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The Galactic Captains #5
Altered Tides
A malfunctioning STAR drive strands Captain Ales in a new galaxy. Trapped on a dry, dusty red moon where the rains fall only once every forty years, the restless population barely survives on a teardrop ration of water. Now, the rains are years overdue, and the ruling clerics view Ales as a savior—or a devil. Just as Ales and the She-King’s brother discover a secret the clerics have been hiding for far too long, this world is invaded and torn apart from a most unlikely source.
The blue moon is a world covered in water—water that flows over to the red moon as rain every forty years, thereby drying up the domain of King Sarlord. He’s finally had enough and gathers an army to sail into the sky on the waterspout, land on the red moon, and defeat the god who steals his ocean. His son, Prince Malar, will do anything to avoid staying behind, but even he gets much more than he bargained for when the world as he knows it is swept away on altered tides.
The blue moon is a world covered in water—water that flows over to the red moon as rain every forty years, thereby drying up the domain of King Sarlord. He’s finally had enough and gathers an army to sail into the sky on the waterspout, land on the red moon, and defeat the god who steals his ocean. His son, Prince Malar, will do anything to avoid staying behind, but even he gets much more than he bargained for when the world as he knows it is swept away on altered tides.
- GenresScience Fiction
Paperback
First published March 1, 2021
1 person is currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Harry F. Rey
30 books99 followersHarry F. Rey is an author of over a dozen fiction novels. He's a graduate of Penguin WriteNow 2020, a member of the TV Foundation's New Writers Collective 2024, and has been Pushcart-nominated for his short stories.
Harry's main works include the MM royal drama series The Line of Succession from Deep Desires Press, the queer sci-fi series The Galactic Captains from Nine Star Press, the WWII-era gay historical novel Why in Paris? from Encircle Publications and the historical romance Six Days in Jerusalem.
His debut young adult gay romance - Of Gods and Boys - from Deep Hearts YA recently topped the Amazon teen charts. His other works include the rom-com All the Lovers from Deep Desires and the forthcoming sci-fi thriller The Dorvethan Conspiracy from Rebel Satori Press.
Harry's work has also been featured in anthologies including Not Meant for Each Other from Lost Boys Press and Queer Life, Queer Love from Muswell Press.
Harry can often be found scouring second-hand bookshops for the lost classics of gay literature, which he blogs about on his website and social media.
Harry's main works include the MM royal drama series The Line of Succession from Deep Desires Press, the queer sci-fi series The Galactic Captains from Nine Star Press, the WWII-era gay historical novel Why in Paris? from Encircle Publications and the historical romance Six Days in Jerusalem.
His debut young adult gay romance - Of Gods and Boys - from Deep Hearts YA recently topped the Amazon teen charts. His other works include the rom-com All the Lovers from Deep Desires and the forthcoming sci-fi thriller The Dorvethan Conspiracy from Rebel Satori Press.
Harry's work has also been featured in anthologies including Not Meant for Each Other from Lost Boys Press and Queer Life, Queer Love from Muswell Press.
Harry can often be found scouring second-hand bookshops for the lost classics of gay literature, which he blogs about on his website and social media.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 17, 2021
Ales crashes on a red dust world. No water to be had. Just a very odd race that expect water from a blue world to rain down on them. He finds an ally in Suni, the kings brother. As the water destroys the home and people of the red world Ales once again is faced with leaving someone behind.
The two worlds, interdependent on each other was an interesting story. One can’t exist without water and the other is drowning in it. The ships traveling between the worlds was very visually appealing. As was the drowning city. Only time will tell if these worlds are more than a blip to Ales.
I think this book was much different than the other books and the most laid-back in the series. There was action and reaction but on a smaller scale. Less focused on the galactic events and more on how Ales effects everything he comes into contact with. I think the altered tides speak to more than just the two worlds and I’m curious to see where this story goes.
I received an arc of this book.
The two worlds, interdependent on each other was an interesting story. One can’t exist without water and the other is drowning in it. The ships traveling between the worlds was very visually appealing. As was the drowning city. Only time will tell if these worlds are more than a blip to Ales.
I think this book was much different than the other books and the most laid-back in the series. There was action and reaction but on a smaller scale. Less focused on the galactic events and more on how Ales effects everything he comes into contact with. I think the altered tides speak to more than just the two worlds and I’m curious to see where this story goes.
I received an arc of this book.
March 20, 2021
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Attention, this review might contain spoilers!
Harry F. Rey has just released a new book, and once again, Harry F. Rey delivers a real page-turner. This is the fifth book in the ‘Galactic Captains’ series. It can be read as a stand-alone novel—you’ll understand 90 percent of the plot with no problems. There are 10 percent, however, where the characters refer to the previous four installments. So, the bad news is: you should read book one to four before opening this one. But the good news is: you should read book one to four, anyway. I did, without reviewing them, just for my rather selfish and very unguilty pleasure. Be assured—as all the other books by this author that I’ve read so far, they are highly addictive and entertaining.
Starting with this new installment, the title of the series becomes a tad misleading. At least one galactic captain has just become an intergalactic one. In fact, Captain Ales, whom the four previous books also (co-)starrred, has escaped the uproar that has broken out in the Outer Verge of his galaxy by hijacking the prototype of a STAR-drive-enhanced spaceship. He crash-lands on a dry and barren red desert moon that, strangely enough, seems to be on the verge of colliding with another moon, completely blue because entirely recovered with oceans. Both moons are so close together that their stratospheres intermingle. What he doesn’t know in the beginning is that these two orbs have a forty-year cycle. They drift apart, causing draughts and water shortages on the desert moon and the flooding of all dry lands on the water moon. Yet every forty years they move closer and circle around each other for forty days, their shared stratosphere causing the water to flow from the water moon down to the desert moon in monsoon-like rains.
Both moons are inhabited, and the moon dwellers on both worlds have become accustomed to that natural cycle and learned to live with it. Yet for reasons unknown, this time the liberating water overflow is two years late, and things start to look dire on both moons. On the desert moon, people are down to one teardrop of water per day and blame their new She-King for the prolonged draught. What Ales soon finds out, however, is that the priest caste is hoarding water in secret underground caves. Helped by the She-King’s brother, he tries to challenge the corrupt system and starts to fall for the tender and cute young man… That’s when everything is turned upside down as an invading force from the water moon lands in the capital city, destroying the water tanks and slaughtering people. Amongst them, unwilling and helpless, the blue moon king’s gay son Malar, whose lover has just been killed before his very eyes. To muddle everything up some more, Ales’s mother arrives on another stolen STAR-driven spaceship in order to rescue her son and bring him back home to his own galaxy…
There are plots and subplots left, right, and center, as always in Harry F. Rey’s books, but as always, they are swiftly and intelligently woven together into one neat, fast-paced ball of well-told, well-written yarn. The whole series, if I may indulge in this side remark, is a feast for lovers of grandiose space operas with a gay (and sometimes very kinky) twist. The author knows how to write, and how to create three-dimensional, likeable characters with interesting stories to tell. Not that much is told; the readers are rather invited to see what the author shows them through countless backstories, flashbacks, intrigues, schemes, loves, and lives. This fifth book of the series is one of the slower and calmer ones, which doesn’t mean, however, that I was bored for a second. There were two whole new worlds to discover, two (well, technically three) new peoples with their habits and customs. The worldbuilding was really just amazing.
All right, even someone as ignorant of things pertaining to physics as I would wonder about the probability of two moons getting so close together that their stratospheres touch and mingle without their mutual attraction making them smash into each other. It takes a skilful writer to pull stuff like that through without appearing ridiculous, and Harry F. Rey is one of them. After a short initial puzzlement I simply shrugged because I had better things to do—that is, to follow the storyline as it unfolded. Brilliantly written, with no feeble spots I could discern, this book had me enthralled from the first to the last page. I really recommend it—as I really recommend you read books one to four first, if only for their own pleasure.
Attention, this review might contain spoilers!
Harry F. Rey has just released a new book, and once again, Harry F. Rey delivers a real page-turner. This is the fifth book in the ‘Galactic Captains’ series. It can be read as a stand-alone novel—you’ll understand 90 percent of the plot with no problems. There are 10 percent, however, where the characters refer to the previous four installments. So, the bad news is: you should read book one to four before opening this one. But the good news is: you should read book one to four, anyway. I did, without reviewing them, just for my rather selfish and very unguilty pleasure. Be assured—as all the other books by this author that I’ve read so far, they are highly addictive and entertaining.
Starting with this new installment, the title of the series becomes a tad misleading. At least one galactic captain has just become an intergalactic one. In fact, Captain Ales, whom the four previous books also (co-)starrred, has escaped the uproar that has broken out in the Outer Verge of his galaxy by hijacking the prototype of a STAR-drive-enhanced spaceship. He crash-lands on a dry and barren red desert moon that, strangely enough, seems to be on the verge of colliding with another moon, completely blue because entirely recovered with oceans. Both moons are so close together that their stratospheres intermingle. What he doesn’t know in the beginning is that these two orbs have a forty-year cycle. They drift apart, causing draughts and water shortages on the desert moon and the flooding of all dry lands on the water moon. Yet every forty years they move closer and circle around each other for forty days, their shared stratosphere causing the water to flow from the water moon down to the desert moon in monsoon-like rains.
Both moons are inhabited, and the moon dwellers on both worlds have become accustomed to that natural cycle and learned to live with it. Yet for reasons unknown, this time the liberating water overflow is two years late, and things start to look dire on both moons. On the desert moon, people are down to one teardrop of water per day and blame their new She-King for the prolonged draught. What Ales soon finds out, however, is that the priest caste is hoarding water in secret underground caves. Helped by the She-King’s brother, he tries to challenge the corrupt system and starts to fall for the tender and cute young man… That’s when everything is turned upside down as an invading force from the water moon lands in the capital city, destroying the water tanks and slaughtering people. Amongst them, unwilling and helpless, the blue moon king’s gay son Malar, whose lover has just been killed before his very eyes. To muddle everything up some more, Ales’s mother arrives on another stolen STAR-driven spaceship in order to rescue her son and bring him back home to his own galaxy…
There are plots and subplots left, right, and center, as always in Harry F. Rey’s books, but as always, they are swiftly and intelligently woven together into one neat, fast-paced ball of well-told, well-written yarn. The whole series, if I may indulge in this side remark, is a feast for lovers of grandiose space operas with a gay (and sometimes very kinky) twist. The author knows how to write, and how to create three-dimensional, likeable characters with interesting stories to tell. Not that much is told; the readers are rather invited to see what the author shows them through countless backstories, flashbacks, intrigues, schemes, loves, and lives. This fifth book of the series is one of the slower and calmer ones, which doesn’t mean, however, that I was bored for a second. There were two whole new worlds to discover, two (well, technically three) new peoples with their habits and customs. The worldbuilding was really just amazing.
All right, even someone as ignorant of things pertaining to physics as I would wonder about the probability of two moons getting so close together that their stratospheres touch and mingle without their mutual attraction making them smash into each other. It takes a skilful writer to pull stuff like that through without appearing ridiculous, and Harry F. Rey is one of them. After a short initial puzzlement I simply shrugged because I had better things to do—that is, to follow the storyline as it unfolded. Brilliantly written, with no feeble spots I could discern, this book had me enthralled from the first to the last page. I really recommend it—as I really recommend you read books one to four first, if only for their own pleasure.
April 7, 2021
*I received this novel for free in exchange for an honest review*
When Captain Ales crash lands on a red moon which is in the grips of a drought that has lasted forty years, he finds himself hailed as god and the one who will finally bring the rains to the dying world. Suspicious of the clerics who appear to control even the King, Ales and the King’s brother Suni make a discovery that will challenge the very order of this dry world.
Malar is the Prince of the blue moon, a world covered in water of which the red moon is dependant on for the rains to come. Malar is captive to his father’s desire to rule and conquer the red moon that he claims is stealing their water. When Malar defies his father’s orders to stay behind, he soon finds himself drawn into something much more than Sarlord’s war.
Altered Tides is the fifth novel in The Galactic Captains series. I have not read the previous instalments but I had no problems following the plot as this novel can be read as a standalone.
I really liked the concept of the two moons depending on each other for survival. I thought it was a really unique and interesting concept. It was also explained in a plausible way that made perfect sense without being too heavy or confusing for the reader. This idea contrasted nicely with how different the plants were from each other.
The main characters were interesting and both very likeable. Ales’s character was slightly harder to read as I did not know him from the previous instalments, but he came across as a good man who was determined to help the inhabitants of the red moon. Malar I really liked and could emphasise a lot with. He is somewhat overshadowed by his father when the novel begins but he soon comes into his own and is my favourite of the two.
I really enjoyed reading Altered Tides. It is a gripping, fast paced and enjoyable science fiction novel, and I would definitely like to read the other books in the series.
When Captain Ales crash lands on a red moon which is in the grips of a drought that has lasted forty years, he finds himself hailed as god and the one who will finally bring the rains to the dying world. Suspicious of the clerics who appear to control even the King, Ales and the King’s brother Suni make a discovery that will challenge the very order of this dry world.
Malar is the Prince of the blue moon, a world covered in water of which the red moon is dependant on for the rains to come. Malar is captive to his father’s desire to rule and conquer the red moon that he claims is stealing their water. When Malar defies his father’s orders to stay behind, he soon finds himself drawn into something much more than Sarlord’s war.
Altered Tides is the fifth novel in The Galactic Captains series. I have not read the previous instalments but I had no problems following the plot as this novel can be read as a standalone.
I really liked the concept of the two moons depending on each other for survival. I thought it was a really unique and interesting concept. It was also explained in a plausible way that made perfect sense without being too heavy or confusing for the reader. This idea contrasted nicely with how different the plants were from each other.
The main characters were interesting and both very likeable. Ales’s character was slightly harder to read as I did not know him from the previous instalments, but he came across as a good man who was determined to help the inhabitants of the red moon. Malar I really liked and could emphasise a lot with. He is somewhat overshadowed by his father when the novel begins but he soon comes into his own and is my favourite of the two.
I really enjoyed reading Altered Tides. It is a gripping, fast paced and enjoyable science fiction novel, and I would definitely like to read the other books in the series.
March 3, 2021
trigger warning
Captain Ales has landed on a very dry planet, where the rain is overdue and people are lethargic from living on one teardrop per day. Meanwhile, the land and ocean population of the neighboring planet ready themselves for war.
The setting was what intrigued me the most, I believe. We have two planets, so impossible close to each other they share the atmosphere. Once every fourty years, the oceans from the blue planet get sucked up and land as rain on the red planet, where people will first celebrate and then scramble to save every last drop they can, because it will take nearly another generation till the rain will fall again.
Our protagonist is literally thrown in there, is unconscious and dragged to a city after his crash.
Thankfully, the device strapped to his wrist is able to get a translation going, so he can puzzle out what's going on.
Though this is the fifth part of a series, due to him landing on a foreign planet and being there for most of the book, it posed no problem for me to get into it. I could have done without the two sex scenes, but now I know what to expect from this author and this series.
But I have to admit that the use of spit as lubricant freaks me out. You know that spit has flesh dissolving properties, right?
The main question I have is what the different of homo sapiens and hetero sapiens is, which is never explained, while the distinction is used pretty often.
If you're into sex scenes in books, and into sci fi, especially into first contact kind of stories, this could appeal to you.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
Captain Ales has landed on a very dry planet, where the rain is overdue and people are lethargic from living on one teardrop per day. Meanwhile, the land and ocean population of the neighboring planet ready themselves for war.
The setting was what intrigued me the most, I believe. We have two planets, so impossible close to each other they share the atmosphere. Once every fourty years, the oceans from the blue planet get sucked up and land as rain on the red planet, where people will first celebrate and then scramble to save every last drop they can, because it will take nearly another generation till the rain will fall again.
Our protagonist is literally thrown in there, is unconscious and dragged to a city after his crash.
Thankfully, the device strapped to his wrist is able to get a translation going, so he can puzzle out what's going on.
Though this is the fifth part of a series, due to him landing on a foreign planet and being there for most of the book, it posed no problem for me to get into it. I could have done without the two sex scenes, but now I know what to expect from this author and this series.
But I have to admit that the use of spit as lubricant freaks me out. You know that spit has flesh dissolving properties, right?
The main question I have is what the different of homo sapiens and hetero sapiens is, which is never explained, while the distinction is used pretty often.
If you're into sex scenes in books, and into sci fi, especially into first contact kind of stories, this could appeal to you.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
March 20, 2021
While the smut was hilariously horrendous, everything else was absolutely phenomenal. I rate it a 9 out of 10.
I didn't read the previous books in the series (though now I plan to buy them), but I understood everything pretty well. The first half was a bit confusing because it was jam-packed with information in a way that acted like things were common knowledge, but i'm fairly certain that was on purpose, and meant to be that way — it felt totally organic, and naturally progressed until it all *became* easy and obvious knowledge to me. It kind of felt like reading iron man fanfic when I'd seen all the avengers movies but none of the iron man movies, if that makes sense.
Basically, it intertwines several viewpoints and narratives, and it does so in a way that, in the end, is extremely satisfying.
This book is absolutely phenomenal, and I highly recommend it. However, be aware of the graphic violence and references to rape and genocide.
There was homophobia, but it was treated differently than what i've ever seen or experienced, so it was fascinating. There were several non-straight men, and a handful of non-straight women. The book had a lot of relationships in it, but in a rather detached way — if it wasn't happening then, then it wasn't A Big Deal.
Definitely worth the read. So grateful I got the ARC <3
I didn't read the previous books in the series (though now I plan to buy them), but I understood everything pretty well. The first half was a bit confusing because it was jam-packed with information in a way that acted like things were common knowledge, but i'm fairly certain that was on purpose, and meant to be that way — it felt totally organic, and naturally progressed until it all *became* easy and obvious knowledge to me. It kind of felt like reading iron man fanfic when I'd seen all the avengers movies but none of the iron man movies, if that makes sense.
Basically, it intertwines several viewpoints and narratives, and it does so in a way that, in the end, is extremely satisfying.
This book is absolutely phenomenal, and I highly recommend it. However, be aware of the graphic violence and references to rape and genocide.
There was homophobia, but it was treated differently than what i've ever seen or experienced, so it was fascinating. There were several non-straight men, and a handful of non-straight women. The book had a lot of relationships in it, but in a rather detached way — if it wasn't happening then, then it wasn't A Big Deal.
Definitely worth the read. So grateful I got the ARC <3
March 20, 2021
This is book 5 in a series, and while it’s possible to read and enjoy this one without the previous installments, they’re worth reading in their own right. In this novel, Captain Ales crash-lands on a desert moon, where he finds complex social and economic dynamics shaped by its relationship to a moon covered in water and an orbital cycle that, every forty years, transfers its water to the desert moon (Plausible? I don't know…physics was never my thing and I have no idea whether or not this is even remotely possible, but it makes for a great story catalyst). My shaky understanding of interplanetary dynamics aside, I really enjoyed this novel: Rey is an engrossing writer, and creates memorable, fast-paced storylines and characters who move through them with style. I couldn’t do them justice, so I’m not even going to try to adequately describe the plots and subplots in play here— there’s plenty of drama and action to be had, from the moons and from the larger galaxy Ales came from— beyond noting that I was definitely drawn in from the first page to the last, and can’t wait to see what happens next for Ales. I’d strongly recommend giving this book, and this series, a try.
*I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily composed an honest review.
*I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily composed an honest review.
May 1, 2021
It was my first time reading a book in this series, so I have to admit I was pretty confused at first, but it didn't take long to settle into the world building and appreciate the storytelling and the characters. I found the setting between the two planets very interesting: they are so different from each other, yet so deeply interconnected. It was quite unique and fascinating, and definetely the more intriguing part.
The only negative note for me is given by the different povs, which in my opinion alternate in a bit confusing way. Aside from that, it was an enjoyable read, which got me interested in the series. I will definitely consider the previous installments as well.
Actual rating: 3,75.
(Thank you to NetGalley and NineStar Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.)
The only negative note for me is given by the different povs, which in my opinion alternate in a bit confusing way. Aside from that, it was an enjoyable read, which got me interested in the series. I will definitely consider the previous installments as well.
Actual rating: 3,75.
(Thank you to NetGalley and NineStar Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.)
February 28, 2021
Altered Tides by Harry F Rey is the fifth book in the Galactic Captains series. Fascinating world building and characters. I enjoyed the imagery described and the flow of the story. There were a few times when I definitely wished I had read the previous books in the series because I think I would have even enjoyed the book more but reading as a stand alone I still really enjoyed the story and the people. The cliffhanger like ending has me anxious for next book.
March 1, 2021
This book was pretty good! I felt like perhaps I missed some things coming into the series so late, but I could definitely still understand what was going on. I did feel like maybe the intersection of the two plot lines was a little confusing and rushed but again, could just be my lack of knowledge. Overall, definitely an easy and pleasant read! #AlteredTides #NetGalley
March 3, 2021
this was SUCH a fun read for me - i didnt want to put it down! i loved the characters and the relationships between them - especially ales and suni. malar's character development was also so satisfying to watch and i'm excited to see where he ends up in the future.
March 1, 2021
The world building was done really well; it was unique and I could actually picture it in my mind.
I haven’t read the other books in the series so I was a little lost and confused. I got the gist of what was going on but it felt like I’d missed a whole lot.
I’ll probably read the series in order, when I get the time. I really think I would enjoy this series better if I start from the beginning.
I voluntarily read this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else's*
I haven’t read the other books in the series so I was a little lost and confused. I got the gist of what was going on but it felt like I’d missed a whole lot.
I’ll probably read the series in order, when I get the time. I really think I would enjoy this series better if I start from the beginning.
I voluntarily read this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else's*
July 1, 2021
You can read a full review of “Altered Tides” at my web site.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews