masterpiece that deserves a place on every sci-fi enthusiast's bookshelf.
The world-building is nothing short of extraordinary. Morang's vivid imagination crafts a universe teeming with diverse species, advanced technologies, and political intricacies. Truckstop One emerges as a captivating hub of civilization, and Liberty Bell, its high intendent, radiates strength and resilience. Tyreel, her right-hand man, complements her character perfectly, creating a duo that is as compelling as it is endearing.
The plot is a rollercoaster of twists and turns, seamlessly blending political machinations with heart-stopping action sequences. The looming threat of the Guardians adds a layer of tension that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. Morang's ability to balance intricate details with a fast-paced narrative is commendable, ensuring that every chapter leaves you hungry for more.
Morang's writing style is both eloquent and accessible, making "The Surrender Game" a joy to read. The dialogue is sharp, the descriptions are evocative, and the pacing is impeccable. The author's passion for the genre shines through every page, creating an immersive experience for readers of all backgrounds.
In conclusion, "The Surrender Game" is a tour de force in the sci-fi genre. Jeremy Morang has crafted a captivating universe filled with compelling characters and an intricate plot that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the Guardian War Chronicles. A five-star masterpiece that deserves a place on every sci-fi enthusiast's bookshelf.
March 5, 2023
Let me start by saying I met the author on Tiktok by chance and bought the book having absolutely zero expectations. If it was terrible *shrugs shoulders* I would simply avoid said author from now until eternity. Right?
Let me tell you what, this was a honkin' good time. The characters, world-building, tension, and imagination all came together to create a book that was so much fun to read.
I've tried reading science fiction in the past, and nothing else interested me outside of a few Star Trek novels or the occasional Star Wars ones. I often found dry characters, surrounded by techno-babble and interstellar ships named Gargatuan Veta en route to Star Cluster 534.1 that has just been invaded by the species known as Synonids - or something like that.
Anyway, this wasn't dry at all. A little wordy at times but man, when the action gets going, it gets going.
Five big stars.
Let me tell you what, this was a honkin' good time. The characters, world-building, tension, and imagination all came together to create a book that was so much fun to read.
I've tried reading science fiction in the past, and nothing else interested me outside of a few Star Trek novels or the occasional Star Wars ones. I often found dry characters, surrounded by techno-babble and interstellar ships named Gargatuan Veta en route to Star Cluster 534.1 that has just been invaded by the species known as Synonids - or something like that.
Anyway, this wasn't dry at all. A little wordy at times but man, when the action gets going, it gets going.
Five big stars.
March 24, 2023
I absolutely found myself in love with this book. If I could visit a world outside my own, I would like to visit Truckstop One and have a few trales with Liberty Bell. This book lets you explore your imagination, become a guest in their world. However, when the Truckstop One is threatened, you yourself feel the panic and desperation to save Libby, her crew and the home Truckstop One has become to all of us. This book brought me back into the love of reading sci-fi and I am so excited to venture back into this world with book 2.
I highly recommend this book. 5/5 stars. The author did an excellent job in his writing and character development.
I highly recommend this book. 5/5 stars. The author did an excellent job in his writing and character development.
December 26, 2023
This book was amazing! This is not my typical genre, but I was intrigued by what others had said about it! I couldn’t put it down. Like Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and today I didn’t go anywhere without the book in hand! I can’t wait to see where this goes. It takes a bit for me to feel all the emotions in one book, but Jeremy did that! I laughed, I cried, and I was angry!
June 11, 2025
Wow Intendant Belle is not only a strong fmc she makes you want to constantly read to next page. For the first time since I started the book I had time to just finish it and read. I enjoy a non technical sci fi where things are written for the average person to understand. Well worth your time.
May 10, 2024
This was an enjoyable read! It was a sci-fi novel that wasn't overly technical yet heartfelt and action-packed! Will read more by this author!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews